Mooney Security

[201er]

As I leave Kabul to head back home, I wonder what kind of security measures other Mooney pilots have for their planes?

[Marauder]

I use one of these:

Anything to slow them down. Plus a locked hangar...

[Awful_Charlie]

Just a locked hangar for me when at home base, and then standard locks when away from base. If I'm parked up for a long time whilst away, or hot/inclement weather is expected, then a cover which blocks all the windows too.

 

I do have a FlightRadar24 alert set up for when it sees the transponder, but appreciate that will be a bit late by the time I get it!

[fantom]

Ignition key, locked door, secure hanger and good insurance!

[Steve65E-NC]

My pre walk around and post shut down rituals includes: Prop chain with lock, cowel closures, tennis ball with day glo tag on windspeed, velcro attached bird bra on tail openings.  Photos in my picture gallery.

[N601RX]

The original owner of my plane left it tied down at a rural Georgia airport one night in the early 2000's.  When he came back the next morning the cowl was removed and the engine was gone. They took the time to remove the prop and then cut all the cables. A new engine without a core was expensive and the insurance company paid him out and took the plane. 

[Bob_Belville]

I have little concern when at home and leave the plane unlocked in my locked hanger. When overnight out of town I have a cover. (I have a prop chain which came with the plane and was required apparently in the DC area where he was based but I have not carried it with me out of town.)

 

The original owner of my plane left it tied down at a rural Georgia airport one night in the early 2000's.  When he came back the next morning the cowl was removed and the engine was gone. They took the time to remove the prop and then cut all the cables. A new engine without a core was expensive and the insurance company paid him out and took the plane. 

thread hijack: Did you buy the plane from the insurance company? What engine makes an Fa 601?

[N601RX]

I have little concern when at home and leave the plane unlocked in my locked hanger. When overnight out of town I have a cover. (I have a prop chain which came with the plane and was required apparently in the DC area where he was based but I have not carried it with me out of town.)

 

thread hijack: Did you buy the plane from the insurance company? What engine makes an Fa 601?

No someone else bought it from the insurance company in 2002.  They paid 21K for the airframe and prop, but the prop tuned out not to be any good.  They put a run out engine and new prop on it but only flew it 20 hrs in the next 8 years. Most of that was the mechanic flying it back and fourth for annual.  The owner never flew it by himself.  

 

The 601 is an experimental I have and it has a Jabaru engine.  Its a 6 cylinder 120hp engine.

[TWinter]

I wish my door lock worked. Needs adjusting and it seems like the shop always forgets to take a look at it since it's usually the last thing on my "If you get a chance would you please the door lock, it needs adjusting"..seems like they always forget to get to that one. They have mentioned it's a PIA to work on. I wish they did work. The hatch lock works great. Maybe sometime they will have time..LOL 

[FlyDave]

2 friends of mine in Los Angeles have C210's. They both put a fuel cutoff switch in the cowling accessible from the oil door.

C210's are favorites of the drug cartels because of their useful load. I know one of these planes has a 1,400+ lb. useful load - WOW!

[Joe Zuffoletto]

Locked hangar at home, lock the door and throw the cover on it when away in the U.S. When I go to Cabo the FBO there adds a prop lock, and I add a throttle lock. I've been very fortunate... in 15 years of aircraft ownership I haven't suffered any losses.

[gsxrpilot]

This topic might have me a little spooked.  I've not even thought about parking it overnight on a trip.  But at home, is a locked hanger door enough?  It's an individual free standing hanger.  It's all mine.  And I'm the only one with a key.

 

Paul

[jetdriven]

2 friends of mine in Los Angeles have C210's. They both put a fuel cutoff switch in the cowling accessible from the oil door.

C210's are favorites of the drug cartels because of their useful load. I know one of these planes has a 1,400+ lb. useful load - WOW!

thats a significant mod to the fuel system, is there some sort of STC for that?

[FlyDave]

thats a significant mod to the fuel system, is there some sort of STC for that?

