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$175k

GaryP1007

By GaryP1007
in General Mooney Talk

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GaryP1007 Proficient

GaryP1007

Posted
Posted

If you had $175K to spend on a Mooney and you lived in the Boston area and used the plane to travel locally as well as South Carolina, FL and greater TN area what would you buy?

  • Like 1
Danb Grand Master

Danb

Posted
Posted

Gary adding in Tn, SC and Fl..makes your missions longer, being up north you may want FIKI, turbo maybe not east coast...I'd try to find a nice Ovation maybe an Eagle..you can get a lot of plane for $175k. Love my Bravo...with that budget you'll find a nice plane get yourself a good pre buy....winter time may be a buyers market...good luck.

Jerry 5TJ Grand Master

Jerry 5TJ

Posted
Posted

What's the range the Rockets?

Here's what the Rocket Engineering web site claims:

 

Maximum Range of the 305 Rocket (FL240 cruise)

Power %  Speed  kts/true  Range nm  Time hrs

78  230  750  3.5

76  228  800  3.7

65  218  850  4.0

55  208  900  4.5

 

But I doubt you'll get ATC to assign FL240 anywhere between Boston and about Richmond:  15,000 is more likely.

 

 

As an alternative, I'd look for a great partner and then together buy a newer, FIKI, non-G1000 Mooney, say something like this one:

 

http://www.controller.com/listingsdetail/aircraft-for-sale/MOONEY-M20R-OVATION2-DX/2003-MOONEY-M20R-OVATION2-DX/1344823.htm

GeorgePerry Veteran

GeorgePerry

Posted
Posted

The three questions you first need to answer are:  

 

(1) What's the mission? 

(2) What's the mission?

(3) What's the mission? 

 

How much you can spend should really be a secondary consideration.  First, find a plane that's right for the mission you'll fly 80-90% of the time.  For instance, If you need to fill up all 4 seats with adults, or need to haul big bulky items, Mooney's won't work for that...an A36 is a much better platform.  If you need to do a lot of late night flying, then a Cirrus might be an option since the parachute provides some additional levels of safety over "normal" SE Piston aircraft during night ops.  With those caveats, I'll give you my somewhat biased opinion... 

 

I own a M20S Eagle…So my answer would be a M20S Eagle.  You should be able to pick one up and have about $25K left over for "upgrades". (Screaming Eagle, Avionics etc)  Another option would be an early Ovation.  For East coast flying, I'd be hesitant to buy a turbo.  There are pro's and con's but in general if you don't need to fly over mountains or operate from high density altitude airports you don't need a turbo and will be happy not paying for the increased maintenance that goes along with a boosted engine.

 

Missile and Rocket Conversions are pretty good performers for the money, but there are tradeoff's there too with older systems and avionics (unless the previous owner upgraded).  I looked really hard at missiles but ended up getting an Eagle.  It only cost a bit more but the improvements that factory made to the interior and systems were worth the premium.  

 

Another thing to consider is the venerable M20J.  They are great performers.  For comparison, I see 165-170Kts LOP and 180Knots ROP in my Eagle.  The M20J only runs about 20 knots slower.  For a 200 mile trip, the speed difference only equates to about 10 minutes more flight time.  For about $125K you can buy one heck of a nice J.  

 

My best advice is buy the nicest, best maintained, newest aircraft you can afford.  After you figure out what's right for you, how much it'll cost, don't forget to set aside a $30-40K "cash reserve" so you're able to fix or improve things as needed.   Good luck!

  • Like 2
Danb Grand Master

Danb

Posted
Posted

As far as getting FL 240 there is no problem getting clearance to 25000ft...I have no clue why someone would think aTC would not provide you viable flight levels..Bravos aclaims rockets 252's are flying all over the country at 25000 me included?

carusoam Grand Master

carusoam

Posted
Posted

M20R or S and strong negotiating skills...

I would prefer the 310hp version with a TopProp...

I would 'settle' for an O1 with a single WAAS GPS to maintain financial control...

Best regards,

-a-

aviatoreb Grand Master

aviatoreb

Posted
Posted

As far as getting FL 240 there is no problem getting clearance to 25000ft...I have no clue why someone would think aTC would not provide you viable flight levels..Bravos aclaims rockets 252's are flying all over the country at 25000 me included?

