Fitting things in a Mooney

[triple8s]

I just read the question about fitting a box through the door on a Mooney and although not an expert I've had two Mooneys a long and a short and the ingress/egress is the only down side to a Mooney, other than the fact that it only has one engine but that's a whole other discussion.

Now keep in mind I realize the difference between an experimental and a certified that being said here we go. I've often wondered why the baggage door couldn't be modified to have a larger opening. Possibly have a upper and lower door? The steel tubing goes to the end of the baggage area and it would seem that it wouldn't take much to make a lower door that could be opened when a larger opening was needed for larger items. Yes I know that sounds crazy but most of the time there are two pax and bags and the baggage access is really he only area the Mooney is inadequate. It would be sweet if a man and wife could get in their Mooney throw in a small two piece motorcyle or scooter and fly to a destination and have your transportion right there in the back. Most small scooters weigh in at about 300 or less so it could be done.

[N201MKTurbo]

The door frame would have to carry the structural loads normally carried by the airframe, so it would have to be heavy.

Also, run a weight and balance with 300 pounds in the baggage compartment. You will be way out of the envelope.

[rbridges]

I've wondered that about a second pilot door. I figured structure and weight, also.

[co2bruce]

2 people, 25 gallons per side, 300 lb scooter in baggage is doable in a long body. Just worked the numbers, inside the envelope. That said, your wife needs to be pretty strong to lift a 300 motorcycle into the Mooney.

[triple8s]

On the weight and balance I was thinking more about the rear seats coming out and loading from the back and placing it in the rear seat area. The rear seat area oughta be good for 300 or so. The structure would be the thing, seems like anytime you change one thing two dozen more have to be changed but I know a guy who carried a Yamaha 125 to the Bahamas in his V tail and I know they have an aft cg issue unlike a Mooney. I noticed something else our Mooneys have a narrow door (cabin door) and the hinge is made so it pivots at the door seem. Was looking at a Bo the other day and the hinge is made so it is fore the seem of the door and fuse making the door swing forward out of the way more than the Mooney. I've heard so many people say how a mooney is so cramped when in actuality it isn't the space it's the ingress/egress.

Oh and the motorcycle would be cut into sections to be reassembled at the airport. That's how the guy in the V tail did it. I saw the bike I thought it was a great idea.

[N201MKTurbo]

One of those obnoxious GoPeds would fit with no modification. They will do 25 MPH.

If you don't mind looking like a crazed 15 year old.

[triple8s]

This whole notion came from a trip to Hatteras, my previous hangar mate has a huge house over there and he let me have a week for free. 4 floors, sleeps 21, elevator, 3 laundries, 2 kitchens, hot tub, jacuzzi, pool table, swimming pool, library, observatory, I mean this place is huge and it was my wife and I......two people, well we flew to KHSE and arraigned for a car, it never showed so we hitched a ride to the house and the next day the pool guy came to check the pool and I asked him about transportation, there wasn't much. After talking with him while he worked he told me a place rents cycles in Avon so I asked for a ride there, rented a little scooter it would go about 45 mph but that was good enough. We went everywhere and only burned about 10$ in fuel. I think that thing weighed about 200 plus a few. Something like that would be plenty on a trip to a quiet tropical place, wouldn't weigh much nor burn much fuel.

[bonal]

On one of the trips I went on to pick up a mooney for service at LASAR we went to Santa Barbara for the pickup. I can't remember what model it was, might have been a Bravo or an Ovation. Any way the owner used the plane for rescue dog missions and had the rear seat removed and I remember it had a large cargo door that opened up to the back seat area and that was flat at least 3 to 4 feet long with adjustable tie down rails very nicely done. Perhaps someone on Mooney space knows this aircraft.

As for getting in and out. Every one seems to enter in front of the right seat. What I do is put the seat all the way forward with the left all the way back I can stand straight up in the door and easy sit down in my favorite chair.

[N201MKTurbo]

I have a Yamaha Vino 125. IMHO the best scooter ever made. It looks small compared to most motorcycles, but I don't think it would fit in a Mooney no mater how big a door you had. It is a pain for two people to load it into the back of a pickup. Maneuvering it into a Mooney would be a Herculean effort at best.

