I've just got here. First of all: thank you

[flyboy]

And house.  And car.  And another car.  And paycheck.  All can be downsized at the appropriate time.  I am at the point where I am beginning to think about it.

 

I, however, bought my aircraft with the "pilot pays" rule in mind.  So anything that can be stuffed in the aircraft the pilot gets to pay for.  When you get all the passengers to the Bahamas and have paid for the plane, fuel, etc., the next thing is "Hey Dad, let's go scuba diving" and the pilot gets to pay for that also, and the lodging, and the food, and the jetskis or whatever else they decide they want to do.  My way of dealing with that was to buy an aircraft into which I cannot jam 6 or 8 people, for whom I would then have to pay.  It has made the whole experience much more affordable.

 

With this in mind, the mooney mite would look very attractive to me.

[J Bird]

 I did my research before I went to get my PPL and knew that a Mooney M20J is what would work for me. I received my PPL with 37 hours(part141) and I purchased my M20J. I took an accelerated instrument rating class 10 days and again part 141 at Ocala aviation in Florida because they had a Mooney M20C on there plane list. I flew the M20C manual flaps and Johnson bar for all of my instrument training and my check ride.  I received a great insurance rate for being instrument rated but also having does 50+ hours under the hood in a Mooney type. Love the feel of the plane and when I got into my M20J I could not stop smiling....from beginning to end of flight. I still get excited when I open my hanger doors.

[MooneyPTG]

Bought mine with about 60 hours tt in a tomahawk. I thought easy transition but I had a great instructor. I hate landing on grass, not because it is difficult, but because I spend 2 hours trying to get the zillion bugs off the wings and windshield:(

[Aspiring_M20_Pilot]

Just to chime in on the "family" side of this.(...) If you plan on using your plane more extensively for vacationing, just keep this growth of your family in the equation. You may be better suited for a large plane to start with.

Thank you Marauder. That's a variable that I wouldn't imagine.

 

 

 

Here's 11 pages of my prop strike adventure.

 

http://mooneyspace.com/topic/10273-prop-strike-today-october-8-2013/

 

It took 3 months(...)+ 25k to repair prop, tear down, inspect engine and to R&R.(...)  the insurance company, faced with a $25k repair could have given me the $60k I was insured for and sold or parted out the plane. But since I had $100k hull their best loss was to repair. It's a cold world out there.

Precious info there. Thank you.

 

(...) My way of dealing with that was to buy an aircraft into which I cannot jam 6 or 8 people, for whom I would then have to pay.  It has made the whole experience much more affordable.

Thanks, jlunseth.

 

I would recommend a Mooney-specific CFI as well as taking the MAPA pilot proficiency course(...). perhaps consider coming to MAPA Homecoming at Kerrville Texas. home of Mooney April 10-12.  The festivities begin with a Thursday evening premiere of Boots on the Ground, a documentary my husband and I produced about the workers at the factory.

Thank you, Mooneygirl. It would be great to be able to attend the homecoming and although I've got interested by the doc teaser, unfortunately, I won't be able to travel this April.

Congratulations on the documentary.

 

Rely on the PPI to know best what you are buying...

The expensive things you can look for yourself...

1 ) leaking fuel tanks. (Kind of expensive)

2 ) some engines that have sat for extended periods. (Really expensive)

3 ) old style rubber biscuits... (Expensive)

4 ) wicked old radios... (Somewhat expensive)

Learn to work with your mechanic. If you like this kind of fun. It's good for you.

I bought a C within months of my second child being born. Now or never may have been on my mind. They really fill the back seats...

Thanks, Carusoam.

 

A J model was my first plane with fresh license years ago.  I have never regretted it.(...)the insurance is only expensive for the first six months or so.

Thank you, AlanA.

 

I received my PPL with 37 hours  and I purchased my M20J. I took an accelerated instrument rating class 10 days(...) I received a great insurance rate for being instrument rated but also having does 50+ hours under the hood in a Mooney type. 

Thank you, JBird. 

 

Bought mine with about 60 hours tt in a tomahawk. I thought easy transition but I had a great instructor.

Thank you, MooneyPTG.

 

 

Guys,

Thank you for the many useful information you have shared. For what I've amassed so far, I have a green light :-)

 

I guess it's time to assess costs... I'll do it in another post.

 

Ary 

[AmigOne]

1   Rent till you are ready….                 Agree

2   Buy a plane that fits your economics and mission…         Strongly agree

3   Upgrade like there's no tomorrow…      Disagree and refer to previous comment about economics, there is tomorrow and in the meantime save your money for training, fuel and maintenance.  If you bought a plane with the equipment that fits your mission it should have everything that you'll need for a while.  Benefit from the  investments made by the previous owner.  

4   Don't rush, until you know what you want.         Refer to item 2 and learn as much as possible about the airplane that you have selected.            

5   Know what a pre purchase inspection is about.       Agree with caveats.  For a newbie perhaps  a pre purchase is the only way to go.   However I have mentioned previously on this subject that I don't have much faith on pre purchase inspections and that there is much to learn about the airplane with proper due diligence.  Armed with a wealth of information that you can gather from the internet about, Ads, SBs, forums like this one for make and model, etc, it is amazing what even a newbie can learn through a careful examination of the logbooks.  And you can always get help from a more experienced friend plus anybody in this forum will gladly help you if he lives nearby.   One method that I have used successfully in lieu of a pre purchase  is:  if the airplane I want to buy is within 2-3 months from expiration of the annual, I would offer to pay half the fixed fee (probably the same as the cost of a pre-purchase) and do a full blown annual.  Then I would write on the purchase contract the conditions under which I could walk away from the deal based on the findings of the annual.  If possible do not use the shop that did the previous annual, however not too many owners will agree to their airplane to be flown away to some distant place of your choice.  I'm not sure I would because my annuals are made by a very reputable shop at my airport, the paperwork is excellent and all you would have to do is to look and my airplane to immediately know the TLC exercised in its care.   Obviously I would not object to your bringing an A&P of your choice to do a pre purchase.

Maybe this advice fits only a few people in the general population. But it describes many around here….    A side comment, don't talk about price reductions or make offers before seeing an airplane.  Some people do and as an owner it annoys me that somebody would make an unreasonable offer.  Go and see the airplane first, make a list of items that you feel would warrant a lower price and then talk, a reasonable  owner most likely will also be more receptive after you have made the effort and incurred the expense to inspect his airplane.          

Best regards and welcome aboard,     Strongly agree...

-a-