Finding and owning a Mooney

[Nemesis]

I have never had a problem with the master cylinder but I have seen several threads here on MS about them. From what I remember, there are but a handful of o-rings that have to be replaced to get the system resealed and back up to par. That is assuming of course that there is no scoring of the internals and the person doing the work has the necessary tools and skill. After that, what is needed is an ok from your A&P for the repairs and the reinstall. 5.4 AMUs seems quite excessive for that repair. 2.2 might be more reasonable. It might cost even much less if you are able to do some of that work yourself. There are ways to save on certain expenses and still have a well maintained machine. As always, an attitude of safety is a good place to start as well as a good working relationship with your A&P.

I wrote the following in a different thread. ---> The first week that I owned this airplane was spent doing agreed upon repairs that were part of the sale as well as an extensive annual. I installed a JPI 830, new battery, new shock disks, rebuilt nose gear from Lasar, rebuilt mags, and anything and everything that we could think of. I spent about $4000 of the previous owner's money and about $4000 of my own to make sure and minimize any lingering problems and make sure that all maintenance that might have been past due was up to par. Since then, outside of changing the oil, filter, and filling with fuel, I doubt that I have spent more than $3000 per year in total maintenance including the annual inspection and associated repairs.

Certainly, I have been fortunate in the first 5 years or so of ownership in the maintenance department. My machine started out in the $80,000 range rather than the $30,000 range so I may not be talking apples - apples. The best way to be sure that you are getting a well maintained machine is to be well informed and to get a thorough prebuy from one of the top Mooney shops. Still, as careful as an owner tries to be, there is always that pesky corroded engine cam or other surprise that nobody can predict. Such is the nature of older used machines.

Dave - I finally made it to 100 posts.

[gsxrpilot]

I fly a C because I figured I could afford to fly it as much as I liked. To own and fly an airplane like mine, I don't think one needs to be wealthy or in the top 1% by any means.  I think you need to be able to spend $1000 or $2000 at the drop of a hat if you had to. You should probably have $5000 to $10,000 available in the event of a particularly bad annual, avionics failure, or other issue. Finally, you should be able to put your hands on $25K to $35K either savings, loan, etc in the event of an engine failure.  If any of those numbers would cause you to miss a mortgage payment, children's college, etc. you probably can't afford an airplane. 

Of course you can cut those numbers in half or better with a partner or two.

And that's my $0.02

[MyNameIsNobody]

Thanks for all the input gentlemen !!  AS far as the brake issue with the Mooney at my field.I have learned that it was the brake master cylinder that needed replacement.Master cylinder was $2200 alone and the part that was sent had different bolt patterns on the 2 that was sent.I know that ALL machines brake down and ALL parts wear out.I guess I'm not asking for a squawk free aircraft at $30-$40,000. I `m just worried about parts availability for the older M20C`s / m20E`s. I guess i`m just asking if as a Mooney owner do you gentlemen have to put $1000`s in every annual because of constant part failures ? do any of you just have annuals done that don`t require fixing major components ? I know stuff wears out and brakes.So really the question is can Mooney`s be maintained affordably or are you guys repairing constantly ? I have no problem maintaining an aircraft i`m just wondering if i`m gonna be repairing major components regularly.......

What parts "fail" on a Mooney?  Behind the firewall:  Tank reseal.  They will seep and depending on degree (service manual outlines based on size of fuel stain) you can live with a seep for years.  I would not fuel my plane over half, as seep was higher in tank, unless I was flying cross-country and I could rapdly burn it off.  Reseal is $7.5AMU's by the best.  Doing stuff like installing strobes, putting on flap/aileron gap and hinge covers and wing base seal don't count on wings.  Gear.  Pucks are expensive in the nose and main gear, but again can be deferred/replaced a wheel a year.  Nose gear truss will need bushings and dthese a re .2 AMU's max.  If nose gear is NOT tight get it fixed.  Cabin: seats/carpet/plastic/insulation are cosmetic and can be repaired/re-done BY THE OWNER...Same with windows.  Brakes.  The master cylinder kit was about /02 AMU's for several rubber gaskets.  Same with the flap pump.  Labor is/should NOT be excessive for brakes and if they are not good/get them fixed.  Pads available from Spruce as are Battery (Recommend Concorde).  Pushrods are pretty bullet proof.  Wing-leveler rubber gaskets are NOT safety of flight and can be defeated until repaired.  Step seal just holds step up.  STILL way faster than a 172 with step down.  Light bulbs minimal.  Zeftronics voltage regulator is a MUST.  .2 AMU's.  The Generator is refurbishable, but we are now getting into firewall forward stuff.  Oil cooler, hoses, fuel injection or carb....Ram Air seal, tires....If this stuff is 50 years old would you want to fly your family in it, or get it repaired/updated?  Most of my costly stuff was self-inflicted.  HID landing light, 8-pack panel,    