[Hank]

I know a guy who put a motorcycle (size unknown, maybe a 250) in his 172, pushed it up a 2x4 for a ramp. When he landed, he rode the bike into town and back. Don't think that would work with our planes, even if traveling solo.

[Seth]

http://www.diblasi.com

Collapsable motorcycle (really scooter) that weighs 65 pounds and goes up to 30 MPH.

-Seth

[N201MKTurbo]

That could work. Wish it had a dual seat.

[stevesm20b]

A lot will fit in a Mooney if you take the front passenger seat out. Just makes getting in and out more of a challenge.

[MARZ]

2 people, 25 gallons per side, 300 lb scooter in baggage is doable in a long body. Just worked the numbers, inside the envelope. That said, your wife needs to be pretty strong to lift a 300 motorcycle into the Mooney.

Except for that pesky little weight limitation placard for the baggage area

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[DrBill]

This whole notion came from a trip to Hatteras, my previous hangar mate has a huge house over there and he let me have a week for free. 4 floors, sleeps 21, elevator, 3 laundries, 2 kitchens, hot tub, jacuzzi, pool table, swimming pool, library, observatory, I mean this place is huge and it was my wife and I......two people, well we flew to KHSE and arraigned for a car, it never showed so we hitched a ride to the house and the next day the pool guy came to check the pool and I asked him about transportation, there wasn't much. After talking with him while he worked he told me a place rents cycles in Avon so I asked for a ride there, rented a little scooter it would go about 45 mph but that was good enough. We went everywhere and only burned about 10$ in fuel. I think that thing weighed about 200 plus a few. Something like that would be plenty on a trip to a quiet tropical place, wouldn't weigh much nor burn much fuel.

So when is the MOONEYSPACE fly in to Hatteras ???

BILL

[Hank]

So when is the MOONEYSPACE fly in to Hatteras ???

BILL

 

Sounds like fun!! Please pardon us while we invite ourselves over . . . .   

[N201MKTurbo]

A lot will fit in a Mooney if you take the front passenger seat out. Just makes getting in and out more of a challenge.

So here's how it works..

 

You get in the pilot's seat. Have your friends load the bikes, close the door and off you go!

 

At your destination you have some more friends meet you at the airport to take the bikes out so you can run in to use the rest room.

[aviatoreb]

So here's how it works..

 

You get in the pilot's seat. Have your friends load the bikes, close the door and off you go!

 

At your destination you have some more friends meet you at the airport to take the bikes out so you can run in to use the rest room.

 

Ummm - just don't have an incident where you want to get out quickly.

 

BTW - related topic - I keep a tiny window hammer in my pilots side pouch.

[Ned Gravel]

Ummm - just don't have an incident where you want to get out quickly.

BTW - related topic - I keep a tiny window hammer in my pilots side pouch.

Do those things actually work on plexiglas?

Sent from my iPad

[aviatoreb]

Do those things actually work on plexiglas?

Sent from my iPad

 

Yes - It works very very well - I actually tested it on a piece of airplane window at the shop that had been removed to be discarded.  It worked much better than I could have dreamed it would work - one firm but not crazy tap and it was straight through the stuff.  Its a tiny little hammer with a plastic handle and a pointy end.  I keep in the side pouch with the flashlight, oxymeter, pens, headset batteries - the quick access things.

[Piloto]

Actually the Mooney baggage door location is the best I have seen for small planes. You can load baggage on top all the way to the ceiling. Try that with a Cessna or Cirrus were you cannot load on top of the baggage due to the smaller lower side door. On the M20J I have been able to get in five 22" suitcases by loading on top of the ones on the floor. It also has the advantage to squeeze in that last minute bag.

 

José    

[carusoam]

Acrylic windows are easy to crack. Proven by trying to drill into one gently with the wrong drill bit....

Best regards,

-a-

[flyboy0681]

I've wondered that about a second pilot door. I figured structure and weight, also.

 

I've wondered why Mooney, Beech and Piper only have one door - and on the wrong side.

 

I've flown Cessna's, Trinidad's, Sierra's and Commander's and having two doors are a really nice feature, if not for getting in and out - for emergencies.

[Piloto]

I guess for the same reason Cessnas do not have four doors.

 

José