help with purchase decission

[DOC]

Help with purchase decision between:

1. 2008 Ovation 3 GX, TT 340, G1000, GFC 700, NO WAAS, No Traffic (Except TIS), No SVT, 310 hp Platinum., like new, useful load 926lbs, $360,000 

2. 2000 Ovation 2, TT 1530, King 225 AP, WAAS, Garmin 800 Traffic, No SVT, 280 hp non-platinum, 2 blade prop, Good  paint and interior, Stormscope G500,530,430, useful load 1004 lbs, $215,000

 

Using it for hobbie, fun, trips mainly within 300 nm, finish IFR training in it, would like to have decent Useful load to take more than 1 other person.

 

I am concerned about future cost to upgrade the 3 GX to WAAS due to ADS-B mandate.  2000 model already had WAAS. I will probably not fly more than 100 hrs or so per year.  

 

All advice welcome.

 

Thanks

 

[Rwsavory]

If you plan to fly IFR into smaller airports you will find WAAS to be very useful.

[Dave Marten]

Honestly,

 

If your mission is flying for fun w/in 300 nm and less than 100 hrs a year then just by a nice M20J for less than $100K and use the remainder to buy a vacation home or a second and third airplane!

 

Sorry, couldn't help myself!

[PMcClure]

Personally, I don't find the glass worth $100k or more extra. I have a 2002 Ovation similarly equipped. Couldn't be happier. 

[DS1980]

I agree with Dave. Sounds like an F or J model would do you just fine. Then put in the panel you want.

[carusoam]

I like the O3 powered O1, with the pre-glass, non-Garmin instrument panel.

The 310 HP gets you off the Tarmac in 201 distances and qualifies you as the fastest factory built, 4 seat, N/A plane on or off the planet...

UL > 1,000 lbs...

Just add WAAS...

If you want to go faster, you will need the TNers.

Best regards,

-a-

[mooniac15u]

Help with purchase decision between:

1. 2008 Ovation 3 GX, TT 340, G1000, GFC 700, NO WAAS, No Traffic (Except TIS), No SVT, 310 hp Platinum., like new, useful load 926lbs, $360,000 

2. 2000 Ovation 2, TT 1530, King 225 AP, WAAS, Garmin 800 Traffic, No SVT, 280 hp non-platinum, 2 blade prop, Good  paint and interior, Stormscope G500,530,430, useful load 1004 lbs, $215,000

 

Using it for hobbie, fun, trips mainly within 300 nm, finish IFR training in it, would like to have decent Useful load to take more than 1 other person.

 

I am concerned about future cost to upgrade the 3 GX to WAAS due to ADS-B mandate.  2000 model already had WAAS. I will probably not fly more than 100 hrs or so per year.  

 

All advice welcome.

 

Thanks

 

You are considering a $360,000 aircraft and you are worried about $10K-15K for ADS-B?

[ArtVandelay]

Honestly,

 

If your mission is flying for fun w/in 300 nm and less than 100 hrs a year then just by a nice M20J for less than $100K and use the remainder to buy a vacation home or a second and third airplane!

 

I disagree, life is short, if you have the cash, buy what you want...a lot of people buy sports cars capable of going 150mph but never go above 80, but they love their cars.

[Marauder]

I disagree, life is short, if you have the cash, buy what you want...a lot of people buy sports cars capable of going 150mph but never go above 80, but they love their cars.

I resemble that remark! But now after owning the Corvette, I wish I had spent that money on the airplane instead!

[KSMooniac]

Tough choice.  Read this about the KFC 225:  http://www.peter2000.co.uk/aviation/kfc225/  I don't know the guy, nor do I have any experience with that autopilot, but it is enough to give me a bit of worry about owning one.  The GFC700 is supposed to be the best thing since sliced bread, but I'm also wary of getting any G1000 system, especially a Mooney without WAAS, due to the monopolistic upgrade path at GREAT expense.  I think it might be cheaper for those rare birds that already have the GFC700 vs. the STEC 55x, but you might call the factory to see what the latest quote is.

 

If it were me, I'd rather have a non-G1000 bird with an STEC 55x since it has an upgrade path with the new DFC90 autopilot from Avidyne, and of course many WAAS and glass PFD upgrade choices as well.

[aaronk25]

Help with purchase decision between:

1. 2008 Ovation 3 GX, TT 340, G1000, GFC 700, NO WAAS, No Traffic (Except TIS), No SVT, 310 hp Platinum., like new, useful load 926lbs, $360,000

2. 2000 Ovation 2, TT 1530, King 225 AP, WAAS, Garmin 800 Traffic, No SVT, 280 hp non-platinum, 2 blade prop, Good paint and interior, Stormscope G500,530,430, useful load 1004 lbs, $215,000

Using it for hobbie, fun, trips mainly within 300 nm, finish IFR training in it, would like to have decent Useful load to take more than 1 other person.

I am concerned about future cost to upgrade the 3 GX to WAAS due to ADS-B mandate. 2000 model already had WAAS. I will probably not fly more than 100 hrs or so per year.

All advice welcome.

Thanks

The 2000 your referring to if it has green and has tks on it a dentist owned it for 6 years at rochester mn. The plane is perfect as they come. He traded it for a acclaim type S!

[DOC]

The 2000 your referring to if it has green and has tks on it a dentist owned it for 6 years at rochester mn. The plane is perfect as they come. He traded it for a acclaim type S!