Updating all instruments, updating radios, Engine Monitor, PC system, installing PC auto-pilot, re-doing interior (seats/plastics/carpet) installing panel GPS were ALL labors of love that made the plane a pleasure to fly safely NOT a bare minimum/legal bird.  Most Mooney's are expensive because they are old and didn't have an owner that loved to upgrade/make them theirs.  Avoid these planes.  A Mooney is a great economical cross-county machine, but I wouldn't want to own a $30k Mooney...

[geoffb]

If you think a Mooney is expensive, look at Beechcraft parts.  That will change your perspective.

I've owned a 66E for 11 years that has had crappy paint and interior since I bought it, but a solid airframe, a good engine, fresh tanks from Wet Wingologists and a working Brittain AP.  My first two annuals were eye openers at $3k and $5k.  Both were owner assist but I had some deferred/overlooked items that needed to be addressed.  Once a knowledgeable Mooney IA goes through the plane you can get it up to snuff and then just need to keep it that way.  I'll be the dissenting opinion and suggest that you can find a solid airplane in the $30s in this economy.  It will take a lot of shopping and looking at planes that end up being a disappointment.  They won't have modern avionics.  But my plane, with dual VORs and a handheld GPS gets me where I need to go.  Living in the NW, my utility is limited more by lack of deicing that it is by its avionics suite.  10,000 ft+ MEAs do that to you.

I now work with an IA that does annuals in my hanger.  I do all the work under his supervision and I trust his thorough inspections and second set of eyes.  But they still cost $800-$1,000 depending on what I need to address.  These planes are simply more work than a less complex, fixed gear single.  It takes me about 6 hours to get it opened for annual and about 10 hours to put it back together following annual.  Mooneys can be a pain to work on due to the tight engine install.

Parts are not expensive, as far as airplanes go.  The cost if the intake connector boot will piss you off since it doesn't seem to last that long.  If I need a Mooney part, either my IA or LASAR can often provide used.  The rate at which these planes are getting scrapped/parted is making used airframe stuff more attractive.

One thing I didn't see mentioned is your mission.  Mooneys are the most efficient cross country traveling airplanes for a pilot or pilot +1.  If you have places to go and pay your own bills, all the data points to a 4 cylinder Mooney.  No other comparable plane can be operated for the same costs.  Look at old Bonanzas, Commanches and Arrows.  The Bo and Commanche 250/260 can meet the speed at 30% more fuel burn and 6 cylinders to care for and higher maint costs.  The Arrow is slower on the same fuel.

But, if you just fly for fun around home and maybe will take a vacation trip now and then, there are cheaper things to fly than any complex single.

[steingar]

Our OP is obviously not an airplane owner.  My first airplane was a Cessna 150.  A little aluminum piece of the door about the side of my thumb broke, a new one would have cost me $500.  My first annual on my completely refurbished Cherokee, which received a wings-off restoration from the EAA itself, cost well north of two thousand dollars.  And a Cherokee only has 1200 parts.  Mooneys are expensive for maintenance because there is a lot of stuff to take apart.  Lots of screws, lots of inspection plates.  If you just drop it off to a mechanic you pay for him or her to do all that.  At whatever hourly rate you're paying.  It adds up fast.  Mooneys also have a lot of parts compared to simpler training aircraft.  Lots of stuff to break.  And there weren't as many of them made as some other aircraft, so some parts can be a bit harder to source.  Mooneys have the same issues as any other complex aircraft.  In addition they have an extra, leaky fuel tanks.  If your tanks haven't been sealed or bladdered they'll leak.  They may not today, but they will.  If they leak on your watch you get to fix it, and its expensive.

 

Even so, there is never any guarantee that a part won't break and cost you money.  I know folks who had leaky gas tanks in Cherokees.  You want to talk about hard to source parts, no two of those things are the same!   Sorry, if you don't want to be hit with huge surprise maintenance bills stay on the ground.

