Goodbye, Aluminum Mistress

[M016576]

Today I did the hardest thing I've ever done in aviation: I said goodbye to my beloved M20J.

I bought her in the beginning of 2009, purely as an instrument to get me and my fiancé out of the desert and into civilization at a quick clip. Over the past 5 years, I grew to love that plane, became obsessed with it. I spent more money and time on her than was rational. She became not just a tool, or convenience, but a passion. Over the years she took me safely to my wedding. She took me to wine country with my new bride. To Idaho, California, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Utah and Colorado. She flew my newborn Daughter (4 weeks old!) in 2010 and my newborn Son in 2012 (5 weeks old). She saw Wildfires in The Rockies and guided me over the Sierras and Mammoth. She took me to remote strips on the Oregon coast, Oceano, and Fullerton (Disneyland anyone?). She introduced friends and family alike what it was like to have the freedom GA affords.

I had the opportunity to fly with her new owner, and I'm happy to say he's a great pilot. He's smart, capable and dedicated: a Marine Aviator. I know that she's in good hands and only hope that she treats him as well as she treated me.

I stood out on the ramp today and watched as my "J" flew off into the wild blue without me. In 19 years of flying, and a 13 year career as a military pilot, I can easily say this was the hardest day in my life as an aviator: that Beautiful mooney wasn't just an airplane: it was part of my family.....

And now.... I'm looking forward to building more memories as I welcome the newest member of my family: Mark's (soon to be mine!) Missile- N301TV!

[mooneygirl]

Thank you for the lovely explanation of what we Mooniacs know to be true: we are crazy about our airplanes.  Have fun with the bird

[Dave Marten]

Bitter sweet but enjoy riding the Missile!

 

Just think, if you ever feel nostalgic about the J you can always throttle the Missile back, lean her out and presto you're back at 150TAS and 10GPH!

 

But then again Mooneys aren't made to go slow!

[Marauder]

There is something incestuous about this thread! Congrats to both buyers and the seller. Wait a minute, it is a ménage à trois.

[aviatoreb]

Congratulations!!!

[John Pleisse]

And now.... I'm looking forward to building more memories as I welcome the newest member of my family: Mark's (soon to be mine!) Missile- N301TV!

My first inclination was to suggest one always keep an airplane that predates marriage (for obvious reasons)........ BUT NOW YOU'RE TALKIN'!!!!!

[KSMooniac]

You're going to love flying a Missile! Congrats! (Jim, don't fly one if you get the chance...trouble!) Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk

[flyboy0681]

You had me going there for a minute! 

 

Me too. I thought the time and financial demands of parenthood were too great for him to hold onto the J.

[fantom]

Maybe you'll duplicate that beautiful paint scheme on the Missile. I know a really good paint shop here in Florida You Air Force guys love go-fast planes!

 

Trading one mistress for another.....liFe IS good

[M016576]

Maybe you'll duplicate that beautiful paint scheme on the Missile. I know a really good paint shop here in Florida You Air Force guys love go-fast planes!

 

Trading one mistress for another.....like IS good

Pulled the proverbial "swap-per-roo"... It wasn't easy to get it past the misses, but I made her an offer she couldn't refuse.

I have no doubt she'll cost me more in the long run: the younger, faster ones always do...but she'll be worth it for the pleasure she'll bring me!

[aviatoreb]

Pulled the proverbial "swap-per-roo"... It wasn't easy to get it past the misses, but I made her an offer she couldn't refuse.

I have no doubt she'll cost me more in the long run: the younger, faster ones always do...but she'll be worth it for the pleasure she'll bring me!

 

We are still talking about your airplane right?

[mike_elliott]

Ahhh, Grasshopper, you are wise. I see you understand how all the universe is connected by the equation 1 AMU= 1 JMU. It is time for you to leave this world of 150KT happiness and seek new heights..

[Seth]

Again - Congratulations and welcome to the Mooney Missile!

 

I owned my F for three years before moving up the missile (2008 - 2011).  Had I originally purchased a J I don't know if I would have moved up, but the allure for speed may have tempted me.

 

It's a great plane and you'll enjoy it.  If you haven't yet, see if it can run LOP and do what you can to get it there.  For long speed cruise it makes you feel okay about the fuel burn, otherwise, you'll be astonished at the fuel burn rate compared to the J.

 

I too had a hard time selling my F.  I ended up selling it to a friend in Florida who has had it for two great years now, calls me once in a while about quirks of the particular aircraft, and has also now repainted it.  67M, my former plane, looks GREAT now.  I'm glad he's taking care of her.  I still miss her, but LOVE 65N, my Missile.

 

Enjoy many years of happy flying!

 

-Seth

[aviatoreb]

Job, How is the new Lady?!!!  

[RJBrown]

Had no regrets selling my J. It was too low and slow after 10 years in a Rocket. As long as you have no need to climb to the flight levels your Missile is the ultimate non turbo plane you can get.  I will wait until the house and hanger on Pegasus are built to get another Rocket. I sit down with a possible buyer for the business on Friday. If all the stars line up I may be in a temporary/flip house in Az by the end of the year. My lot is on the SE corner of the runway. I cant wait to have a hanger in my backyard 200' from the runway.