Rocket vs Ovation (or others)

[Alan Fox]

This is not going to be popular on this forum , but The folks I know from Mooney service centers say to stay away from the conversions (Rockets/Missles) and to lean towards the factory planes , they are faster , but apparently it comes at a cost with maintenance / quality....... Its kind of hard to ignore these planes , because there are some pretty smoking deals on Rockets out there...... 

[KSMooniac]

I've heard the opposite, frankly.  Rocket Engineering still supports the conversions with parts from everything I've read, and I know  local Missile and Rocket (2) owners that are very happy with their planes.  In fact, the Missile owner likes his plane more than his Ovation 3!  

[PhredPhantom]

Phred,

 

I am going to be posting my 310hp upgrade Ovation 1 for sale.  It is well within your budget at $148,000 asking.  I just need to take a few more pictures to be able to post it.  Currently has 1,585 total time, flying regularly.  310hp upgrade was done less than a year ago.  That makes a huge difference.

 

I will have it up shortly.

 

Ben

 

Ben, I am currently in negotiations for an Ovation 2.  It is priced higher than yours but has about half the time on it that yours does.  We may not be able to agree on a sale but it seems to be one that fits my needs pretty well.  If these negotiations don't work out, I'll definitely be looking for another airplane.  Yours might be what I need if I overhaul the engine and prop and the price might allow that if the panel is comparable.

 

Thanks for telling me about your airplane.  Maybe it'll work out.

 

Phred

 

(Edited for spelling)

[Beskra]

Phred,

That sounds good. Just send me a PM if you are interested. My engine is run regularly (400 hours in the last 2 years). With regular oil analysis, recent borescope, and 3 overhauled cylinders in 2 years. No reason it couldn't make TBO. Plus, the prop is brand new since it is part of the conversion to the 310hp upgrade and was done less than a year ago, so that won't need to be done for years.

As soon as the weather breaks later this week, I will get some fresh photos and post it. I meant to this weekend but I was flying!

Regards,

Ben

N94MR

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[David Mazer]

Interesting, I only landed once and was sort of hung it on the prop on the way in since I used the same over the fence numbers that I do with my J and the extra weight had me with a bit more angle of attack/sink rate so I bet if I would have carried a little more speed and flew it on to the runway I probably could have kept the nose off. It was pretty impressive how much heavier it was up front.

With that said I'm in the market for a rocket and would buy one before a "O" as the ability to top weather is awesome.

If your flying along at 15k and need to top weather slide the power in and enjoy a 1500fpm climb to 22k or higher. A "O" is a great plane but you just can't beat making full rated power at the altitude of your choice especially when heavy.

I'm a believer!

Aaron,

 

If your interested, my Rocket is available even though I've been dragging my feet and not advertising it.

[David Mazer]

This is not going to be popular on this forum , but The folks I know from Mooney service centers say to stay away from the conversions (Rockets/Missles) and to lean towards the factory planes , they are faster , but apparently it comes at a cost with maintenance / quality....... Its kind of hard to ignore these planes , because there are some pretty smoking deals on Rockets out there...... 

I was considering swapping my Rocket for a Bravo at one point and the Daytona MSC strongly urged me not to.  Their comments were that the Bravo doesn't handle as well, fly as fast, nor is it as economical.  So, the number of MSC opinions on conversions vs non conversions is 1.5 x number of MSCs!

[Seth]

This is not going to be popular on this forum , but The folks I know from Mooney service centers say to stay away from the conversions (Rockets/Missles) and to lean towards the factory planes , they are faster , but apparently it comes at a cost with maintenance / quality....... Its kind of hard to ignore these planes , because there are some pretty smoking deals on Rockets out there...... 

I've heard that about some of the conversions - there are more conversion out there than Rocket and Missiles, but I have heard that including Rocket's and Missiles - remember though, the reason the Bravo/Acclaim and Ovation exists is because of the Rocket and Missile Conversions.

 

I do hear you - some MSCs do recommend against them.

 

-Seth

[Hondo]

Has anyone here flown a Glasair III?

 

http://www.controller.com/listingsdetail/aircraft-for-sale/GLASAIR-GLASAIR-III-RG/1995-GLASAIR-GLASAIR-III-RG/1205955.htm

[mike_elliott]

Has anyone here flown a Glasair III?

 

http://www.controller.com/listingsdetail/aircraft-for-sale/GLASAIR-GLASAIR-III-RG/1995-GLASAIR-GLASAIR-III-RG/1205955.htm

 

An IO540 at 10 GPH?

[carusoam]

I would think...

the FF is low.

And the speed is high for non-turbo.

I had a brief conversation with a pilot of a two seat LanceAir with an IO550...

Expect similar FF and slightly better speed than a Bravo, but not that good out of older technology without a TC?