[DXB]

Here's an article just out in Flying Magazine that highlights the value in buying vintage M20C.  I see no mention regarding unusually high operating cost concerns with old Mooneys:

http://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/pistons/mooney-makeover-buying-airplan

[carl]

yes  you can find a great plane for less then your price .

 

spend a year looking and 6 months closing . go through about 10.planes saying before you look , i don't want this one ..... one will reach up and grab you . .. 

i have done this . 

 

money . no matter what you buy you will spend money . 

 my first.plane was a grumman . i didn't.like the way it.flew . so i overhauled the engine . 

i still didnt.like the way it flew so i sold it ,it was the plane not the engine . but i didnt lose money . 

i have a loran in my mooney that i just can't seem to get working right.  so do i need a garmin 430 wass . i dont think i do . at least till i master the loran (i know).

at sun and fun i met a man that has a p 51 mustang. 

i said i could never afford one of these . he said .. he could not either . he is a mechanic and rebuilt.it from scrap , he lives in the hangar with the plane because he could not afford an apartment . .

 

the important thing , i think ,is to be in the sky . and we  really do whatever it take to get there. 

1967 m20 E 

altoona pa . 

 

 

[carl]

also on this site 

selling airplanes.

a 1964 m20 c . in that range . 

check it.out.. 

[Brandontwalker]

Wow!  There are some really harsh responses here. Let's face it, you don't have to be a millionaire to own and fly a Mooney. Just understand that issues will arise. When they do, get on the Internet and do the legwork yourself. Identify what you believe is the source of the problem (Mooneyspace is a great resource), have your AP confirm and do some bargain shopping and buy the parts yourself. I have had experiences where an AP spent $50 to have a $50 part overnighted when there was no need for the rush. I like to call this OPM (Other People's Money). 

[donkaye, MCFI]

Owning an airplane is not for the faint of heart.  But, if there's a will there's a way--especially if you like flying.  The day after I took possession of my airplane, I looked at it and thought, "What have I done?"  I wasn't even qualified to fly it.  Twenty three years and 10,000 flight hours later, that decision to buy changed my life.  

The Mooney is the best looking, best flying, fastest single engine piston out there.  I took it upon myself to become the most knowledgeable person I could on flying the airplane.  I really am not the kind of person who wants to spend my time working on them, so I get the most knowledgeable people I know to do that.  So how can you make the airplane pay for itself?  If you love flying and potentially teaching, how about becoming a flight instructor?  That's exactly what I did, and I became an expert on flying the Mooney.  I've met so many interesting people along the way, and had adventures many could only dream about.  Flight instruction goes a long way towards paying for the expenses of the airplane.  And all the while I get to go flying and help people like you realize their dreams.  What a great way to live!

[carusoam]

Interesting article Dev.  Who is Pia Bergqvist?

PPI, by a knowledgable mechanic who gave her Mooney specific training on the way home?

Insurance cost was lower than most here.

Good thing her mechanic found the loose bolts in the tail?

The old radios that he liked were digital radios by Narco.  The D in the radio's name is the suttle indicator.  Probably not original.

The one piece she got right, Mooneys are faster and more efficient than brand C.

Worn bolts and loose bolts might be different.

Their web research was probably done here...

"Through my research I even read a discussion thread on which a few owners were looking into converting their electric-gear airplanes to the manually actuated system. Their argument for the Johnson bar was that it is less expensive to maintain and less prone to failure."

They left out the part that nobody has ever swapped out the electric gear.  It doesn't make any economic sense.

Best regards,

-a-

Edited October 7, 2015 by carusoam

[Bob_Belville]

I

Insurance cost was lower than most here.

 

-a-

Insurance cost are about in line with my experience for a 3000 hour pilot and $35,000 hull. Mooneys seem to enjoy lower rates than other complex brands. (I paid $885 when I returned to flying after more than 20 years away. 3000 hours, $60,000 hull at the time.)

[Marauder]

Wow!  There are some really harsh responses here. Let's face it, you don't have to be a millionaire to own and fly a Mooney. Just understand that issues will arise. When they do, get on the Internet and do the legwork yourself. Identify what you believe is the source of the problem (Mooneyspace is a great resource), have your AP confirm and do some bargain shopping and buy the parts yourself. I have had experiences where an AP spent $50 to have a $50 part overnighted when there was no need for the rush. I like to call this OPM (Other People's Money). 

