Mooney as first purchase

[Parker_Woodruff]

Airlines will hire with 50 hours Multi. I would buy the time rather than risk an expensive mechanical meltdown from a 50 year old twin. It's reasonable to expect $300/hr operating a twin. If you fly a lot, a vintage Mooney might cost you between $80 and $100/hr. My M20J was less than $100/hr over 300+hours

[ryoder]

I like my 65 M20C and picked it up for 20k. It has 2450 on the engine and airframe and I will overhaul it soon. It is easy to land compared to a 172 as long as you allow the airplane to land itself and don't think it's a STOL plane. The speed is nice but mine burnt only 8gph on my last training flight which included multiple instrument approaches and some taxiing so it's decently economical. It feels a little cramped compared to the 172 at least for me. I agree that you shouldn't do upgrades if you want to be a professional pilot as they can get out of hand. Good luck on the search.

[DaV8or]

Airlines will hire with 50 hours Multi. I would buy the time rather than risk an expensive mechanical meltdown from a 50 year old twin. It's reasonable to expect $300/hr operating a twin. If you fly a lot, a vintage Mooney might cost you between $80 and $100/hr. My M20J was less than $100/hr over 300+hours

 

However, think of how far ahead you'll be at 100 hours, or 200 hours multi. If there is a serious failure, you scrap the plane for it's parts and pretty much get your money back. Right now they are selling current, airworthy light twins for their salvage value.

[Houman]

However, think of how far ahead you'll be at 100 hours, or 200 hours multi. If there is a serious failure, you scrap the plane for it's parts and pretty much get your money back. Right now they are selling current, airworthy light twins for their salvage value.

I have several friends that have become professional pilots, and twin is the way to go to get noticed by the airlines. It is a completely different mission than those of us, me included that use the plane to get somewhere and not just build up hours...

[Jimhamilton]

Your mission is to visit every MLB park in one season. MLB parks are mostly located in metropolitan areas with high concentrations of air traffic and sometimes confusing procedures. You will be expected to comply with complex clearances told to you by very fast speaking air traffic controllers. Your mission is to basically fly to all corners of the US will bring challenges of weather, mountainous terrain, night flying (maybe), high density altitude airports and more. Your theater of operations is wide and is filled with potential threats that can affect the safety of flight. Your experience level is beginner.

Now that being said you want to make the addition of a complex aircraft into the above equation. This is a lot for any new pilot to handle. Others on the forum have done it with great success. Please take into account your abilities. For example. You want to visit Yankee stadium. You will be flying into some very complex airspace. Teterboro airport would be a possible airport for you to use. Lots of turbojet aircraft operation can be found there. Are you ready to operate in that environment. I will be honest. I was not ready when I had that much time. I would have been overwhelmed flying a 172 there let alone a Mooney.

My advice. Get more training. Get your instrument ticket in a complex aircraft. With an instrument ticket you will so much better understand the airspace around you and you will better understand the complex clearances you will receive.

I fly for a major airline and I can tell you that the Mooney I fly is magnitudes harder to fly then the big jets I fly with all the bells and whistles. Be smart. Think smart. Get more training. Then decide if you should buy a Mooney. God Bless

[deftone]

Your mission is to visit every MLB park in one season. MLB parks are mostly located in metropolitan areas with high concentrations of air traffic and sometimes confusing procedures. You will be expected to comply with complex clearances told to you by very fast speaking air traffic controllers. Your mission is to basically fly to all corners of the US will bring challenges of weather, mountainous terrain, night flying (maybe), high density altitude airports and more. Your theater of operations is wide and is filled with potential threats that can affect the safety of flight. Your experience level is beginner.

Now that being said you want to make the addition of a complex aircraft into the above equation. This is a lot for any new pilot to handle. Others on the forum have done it with great success. Please take into account your abilities. For example. You want to visit Yankee stadium. You will be flying into some very complex airspace. Teterboro airport would be a possible airport for you to use. Lots of turbojet aircraft operation can be found there. Are you ready to operate in that environment. I will be honest. I was not ready when I had that much time. I would have been overwhelmed flying a 172 there let alone a Mooney.

My advice. Get more training. Get your instrument ticket in a complex aircraft. With an instrument ticket you will so much better understand the airspace around you and you will better understand the complex clearances you will receive.

I fly for a major airline and I can tell you that the Mooney I fly is magnitudes harder to fly then the big jets I fly with all the bells and whistles. Be smart. Think smart. Get more training. Then decide if you should buy a Mooney. God Bless

 

Thank you for the advice, My plan is indeed to get my instrument ticket, I would like to use my own aircraft if possible. I see it as more hours in the aircraft I will eventually be flying alone, with a CFI beside me.

 

I also agree that I am far from ready to undertake my stadium goal. This is a future goal, perhaps in the next year or two. My first goal is to get past the checkride, then get my instrument ticket/complex and onto commercial. I would like to get this all done in the next 12 months as I would like to fly into Oshkosh next year...driving from Texas is getting old! I feel a year experience+ IR+Comm certs will allow me to handle the craziness of landing at OSH. Should that go well I can consider moving onto the stadiums/Major metro areas. Im in the Houston area, so have a little experience with Class B here, but generally stay under the shelf.

[Super Dave]

For economical travel, a Mooney is without a doubt the airplane to buy.

 

But if you are serious about a career as a pilot, my advice is to build ME time. Not all jobs require ME time, but many if not most do. I recommend getting your VFR ME, then doing your instrument ME. If you still have the finances for an airplane purchase after that, the cheapest way to build time (but not necessarily miles) is probably something like a C120/140.

 

Once you've filled the hour requirements for the Commercial, I'd recommend doing that ME also. The ME Commercial check ride is actually more straight forward than the SE Commercial: no chandelles, lazy-8s, or power off 180's. 

 

If you train with consistency you can realistically get through those ratings with about 50hrs of ME time: VFR ME rating (10 hrs), ME Inst.(20 hrs assuming a Sim is used), and ME Com. (20 hrs).

 

Whatever route you choose, good luck.

[gsxrpilot]

Where are you in Texas?  I'm based in Austin with my M20C.  I only have about 50 hours in my Mooney but think it's very easy to fly and land.  I found my M20C with every speed mod available, a very nice IFR panel including 530W, HSI, coupled STec30 all for less then your budget.  I do have an Instrument Rating and would agree with your plan to get the IA in your own airplane.  The Mooney is a very stable IFR platform.

 

I'd be happy to take you up for a ride if you like.