Wait, did I say they installed this fuel cut-off switch? I meant to say they were thinking about installing this fuel cut-off switch .

I don't think they've found an STC yet...But they still own and fly their planes.

[SkyPilot]

I lock the doors if I am not at home. Most of my avionics are older and maybe nobody will steal them. I should order a cover but I have only spent 5 nights away from the home hanger in 3 years. As far as the armed security gaurd, see attached

[orionflt]

I lock the doors if I am not at home. Most of my avionics are older and maybe nobody will steal them. I should order a cover but I have only spent 5 nights away from the home hanger in 3 years. As far as the armed security gaurd, see attached

2013.10.05.Home Security.jpg

What are you going to protect with that pea shooter? now this is a real gun 

 

 

[jlunseth]

My plane is kept by an FBO in a communal hangar right on the ramp.  Everyone there knows my aircraft.  Nothing gets pulled out of the hangar unless the FBO does it. 

[Bennett]

I use one of these:

Anything to slow them down. Plus a locked hangar...

 

That is a great full panel deterrent.  I had one of these for my prior Mooney and used it in the Caribbean and Mexico.  I left it in my 261 when I sold her - not thinking I might buy another Mooney. I have been trying to track down a used one, since they are no longer being manufactured.  So far, no luck.  I also used a throttle lock (Sporty's) and a case hardened custom proplock - not chain, this was a two piece device that weighed well more than 10 pounds, but the way it fit, I doubt if anyone could remove it easily.  Still have it, but it doesn't fit my LoPresti cowled J. 

[carusoam]

Our guy who makes instrument panels has the skills for something like this...

Henderson??? Or is that the place he's from?

Or Hendricks???

Best regards,

-a-

[Marauder]

That is a great full panel deterrent.  I had one of these for my prior Mooney and used it in the Caribbean and Mexico.  I left it in my 261 when I sold her - not thinking I might buy another Mooney. I have been trying to track down a used one, since they are no longer being manufactured.  So far, no luck.  I also used a throttle lock (Sporty's) and a case hardened custom proplock - not chain, this was a two piece device that weighed well more than 10 pounds, but the way it fit, I doubt if anyone could remove it easily.  Still have it, but it doesn't fit my LoPresti cowled J. 

 

I found the receipt for it a year or so ago. I tried to track them down then and they were certainly gone. I remember it had some sort of red emblem on the front applied through a sticker.

[Marauder]

Our guy who makes instrument panels has the skills for something like this...

Henderson??? Or is that the place he's from?

Best regards,

-a-

 

Well they are certainly welcome to use mine as a template.

[SkyPilot]

What are you going to protect with that pea shooter? now this is a real gun 

 

 

Now that is a gun! I don't think they'd let me buy one of those up here. Our government classified my Colt .25 vest pocket hammerless as "prohibited"

[bumper]

I use one of these:

Anything to slow them down. Plus a locked hangar...

 

I also have a cover like that that I used to use. But, I pasted a copy of an Cessna panel with Arc radios on the face of it! Stopped using it years ago after one Mooney owner using this cover had the bad guys working it over with a crow bar - - trashed the tubing behind the bottom lip of the panel IIRC.

 

My Mooney lives in a locked hangar with a monitored alarm system - - I own an alarm company - - one of the few perks.

 

bumper

[Hank]

A favorite sign from a junkyard:  These premises patrolled by guard dogs three nights a week. Guess which three.

 

Unfortunately, no arsenal will protect the plane unless someone is there to use the gun(s) at the same time someone shows up to do mischief. Thus the prevalence of multiple layers of locks and guards.

[orionflt]

Now that is a gun! I don't think they'd let me buy one of those up here. Our government classified my Colt .25 vest pocket hammerless as "prohibited"

A gun enthusiast friend of mine posted the pic on facebook, it basically talked about the different definitions of gun owners based on region, I believe the pic was TX  .

I just couldn't resist throwing that out there.