I don't think anyone was being harsh, just adding a dose of reality. If you own a plane for a while you will settle in at a normal annual cost. I spend between $18,000 and $22,000 ON AVERAGE a year to fly my Mooney. It doesn't take long to add up. People kid themselves about the cost. You have current out of pocket; fuel, hangar, annual, insurance, normal maintenance and subscriptions. Add in the hiddens; the engine reserve, the avionic reserves, that stupid headset you had to have and the totals add up quickly.

You can offset some of this by using a tie down outside, lowering your insurance coverage and flying less, but at some point the cost per hour stabilizes and you will be surprised how much it is.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[MyNameIsNobody]

Reality is harsh me thinks.  Yes.-Yoda

[Bob - S50]

 

I don't think anyone was being harsh, just adding a dose of reality. If you own a plane for a while you will settle in at a normal annual cost. I spend between $18,000 and $22,000 ON AVERAGE a year to fly my Mooney. It doesn't take long to add up. People kid themselves about the cost. You have current out of pocket; fuel, hangar, annual, insurance, normal maintenance and subscriptions. Add in the hiddens; the engine reserve, the avionic reserves, that stupid headset you had to have and the totals add up quickly.

 

You can offset some of this by using a tie down outside, lowering your insurance coverage and flying less, but at some point the cost per hour stabilizes and you will be surprised how much it is.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I agree.

For the original poster: Just do the math.  Owning is almost never then best financial decision.  Take my J for example.  Between reserve costs ($25/hour) and fuel ($45 -$55/hour), it costs me about $70 to $80/hour to fly.  Call it $75.  Fixed costs (annual -$2000, hangar - $2500, insurance - $1400, GPS subscription - $600, ignoring all the others) come up to $5900/year.  Call it $6000.  IF... you could rent the same plane (hard to find) they run about $200/hour.  Even at that price, if you divide $6000 by the net difference in operating cost of $125, you would have to fly 48 hours/year just to break even.  And those are pretty optimistic numbers.  I fly about 65.  My costs are $250/month = $3000/year plus 65 hours x $75/hour = $4875.  Total cost for me is just under $8000/year.

However, I have 3 partners.  Makes much more financial sense.

When I decided to get back into GA I looked at renting.  Most 200HP retractables were either 177RG, 172RG, or Arrow.  Quite a bit slower.  Plus, most of them prohibited taking them beyond the bordering states (Idaho and Oregon in my case).  That doesn't work when I want to fly to California and Colorado.  Or, they charge a minimum of 3 hours/day whether you fly or not.  Also doesn't make sense to pay for 21 hours to fly 9.  Or they won't let you keep it more than 2 days.  Just too restrictive.  Most clubs seem to be organized around the concept of boring holes in the local area, not going cross country.

I think most of us own because it gives us more flexibility in how we use it, when we use it, and because we just love to fly.

Again, if money is tight, consider getting 1, 2 or even 3 partners.  It let's you get a nicer plane and cuts your ownership costs.  Even with 3 partners, in 2 years we have not yet had a scheduling conflict.

[Hank]

Well said, Bob! I started with a partner, bought half the plane from him with the option to buy the rest when he was ready [which came a little sooner than I had expected, but it has worked out very well].

Flexibility in timing, distance, destination, duration and frequency of trips, grass strips, etc., are all unlimited with ownership, and usually only slightly restricted with good partner(s). It can be difficult to find good partner(s), though.

Good luck! Have fun and fly safe/

[jrwilson]

What parts "fail" on a Mooney?  Behind the firewall:  Tank reseal.  They will seep and depending on degree (service manual outlines based on size of fuel stain) you can live with a seep for years.  I would not fuel my plane over half, as seep was higher in tank, unless I was flying cross-country and I could rapdly burn it off.  Reseal is $7.5AMU's by the best.  Doing stuff like installing strobes, putting on flap/aileron gap and hinge covers and wing base seal don't count on wings.  Gear.  Pucks are expensive in the nose and main gear, but again can be deferred/replaced a wheel a year.  Nose gear truss will need bushings and dthese a re .2 AMU's max.  If nose gear is NOT tight get it fixed.  Cabin: seats/carpet/plastic/insulation are cosmetic and can be repaired/re-done BY THE OWNER...Same with windows.  Brakes.  The master cylinder kit was about /02 AMU's for several rubber gaskets.  Same with the flap pump.  Labor is/should NOT be excessive for brakes and if they are not good/get them fixed.  Pads available from Spruce as are Battery (Recommend Concorde).  Pushrods are pretty bullet proof.  Wing-leveler rubber gaskets are NOT safety of flight and can be defeated until repaired.  Step seal just holds step up.  STILL way faster than a 172 with step down.  Light bulbs minimal.  Zeftronics voltage regulator is a MUST.  .2 AMU's.  The Generator is refurbishable, but we are now getting into firewall forward stuff.  Oil cooler, hoses, fuel injection or carb....Ram Air seal, tires....If this stuff is 50 years old would you want to fly your family in it, or get it repaired/updated?  Most of my costly stuff was self-inflicted.  HID landing light, 8-pack panel,    

