MOONEY M20C LOW TIME BEAUTY!!! Price reduced to $45000.00

[M20F]

Swinging the J-bar was never much of a problem. Latching it to the little thing on the floor was always my problem.

Small bit of info that has worked for me especially as you are traveling solo for awhile. Fasten the co-pilot seat belt and always check the floor for junk (including your seat belt). There is nothing worse than swinging the gear and wondering why it won't lock and see a seatbelt strap underneath the bar (usually in my case the co-pilot belt which I forgot to refasten after the last passenger).

[DXB]

Small bit of info that has worked for me especially as you are traveling solo for awhile. Fasten the co-pilot seat belt and always check the floor for junk (including your seat belt). There is nothing worse than swinging the gear and wondering why it won't lock and see a seatbelt strap underneath the bar (usually in my case the co-pilot belt which I forgot to refasten after the last passenger).

And indispensable item on before takeoff checklist:  "Gear handle area clear"

[steingar]

And indispensable item on before takeoff checklist:  "Gear handle area clear"

Don't I know it.  On my first solo takeoff I went to put up the gear and ran into the sectional chart that had just fallen off the seat!  Thankfully I think I've got the gear down, I think.  Worked just fine with minimal effort last two times.  I just have to get the landings into a better semblance of order.  Just takes time, I'll get there.  The Lucky Strike is a gorgeous ship and I will fly her everywhere.

[DXB]

Don't I know it.  On my first solo takeoff I went to put up the gear and ran into the sectional chart that had just fallen off the seat!  Thankfully I think I've got the gear down, I think.  Worked just fine with minimal effort last two times.  I just have to get the landings into a better semblance of order.  Just takes time, I'll get there.  The Lucky Strike is a gorgeous ship and I will fly her everywhere.

In case you haven't seen Don Maxwell's essay on the J bar, I found it helpful during my transition:

http://www.donmaxwell.com/publications/MAPA_TEXT/Manual%20Gear%20Operation/LANDING_GEAR)OPERATION.HTM

 

Getting the gear up was never a problem for me, but getting it to lock in the block upon putting it down certainly was.  I blamed on rigging adjustment but turned out to be my own buffoonery- the motor memory just took a while to develop.  Now I'm a J-bar devotee.  

[steingar]

In case you haven't seen Don Maxwell's essay on the J bar, I found it helpful during my transition:

http://www.donmaxwell.com/publications/MAPA_TEXT/Manual%20Gear%20Operation/LANDING_GEAR)OPERATION.HTM

 

Getting the gear up was never a problem for me, but getting it to lock in the block upon putting it down certainly was.  I blamed on rigging adjustment but turned out to be my own buffoonery- the motor memory just took a while to develop.  Now I'm a J-bar devotee.  

 

Yeah, I looked at that before and during learning the dang thing.  Yeah, putting the bar up (gear down) was never much of a biggie, but putting it down (gear up) and getting it locked was a major PITA.  That said, as I've written I think I have it quite well.  Just have to develop the muscle memory.  Having a CFI with me telling me what the locked position should look like (and what the unlocked position I had looked like) helped a lot.  For anyone new to it I'd recommend gear swings on jack stands; I should have.  But I got it within the 10 hours I had to do for the insurance, so its all good.  And yes, I like the J-bar too.  Like I said, just gotta get better at landing, which I intend to do Sat. if the wx cooperates.

[Hank]

 

I did have the distinct please of following a Skyhawk in the pattern and having to swing wide because I was so much faster than him.

 

The Mooney isn't what I'd call easy to land, but I'll get there.  

 

 

Congratulations! Glad to see that everything worked out and you flew her home with no issues.

 

I can't help but wonder if these two statements are related? In my [electric] C, I fly downwind and base at 90 mph, and roll wings-level on final at 85 mph, slowing to 70-75 on short final depending on my weight for that landing. As a student, I flew the Skyhawk at 70 knots and 60 knots; 90 mph = 78 knots; 85 mph = 74 knots, so just a little bit faster.

 

Make sure you get the stall horn squeal just before touchdown. I have a vimeo video somewhere of my 1/2-3/4 mile final to touchdown over the trees, it should be posted here somewhere. If I could only remember my username . . . You can always search there for "Mooney KHTW" and it should be there between some comedian and an Asian girl band [he is somebody Mooney, and HTW is some abbreviated form of the band's non-English name].

[steingar]

Congratulations! Glad to see that everything worked out and you flew her home with no issues.

 

I can't help but wonder if these two statements are related? In my [electric] C, I fly downwind and base at 90 mph, and roll wings-level on final at 85 mph, slowing to 70-75 on short final depending on my weight for that landing. As a student, I flew the Skyhawk at 70 knots and 60 knots; 90 mph = 78 knots; 85 mph = 74 knots, so just a little bit faster.

 

Make sure you get the stall horn squeal just before touchdown. I have a vimeo video somewhere of my 1/2-3/4 mile final to touchdown over the trees, it should be posted here somewhere. If I could only remember my username . . . You can always search there for "Mooney KHTW" and it should be there between some comedian and an Asian girl band [he is somebody Mooney, and HTW is some abbreviated form of the band's non-English name].

 

We're on the exact same page here.  I try to have it at 70 on short final, and I even succeed sometimes.  When I don't, it floats.  But I always hear that horn just before touchdown.  Like I said, a few more landings and I'll probably have it down.

[Bravoman]

All jokes aside, I find the mooney the easiest plane to grease on that I have ever flown. What everyone says about keeping to the numbers couldn't be more true. For whatever reason I get consistent (near) perfect landings way more than in my fixed gear Saratoga.

Enjoy your new plane! Regards, Frank

[steingar]

Looking at this thread for nostalgia sakes, my landings are now well into the acceptible stage, and I seem to even be doing stabilized approaches.  Hooray!  Come Spring I start IFR training.  The ship is fast and wonderful. Still haven't taken Mrs. Steingar flying, the weather gods have been less than cooperative.  I'd love to do the Mooney Caravan, but aviation gatherings tend to be a bit hard on us Vegetarians. We'll see.l