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Fixed Gear Mooney Finally Fixed

Sven

By Sven
in Vintage Mooneys (pre-J models)

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Sven Proficient

Sven

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Finally, after a four month annual we are back in the air. We overhauled all three gear including new shock disks. We rebuilt the steering horn and replaced some worn parts in the nose gear. We completely tore apart and rebuilt the left flap due to a corroded block. We rebuilt the flap pump and actuator. We tore out the floor to get at the wing box where we had a microscopic crack. We installed these fancy new brackets from Mooney via LASAR over the crack that reinforced the flap acctuator attachment. We installed new carpet, new tiny shock absorber thingys (sorry, forgot the name) to the entire instrument panel, and did some work to the throttle.


She was signed-off this afternoon so we took her for a test flight this evening and the difference was immediately noticeable. The nose gear refurb completely fixed the wobble and shake we experienced over bumps and at high speeds. Thanks LASAR for the parts and advice! We immediately noticed the huge difference new shock disks made on landing. I was amazed there was that much of a difference. Our manual flaps now go down on the first pump which is a treat. And I remembered how to fly her after being out of the saddle for four months. That was the best part.


Even with being a fixed gear the tower kept asking us to slow down in the pattern to make way for the 182 in front of us. It doesn't matter where they are or even if the gear is permanently down, Mooneys want to go fast.


Captain Sven

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Sven Proficient

Sven

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We saw that. It was on eBay last year and I'm not sure if it sold. It looks lke the price has come down. There are only three that we know of that have not been converted. The one on eBay is N6651U in Edgewood, MD. The other fixed-gear Mooney is N1916Y located in Princeton, New Jersey. We heard rumors of another on the West Coast and chased those rumors down. It turned out to be us.

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DaV8or Grand Master

DaV8or

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I'm sure there's another one out there in a hanger somewhere. It's how it always goes. Many years ago, I was in the old car business and there are always new finds out there. I've often wondered if between MAC and the FAA, the current disposition of all the Mooneys still in the USA can be established.

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carusoam Grand Master

carusoam

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Sven's point is that M20Ds were converted to M20Cs years ago (low cost / high value factory mod).  They still exist on the registry as M20D but have fold up legs and are essentially M20Cs.  The M20D that was at Princeton was beige and brown.


Sven,


Is your M20D a fixed pitch prop or is it the same CS as an M20C?


-a-

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Sven Proficient

Sven

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One of our partners took 3 months, FAA registry in hand, and carefully researched each M20D on the list. Some were salvage, most were long-since converted. He did this by email, snail mail and phone calls when he could. He wasn't out to prove rarity. We were looking with someone with some accurate documentation on the unconverted 20D that would benefit us. It was through Cris' work that he discovered how rare these unconverted birds are. But we never did find the old documentation we were looking for. Bummer. We still don't know the ceiling of this bird and just recently acquired an O2 system to find that upper limit.


Ours is a constant speed prop. This was an option on the originals. It also has a couple of speed mods (wing root, tail, no hand-cranked step). It still has all the old steam gauges and original, though tired, interior. Our re$toration priority has been the essential things necessary to keep her flying safely. A new interior will have to wait a while. It has an authentic paint job from the factory. That, too, needs some help but she's rather close to what she looked like in 1963.


We are not sure about upgrading the panel since we all learned to fly that way and really enjoy that kind of flying. There's no autopilot but we do carry a Garmin 196. We usually stick to flights of an hour or two and have not ventured further than Bakersfield, Columbia, and Redding. The overhauled engine only has about 250-300 hours on it. And we've taken care of all of the serious corrosion with only a few tiny cosmetic spots left.


I'm sure there's another fixed gear out there in a hangar with an owner who's lost his/her medical and they just can't bear to part with it. But far as our research has shown, there are only 3 left unconverted.

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MooneyMitch Grand Master

MooneyMitch

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Hi Sven.


Jolie's Father's Mooney, N6619U was originally an M20D.  The aircraft joined the converted ranks as an M20D/C prior to Dad's purchase of the Mooney in 1974.  After the off airport landing [yikes!] she and Dad experienced in 2003 and the destruction of the M20D/C [affectionately known as Maggie], Jolie transferred N6619U to her 1965 E model, which is now known as Maggie II.


One of these days, you might be able to get your unique M20D repainted in that stock paint scheme/colors at ArtCraft Painting in Santa Maria.  I know they would make it look spectacular!