Updating all instruments, updating radios, Engine Monitor, PC system, installing PC auto-pilot, re-doing interior (seats/plastics/carpet) installing panel GPS were ALL labors of love that made the plane a pleasure to fly safely NOT a bare minimum/legal bird.  Most Mooney's are expensive because they are old and didn't have an owner that loved to upgrade/make them theirs.  Avoid these planes.  A Mooney is a great economical cross-county machine, but I wouldn't want to own a $30k Mooney...

lots of trash talking of 30k mooney's,.,I sold my 20C for 30k in March.  Was it worth more?  Certainly, but that was and is the market for them.  They're not in demand.  I had great paint, nice interior, good panel (no glass or garmin, but solid king), new jpi 900 primary, new donuts, new panel, new all kinds of things. Super solid plane with speed mods.  Yes, a turn key plane!  No deferred maintenance.

could something expensive break the day after I sold it?  Sure it could.  Is plane ownership expensive with unexpected problems?  Yep.

but unless you're intimately familiar with sales prices of 20Cs, don't assume you can't find a good 30k plane...you can.

[MARZ]

                                                                                                            Hello everyone ! Brand new member, longtime reader. I am a private pilot with roughly 400 hrs. 380 hrs in 172`s / 150`s.From my first flight lesson, i walked past a Mooney and have had a love affair with them ever since ( even the ramp queens ).I`m looking to step up ( i think ) to a Mooney. After reading through literally hundreds of reviews and blogs and web sites i am getting the impression that owning and operating even a cheaper Mooney ( mid 60`s M20C`s ),is only for the rich and famous.I keep reading of all these horror stories of $2000 , $5000, $10,000 annuals.Is it at all possible to find a M20C / M20E in the $30,000`s that won't need thousands of dollars of squawk list repairs ? Is it possible to find a " turn key " Mooney in that range that i can actually fly for a "few " years without putting hundreds / thousands of $$$ into it.Also it seems that every Mooney for sale has some kinda issues with less than honest owners.I`m still trying to wrap my head around paying $2000 + for an average annual with no problems.If Mooneys are so well built why does it seems every other annual you have to put thousands of $$$ into it ? IS THIS TRUE ???? I don't believe in TBO times because after 100`s of hrs of personal research i have seen engines with low times fail  before 1000 hrs and seen ridiculous high time engines still flying with no horsepower loss.There is a M20E at my field with 4,000 hrs + on the motor that still has compressions in the mid 70`s with no oil leaks.I would take a high time motor over a motor that is flown only 5 hrs a year. So again i ask all you Mooney owners is it possible to find a turn key Mooney in the $30,000`s ???? Also i might ad i am a VFR only pilot , so IFR equip is of no use to me if that makes a big difference.....

As another data point - My 67F was a hanger queen - had been sitting with relatively no yearly hours flown in the prior three years.  Basically it was taken up yearly to warm the engine for the compression check during the annual.  I bought it as a newly minted pilot with about 95 hours after talking with the Mechanic that had maintained it for the last 12 years prior to my purchase.

I paid 32K - it had 2234 air frame and 380ish SMOH

As soon as I bought it I chose to replace the tires. I had a leak in the left wing tank, I chose to repair the leaks

I chose to update one of the radios with a GNS430 and flew it for two years (about 250 hours)

I HAD to replace a transponder and a blind encoder when they went south. And I HAD to repair a VSI after the glass was broken (don't ask)

I Chose to replace the side windows, and I chose to modify the stock windshield with a 201 mod.

I Chose to have the interior replaced.

I continue to fly the plane without reservation and have gone from Texas to Oshkosh four times, from Texas to Gulf Shores twice.  Out to New Orleans a couple times. 

My owner assisted Annuals run less than 800. My insurance is running about 1k.