 

I think there is some truth to what George says about difficulty of getting high altitudes for SOME east coast flying.  I have experienced it in some of my flying.  I have filed FL16 and 18 for trips along the corridor - like Boston to DC, or Hartford to DC, and they just ignore it and give me 6000.  Luckily I rarely fly the corridor.  Other than that though, if I file mid teens originating in DC, or Boston, or White Plains, or Hartford heading home to the boonies - they always give it to me.

 

I really like flying in the mid teens precisely because no one else likes it because of the O2.  With a really good O2 system - try out oxyarm attached to your headset - its no big deal, and the smooth air with little traffic is very nice.  With a turbo, its no big deal to climb to 14 or 16k even for a 1 hour trip if the climb takes 10-12 min or so.

 

Besides that - I was thinking about ice when I opted for a turbo - I was worried some day I might really screw up and want to get away (climb) from ice asap - so for that rare screw up it seemed like a good idea. That is not east coast exclusive problem, but the east coast is prone to ice, esp if you fly in front of the lake effect stuff like I do.  In fact, I live north of lake effect, but if I want to fly south from here as I often do, I need to fly through lake effect country.  It is not uncommon a scenario where I can depart in vfr, or a thin layer, but just 50 mi south there is ice - but I can do the whole flight in the sunshine over tops at say 14 - 18k.  (Actually sometimes lake effect has tops as low as 8-10k).  So I have my inadvertent TKS and turbo as my just in case, and they are my piece of mind.  And I enjoy having an option available all the time in east coast flying.

 

Also, as I mentioned, I live in the boonies, and also I often cross the Adirondacks.  I don't need a tremendous amount of altitude to cross the ADKS with MEAs roughly in the 7500 range, but then again, with a full feathering prop I feel better at higher altitudes for glide range purposes.  For that matter, I cross the great lakes direct, saving time rather than going around, in the mid teens and up since I am in gliding range at all times.

 

Yes, the no turbo airplanes are pretty awesome too.  For me, even in the east coast, I do see utility in a turbo plane, even if it is sometimes just for options available sometimes when I don't actually go high - and certainly any M20K, incl 231 would fit what I described above - except maybe the lack of uber fast climb I have and maybe I wouldn't fly high for as many shorter flights if I had a 231 - and certainly an M20J is an awesome machine.  

 

A rocket is probably the most inefficient of all the Mooneys gph-wise (or Bravo?), but logic aside, and optimizing mission aside, so just speaking cool-factor and thinking of buying on impulse, its just fun to have my very own cool hot rod in the hangar and the keys in my pocket.

  • Like 2
gsengle Grand Master

gsengle

Posted
Posted

Early M20R with FIKI like mine. I'm based in western mass and have gone as far as Orlando nonstop. No need for the turbo down the east coast.

carusoam Grand Master

carusoam

Posted
Posted

FIKI is a nice system to improve the "get out of ice, now" capability...

It de-ices flying surfaces and windshield with a liquid.

De-ices the prop as well. Some props use the liquid, others use electric heat...

FIKI also has various back-up parts and other items for monitoring icing.

I learned enough about the system to find that it wasn't on my needs list.

There are a couple of small hassles that go with the system

Unfortunately...

-it's not free.

-it has weight.

-some maintenance is involved.

-it is not magic, it doesn't allow for flying continuously in icing conditions. That would be nice!

It is great for a Mooney that needs the highest level of deployment capabilities.

Best regards,

-a-

John Pleisse Grand Master

John Pleisse

Posted
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$175k is a little light for a FIKI long body of any vintage. You might acquire the airframe for that number, but you'll bust the bank OH'ing an engine, etc. Get a late 80's 252 with FIKI. You'll get low time numbers and everything you want for $175k. You'll also acquire value that exceeds the airframe and not be plane poor with a long body that needs an engine. If you could go to $212k-$225k.....Get an O2 FIKI.

  • Like 1
GaryP1007 Proficient

GaryP1007

Posted
  • Author
Posted

no obstacles, just to be fully educated on the trade offs between type of plane.  I like not blowing the entire $175 and being able to invest in a few upgrades/enhancements.....

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