Hopefully we will see you at Lake in the Sky Air Show this weekend.  Please join us doing the Mooney Ambassador thing.

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DaV8or Grand Master

DaV8or

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Quote: Sven

One of our partners took 3 months, FAA registry in hand, and carefully researched each M20D on the list. Some were salvage, most were long-since converted. He did this by email, snail mail and phone calls when he could. He wasn't out to prove rarity. We were looking with someone with some accurate documentation on the unconverted 20D that would benefit us. It was through Cris' work that he discovered how rare these unconverted birds are. But we never did find the old documentation we were looking for. Bummer. We still don't know the ceiling of this bird and just recently acquired an O2 system to find that upper limit.

Ours is a constant speed prop. This was an option on the originals. It also has a couple of speed mods (wing root, tail, no hand-cranked step). It still has all the old steam gauges and original, though tired, interior. Our re$toration priority has been the essential things necessary to keep her flying safely. A new interior will have to wait a while. It has an authentic paint job from the factory. That, too, needs some help but she's rather close to what she looked like in 1963.

We are not sure about upgrading the panel since we all learned to fly that way and really enjoy that kind of flying. There's no autopilot but we do carry a Garmin 196. We usually stick to flights of an hour or two and have not ventured further than Bakersfield, Columbia, and Redding. The overhauled engine only has about 250-300 hours on it. And we've taken care of all of the serious corrosion with only a few tiny cosmetic spots left.

I'm sure there's another fixed gear out there in a hangar with an owner who's lost his/her medical and they just can't bear to part with it. But far as our research has shown, there are only 3 left unconverted.

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Sven Proficient

Sven

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None of the three partners are rolling in dough at the moment and by all rights should not be flying, let alone owning a plane. All three of us earned our private tickets out of high school and then life happened. None of us ever thought we'd ever get back in the air again, ever. But partner #1 came across a little $ and was able to get an amazing deal on this Mooney. He had it for a year when he lost his job and almost lost the plane. He was talking to the two of us and offered us a deal we knew we'd never see again and we became full partners. Partner #1 has a fantastic relationship with our A&P and since he was once in the Air Force as a mechanic we do a lot our own highly supervised maintenance wherever we can. We also have a great friend who is a senior airline pilot and trainer. He got us all recertified and keeps us current. He does this for small donations to his kids' travel accounts when they go overseas to do relief work. Where there's a will, there's a way!


That said, we would love to authentically restore this aircraft to factory specs as much as possible. Right now it's a $ issue and we're using our hard-earned bucks just keeping her in the air and healthy. The paint and the interior will come someday when the annuals stop being so expensive. But we thing we've taken care of all the big ticket items and can start saving for paint. We might even strip it ourselves saving us some $.


We spend the money to keep her in a hangar out of the elements. She sat outside in Hayward in the sun and salt air for 15 years. We figure right now the money on a hangar is the best maintenance we can do for her. It certainly helps.


We will not be able to make it Tahoe this weekend since it's my 25th Anniversary week and we won't be around the plane. But I'm working on Sun River. And if you're ever in the area I'll gladly open the hangar for you and we'll take her out for a spin. Santa Rosa is a great airport when not fogged in and we have a very nice restaurant.

post-418-13468138658468_thumb.jpg

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carusoam Grand Master

carusoam

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Sven,


You may have the rare fixed fixed gear mooney that has not been converted.....


Has anyone seen one of these unconverted gems?


http://www.planecheck.com/eu/image.asp?Imgname=13917/img011009530433.jpg


Replete with Butler button hook and stinger tail, and fixed step.


For more information, its for sale....


http://www.planecheck.com/eu/index.asp?ent=da&id=13917&cor=y


-a-http://www.planecheck.com/eu/image.asp?Imgname=13917/img011009530433.jpg'>


 


 

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DaV8or Grand Master

DaV8or

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Quote: carusoam

Sven,

You may have the rare fixed fixed gear mooney that has not been converted.....

Has anyone seen one of these unconverted gems?

http://www.planecheck.com/eu/image.asp?Imgname=13917/img011009530433.jpg

Replete with Butler button hook and stinger tail, and fixed step.

For more information, its for sale....

http://www.planecheck.com/eu/index.asp?ent=da&id=13917&cor=y

-a-http://www.planecheck.com/eu/image.asp?Imgname=13917/img011009530433.jpg'>

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