That is the one.  It is also interesting because I am an Endodontis (Dentist specializing in root canal therapy)  Would this be the same dentist that set the speed record in his black and silver Acclaim type S?

[aaronk25]

That is the one. It is also interesting because I am an Endodontis (Dentist specializing in root canal therapy) Would this be the same dentist that set the speed record in his black and silver Acclaim type S?

No it's not, that I believe was a dentist out of Louisiana but I could be wrong. He also has a engineering degree of all things. If your serious about the bird I could ask him if he would take a call about his past plane. My guess he would. If so I'd PM the number to you.

His new acclaim is N411gg which is a white and tan color.

You also could talk to Chuck at Dodge Center Aviation he takes care of several mooney and is very detailed, a bit pricy but good. He took care of his ovation.

[aaronk25]

Also it had a aspen in it but it would function properly with his auto pilot so he took it out and put the dual garmin screens in it.

[DOC]

No it's not, that I believe was a dentist out of Louisiana but I could be wrong. He also has a engineering degree of all things. If your serious about the bird I could ask him if he would take a call about his past plane. My guess he would. If so I'd PM the number to you.

His new acclaim is N411gg which is a white and tan color.

You also could talk to Chuck at Dodge Center Aviation he takes care of several mooney and is very detailed, a bit pricy but good. He took care of his ovation.

Thanks for your information.  I made the deal on this plane today.  

[aaronk25]

Congrats on the purchase of this great bird. What part of the country are you from?

You will really like it I'm sure. Doc Phil was always talking about how efficient the plane was and how the thinner prop profile was faster, but keep in mind it doesn't have the static thrust at take off that the wider props have so be mindful of short field operations.

Also that tks works great there was several times that he came in with ice on the spinner that was substantial but the tks fluid from the prop blast kept the entire fuselodge and antennas ice free.

The plane has a lot of redundancy in the panel and should prove to be a great airplane.

Take care.

Aaron

[carusoam]

Congrats on the acquisition!

Best regards,

-a-

[DS1980]

Congrats on the purchase. And Aaron, kudos for your deeds. Need to work in a broker fee next time.

[triple8s]

Congrats on the Oh you'll love it.

[fantom]

Nice work, Joe, and best of luck with your new 'hobby'.

I do believe we have more dents than docs on MS

[DOC]

Thanks everyone.  This Mooney community seems great. Nothing but help from everyone.  I am thinking of having a 3 blade Hartzell installed immediately.  Are there any drawbacks or reasons that I shouldn't or reasons that I should?

[aaronk25]

It's gonna cost you some speed. Probably at least 5kts. It a really good prop that's on there now with the only drawback being it's not going to leap off the runway as fast but I bet that prop is one of the fastest of not the fastest prop for the machine.

Also remember the g2 ovation is limited to 2500rpm if you wanna pick up some speed get the stc to turn 2700rpm and your horsepower goes from 280 to 310!

Maybe some Ovation drivers could way in?

Aaron

[tascher]

Joe,

Congrats on your purchase. I fly another 2000 O2 and flew it behind the 2 blade prop for several years. The 2 blade prop was a credible cruise performer, but during the summer the plane turned to molassas on takeoff. If you operate out of longer runways, you'll have no reason to care, but anything under 3,000' will get your undivided attention when launching heavy with 2 blades on a warm day. Once wheels up and accelerating, the 2 blade McCauley won't win any time to climb awards, but it gets the job done and is at the upper end of the cruise performance charts.

I made the conversion to 310hp and 3 blades last summer. I was amazed by what I had been missing. Because the conversion was completed in a single step, I can't completely isolate prop performance from the horsepower bump, but the combination has cut my take off distances by at least 50%. Runways that I had ruled out on warm days for anything but solo flights with light fuel loads are now comfortably fair game at gross. The plane is smoother and feels more solid - at least compared to the ride with 2 blades.

The loss of a few knots as mentioned above is rumored to be the rule with the standard Hartzell top prop conversion. The cruise loss, together with the weight penalty - the standard 3 blade is significantly heavier - kept me from pulling the trigger. What pushed me over the edge was the availability of the prop developed for the Acclaim S. I don't have my logs in front of me, but I'd believe its only about 6 lbs heavier than the 2 blade McCauley. It delivers transformational runway performance AND its a couple of knots faster in cruise (at the same power settings - not at 2700 - who knows what that would add). The prop is a Hartzell PHC-J3YF-1RF/F7498. Minnis Aviation holds the STC. Midwest Mooney completed the installation.

The MT guys recently announced a STC to install a 4 blade composite on the Ovation. It is supposed to be quite light. There's no question that it will hold its own coming off the runway and in climb. I do not know how it stacks up against the Acclaim S prop in cruise. The MT wasn't ready last summer; I'm very happy with what I'm flying.

Regards,

Tom

[mike_elliott]

Thanks everyone.  This Mooney community seems great. Nothing but help from everyone.  I am thinking of having a 3 blade Hartzell installed immediately.  Are there any drawbacks or reasons that I shouldn't or reasons that I should?

You might consider waiting just a bit for the 4 blade MT due in March. Worth looking into, IMHO. 

[triple8s]

When going from 2 blade to 3 and the horsepower/rpm increase doesn't it lower the TBO? Also, would it not be a loss in fuel efficiency at cruise? I've been thinking about the conversion as my hangar mate had an Ovation and went this way. He told me I wouldn't believe the difference.