Best regards,

-a-

[FlyDave]

Has anyone here flown a Glasair III?

 

http://www.controller.com/listingsdetail/aircraft-for-sale/GLASAIR-GLASAIR-III-RG/1995-GLASAIR-GLASAIR-III-RG/1205955.htm

 

One of my hangar neighbors has a Glasair III. It will do 220 KTAS at 10K' but I think the FF is more like 17 GPH.

There were a lot of people who died when these airplanes were first being built. After a couple of years they started doing training and the accident rate went down dramatically.

This is a handful of airplane and unforgiving of pilots that don't control airspeed and fly by the numbers. You better not get slow on final or you will auger in before you know it. My friend crosses the fence at around 95 KIAS.

[Hondo]

http://www.glasairaviation.com/glasairspecs.html

 

Vso with the long wing and slotted flaps is 55 for the II RG and 58 for the III;

 

Wing loading is about 50% higher than a Mooney

 

http://11hc.44rf.com/manuals/poh/poh_n11hc.pdf

 

This POH for the II is interesting.  The procedures include the AOA.

 

III if you feel the need for speed.

 

 

[manoflamancha]

Funny I'm in similar boat and shopping for either a 252, Rocket, Bravo, or Ovation.

I live on the west coast and want to fly up to Idaho for trout fishing, Mexico, and Florida for summer trips. Really not sure if I need TKS

Or FIKI but turbo charging would definitely help get over mountains and high density airports. Most of the time I fly to Southern California, Tahoe, Vegas and up north to Oregon.

As far as the market, I'm seeing great deals right now for older Bravos and Ovations which are priced close to older 252 and Rockets. Any idea why that is?

-Scott

[PMcClure]

Service ceiling on Ovation is 20,000. plenty of room to get over the rockies!

[manoflamancha]

Does anyone know what year it was when Bravos and Ovations started with new panel design to use the Moritz engine gauges up top? If I bought a Bravo or an O it would need this layout as I'm not crazy about the older scattered panel layouts found in the 1989-1992 Mooney TLS and first gen Ovations.

[FoxMike]

1999

I have them in my Bravo and love them.

[carusoam]

Being lazy is a strange way of selecting anything in aviation.

Flying TC'd aircraft takes that much more effort.

Oxygen, ice, density altitudes, and thunderstorms require extra effort. Don't be lazy and fly Mooneys.

Just your friend talking out loud,

-a-

Sorry, you said not crazy.

O1s don't have a shot gun layout like a 65C.

JPIs, EIs, and Insight are available. You are familiar with Moritz, right?

Did you say you have a mission yet?

Or, are you looking for a glass panel?

I heard the Mooney factory may be gearing up to produce new Acclaims.

[kmyfm20s]

Does anyone know what year it was when Bravos and Ovations started with new panel design to use the Moritz engine gauges up top? If I bought a Bravo or an O it would need this layout as I'm not crazy about the older scattered panel layouts found in the 1989-1992 Mooney TLS and first gen Ovations.

Buy a Bravo or an Ovation for the right price and put in an EI MVP-50 or JPI 930 primary replacement. I am taking out my Moritz's gauges and installing a MVP-50. I will be putting them up for sale but they are the 2400 RPM model out of an "S".

[manoflamancha]

Indeed considering a 1999-2000 Bravo or O sells for 300K, it's cheaper to buy a 1990 model and add the graphical engine monitor and new Garmin G500 panel.

[PMcClure]

Indeed considering a 1999-2000 Bravo or O sells for 300K, it's cheaper to buy a 1990 model and add the graphical engine monitor and new Garmin G500 panel.

You can get an O for less than 300k. You can even get an G1000 O for that. 

[manoflamancha]

How much are first gen Ovations selling for these days? Last I checked they were 200-250K but prices may have come down since then.

[carusoam]

Go Long Body, w/310hp and TopProp!

Skip all the fancy electronics, if you need to keep the finance administrator at bay.

There are a few for sale in the 200-250k range. Not everyone has the higher hp like the O3. But, many have been updated over the last couple of years.

Just Sayin',

-a-

[Cruiser]

How much are first gen Ovations selling for these days? Last I checked they were 200-250K but prices may have come down since then.

If you look hard a decent O1 will be had for around $150k maybe less.

[PMcClure]

I think the market for O1 is $150-$200k and for an O2, $200-250k and for a G1000 equipped O3  $300-350k. 

[carusoam]

Older instrument panels can be refreshed. Don Kaye has photo evidence of how it can be done in a Bravo.

How's my memory on this one?

Keeping Score:

(1) get long body.

(2) get STC for 310 HP.

(3) sell off old panel, replace with new WAAS capable, GPSS steered, JPI digital magic.

(4) paint to perfection.

(5) enjoy...

Sorry if I dreamed out loud...

Best regards,

-a-