Clearly the things that I have chosen to update or replace far outweighs the cost if I were to have left it as is. And its hard to say if the radio I replaced would have hung in. 

Interior was about 12k the radio and panel update was about 7.5K, The windows and windshield mod about 5K.  I assisted in prepping the tank seal, so that was < 1K (and has been without issue since done.

Is my plane worth 55 to 60K - dunno - but I'm not selling it and if it were to bring less I would still be happy with my decisions as they brought comfort and joy when flying.

In my view - it's easy to get into replacing stuff because of what you may read from other owners, they may be relevant to their situation but may not apply in yours.  Each item should be carefully examined and considered prior to doing it based on the opinion of a non mechanic.

 

 

 

[MyNameIsNobody]

lots of trash talking of 30k mooney's,.,I sold my 20C for 30k in March.  Was it worth more?  Certainly, but that was and is the market for them.  They're not in demand.  I had great paint, nice interior, good panel (no glass or garmin, but solid king), new jpi 900 primary, new donuts, new panel, new all kinds of things. Super solid plane with speed mods.  Yes, a turn key plane!  No deferred maintenance.

could something expensive break the day after I sold it?  Sure it could.  Is plane ownership expensive with unexpected problems?  Yep.

but unless you're intimately familiar with sales prices of 20Cs, don't assume you can't find a good 30k plane...you can.

My words are MY words.  I said I DON'T WANT A $30K MOONEY.  I DON'T.  If you sold your "great plane" for peanuts sounds like a personal problem.    Apparently YOUR plane WAS NOT worth more...In other words.  There was no market for YOUR plane.

[garytex]

 Unspoken in all this is that everybody's cost benefit ratio's are different.  

I've been without my airplane for the last month or so, and not having it costs me up to additional 20 hours a week  having to drive .  So I can get my normal 50 hr week in and  then additionally have to drive anywhere from 800 to 1500 miles which bumps that week 12 to 20 hours, ( and kicks my ass),  or I can spend 12 to 20 hours a week less in front of customers.  I'm a commissioned sales person and the most important thing that I do is stand in front of customers. So for me it's a no-brainer, it's 20-30 gees a year to fly, that time makes me multiples of that amount of money.  And then I've got some energy to be a family man and go do things that I enjoy rather than laying on the couch unable to move all day Sunday  cause I can't even wiggle. 

 Back in the day when I had no money, I had time.  I bought a 1947 Cessna 170 and turned the wrenches and ran the painter and  scrounged the junkyards,  did reupholstery and overhauled the engine, filled it with $.79 a gallon alcohol free car gas, learn to fly in it, and spent really very little on the airplane.  But it was just a toy and after a few years I was only flying 30 or 40 hours a year and really couldn't justify it as a toy.  The cost-benefit ratio just wasn't there,  and I sold it.   My situation later changed and I bought another couple airplanes and they have been great work tools for me.

No big moral to the story here,  maybe just another way to look at  your decision.  

 

[RLCarter]

Flyhigh603

Unfortunately you asked a loaded question to a group that has a few HIGHLY opinionated members. I spent the better part of 2 yrs looking and comparing different airplanes, not just Mooney’s. I went with a Mooney because they are fast enough for a serious x-country (S. TX to MI), but cheap enough to go bore holes in the sky when I want. If you talk to A&P’s that have worked on a few Mooney’s or Pilots for that matter, they both say the same, Mooney’s are tight and they are right. But I’m 6’1” and around 230ish and fit fine, if you haven’t flown or flown in one do so, totally different sight picture from the Cessna’s. It sounds like you have done some homework, now to drill down to a model in your price range. I looked at a “G” (mid-body / 180hp) and talked myself out of it, I compared it to having a 6cyl corvette. I found an “E” that was way under my budget and have put close to 10k in it and I’m still under your budget of 30k, so yes it can be done. Good luck in finding your Mooney and take all the negative replies you’ve received and pitch them out the door.

 

Now for all you NEGATIVE people, MSC’s are not the only people that can repair, inspect or maintain a Mooney. Mooneys fly just fine without a glass panel or anything else you’ve spent money on and think we all should do the same to keep our little birds from Texas in the air. I’m sure Mooneyspace was meant to help fellow owners or future owners, not bash and belittle them. As a pilot you should try to promote GA and as a member of Mooneyspace you should promote Mooney aircraft not just your personal bird. Are you kidding me, earnings in the Top 1% to own an aircraft, you do know that is the 400k range don’t you? Luckily it was just his opinion…lol

[flyhigh603]

Flyhigh603

Unfortunately you asked a loaded question to a group that has a few HIGHLY opinionated members. I spent the better part of 2 yrs looking and comparing different airplanes, not just Mooney’s. I went with a Mooney because they are fast enough for a serious x-country (S. TX to MI), but cheap enough to go bore holes in the sky when I want. If you talk to A&P’s that have worked on a few Mooney’s or Pilots for that matter, they both say the same, Mooney’s are tight and they are right. But I’m 6’1” and around 230ish and fit fine, if you haven’t flown or flown in one do so, totally different sight picture from the Cessna’s. It sounds like you have done some homework, now to drill down to a model in your price range. I looked at a “G” (mid-body / 180hp) and talked myself out of it, I compared it to having a 6cyl corvette. I found an “E” that was way under my budget and have put close to 10k in it and I’m still under your budget of 30k, so yes it can be done. Good luck in finding your Mooney and take all the negative replies you’ve received and pitch them out the door.

 

 

Now for all you NEGATIVE people, MSC’s are not the only people that can repair, inspect or maintain a Mooney. Mooneys fly just fine without a glass panel or anything else you’ve spent money on and think we all should do the same to keep our little birds from Texas in the air. I’m sure Mooneyspace was meant to help fellow owners or future owners, not bash and belittle them. As a pilot you should try to promote GA and as a member of Mooneyspace you should promote Mooney aircraft not just your personal bird. Are you kidding me, earnings in the Top 1% to own an aircraft, you do know that is the 400k range don’t you? Luckily it was just his opinion…lol

I think RL Carter says the best of all owners chirping in !!! GA is dying men and you know it.Just go to ANY flight seminar and look how much white hair is in the room.WE ALL should do everything to get people interested in flying.I have met so many  a$#^%$s that had more money than brains ( and flying skills ) who would look down their noses at guys like me on the ramp.Would walk right past me without a simple hello.I go to the airport every weekend just to be around airplanes.I will and have spent my last $$ for the week renting a plane to take a stranger up in the air because they were there looking through the fence.If and when i get a Mooney i would and will share my plane and the gift of flight with anyone who shows ANY interest......But thanks again for ALL the great advice.....

[MyNameIsNobody]

It is called an opinion.  It was asked for.  Then when an opinion, which I did not have and REALLY COULD HAVE USED, is provided...I am "BASHING".  Whatever.  Here is some more.  Average twenty something is soft.  They have been coddled and spoiled and when they here a voice that differs from theirs they get offensive and attack.  Stereotyping?  Yes.  Not all, Many.  The voices with 1-50 posts...the wannabees can go in to owneership with eyes wide open or be like I was a naive little airplane loving idiot that got in way over his head financially because he made an edict to his wife..."We are buying an airplane, you can get on board or not".  Directives don't go over well...especially when they result in a flood gate of financial responsibility.  You can buy quality or buy a fixer-upper that will require a LOT OF MONEY to be safe.  I tried to give context to be an informed buyer....some would say that is bashing.  My response to them is "Do whatever the hell you want with your money"  I welcome your emptying of your wallets to fund your $30k Dream machine.  I have BEEN there and DONE that.

-The wise basher

Edited October 8, 2015 by MyNameIsNobody

[RLCarter]

I think RL Carter says the best of all owners chirping in !!! GA is dying men and you know it.Just go to ANY flight seminar and look how much white hair is in the room.WE ALL should do everything to get people interested in flying.I have met so many  a$#^%$s that had more money than brains ( and flying skills ) who would look down their noses at guys like me on the ramp.Would walk right past me without a simple hello.I go to the airport every weekend just to be around airplanes.I will and have spent my last $$ for the week renting a plane to take a stranger up in the air because they were there looking through the fence.If and when i get a Mooney i would and will share my plane and the gift of flight with anyone who shows ANY interest......But thanks again for ALL the great advice.....

I hear ya, most of the pilots I've met over the years are great people, the ones that think they can pick up a turd from the "clean end" I walk away from and never look back. If you haven't already checked out Alex's blog, he  went against the grain as well   http://mooneyspace.com/topic/16377-alexs-m20d-continuous-thread/ . Keep taking people up when you can and promoting GA, and avoid the one that....well, you know the types

[bonal]

I think owning an airplane is about the dumbest thing one can do that's why I love it so much.