In the Market Now!!!!

[Tom]

Quote: Comatose

As far as "too good to be true," one of the things about the vintage mooney market is each model tops out, price-wise.

For example, If you take a $60,000 C model and drop $30,000 on a full glass panel, you end up with... a $60,000 C model. Because that's as high as C valuations go. If someone was willing to pay 70 they'd be looking at nice Fs or low end Js. It is easy to overimprove the old airframes.

[rbridges]

Quote: Tom

 

I think this point is quite valid and frequently overlooked.  When I see these E's for sale >60K or any pre-J's for >70K asking I wonder what they really sell for.  Once you get close to J money it doesn't make sense to me to get anything less than a J.

 

[richardheitzman]

I am a Johnson Bar and hydo flap guy. The F is awsome, the E is ok. Try and get a better price on the F and do the Vref on it. Make sure you get a Pre buy done at a reputable Mooney shop. Avionics and Autopilot will make your flying a whole lot easier. A early J with poor avionics? A "F" with great avionics, Johnson bar and hydro flaps? That to me is a no brainer. Think of the $ saved just on the Johnson bar system versus the landing gear motor. Hydro flaps are easy to maintain as well. You so not mention Speed as a factor in your decision so shoot for the most up to date avionics, best engine and prop, then interior and paint. You will never regret that "F", you might regret a junky "J".

[GeorgePerry]

Richard,

I’d like to know what research or facts you have to back up your claim that a Mooney with electric gear costs more to maintain than one with a Johnson bar.  If anything it’s the other way around.  If you check the NTSB statistics for inadvertent gear up landings in early Mooney aircraft, you’ll find that Johnson bar planes belly in (albeit, just slightly) more often.  Now that’s expensive.

 

[KSMooniac]

George, the non-gear up costs are definitely higher for an electric gear Mooney between the actuator and motor attention/MX that is required.  My motor gave up the ghost a couple years ago and required a 1 AMU deposit to keep going.  Not to mention the extra weight we carry for the motor, actuator and backup system...

I agree with Richard and wish I could have manual gear and flaps in my J!  That F model is exactly what I was looking for 4 years ago, but my J showed up at the right time locally and I jumped up for it.  Modern autopilot, GPS, standard panel, speed mods, great cosmetics plus manual gear and flaps...the perfect budget Mooney!

[Sector95]

Quote: GeorgePerry

Richard,

I’d like to know what research or facts you have to back up your claim that a Mooney with electric gear costs more to maintain than one with a Johnson bar.  If anything it’s the other way around.  If you check the NTSB statistics for inadvertent gear up landings in early Mooney aircraft, you’ll find that Johnson bar planes belly in (albeit, just slightly) more often.  Now that’s expensive.

 

[KSMooniac]

There are gear warning/condition lights (and horns) for all Mooneys.  Despite this, plenty of pilots don't remember to put the gear down.

[Ned Gravel]

I, too, am with Richard and Scott.  Manual gear and flaps.  Love 'em.  Pack those into an airframe with the 201 mods that F comes with, and the panel it has, and even I would consider an F.  Even one with the twisted wing.

 

[AustinChurch]

I'd go with the F!  My first Mooney was a '67 C with the hydralic flaps and Johnson Bar gear.  I really liked the set up because it was pretty bullet proof.  As far as speed goes, you should see around a 150+ knots on 10.5-11.5 GPH which is still pretty fast.  The F looks pretty turn key which is also a good point.  Just get in and fly!

[jax88]

I have a F with the electric gear and flaps.  When I started my search I thought I wanted the manual gear and flaps, then decided that electric must be okay or aircraft would still be made with manual gear.  After putting the first 75 hours on my F model, I wish I'd have found one with at least the hydraulic flaps, if not both hydraulic flaps and the Johnson bar.  Personally I think it would be easier to just pump the hydraulic flaps while in the pattern than holding the switch and trying to time the amount of flaps.  I suppose familiarity will solve this eventually.  As for the Johnson bar versus electric gear, I'm still on the fence.

[DaV8or]

One downside to the twisted wing that hasn't been mentioned. If you have dreams and asperations of putting the latter, sexy 231 wing tips on, forget it. Nobody ever made a wing tip mod for the twisted wing. However, if you really, really, really want to, it is possible. The twisted wing can be converted back to a standard wing by removing and rebuilding I think about 1/3 on the outboard of the wing. Not cheap.

[aerobat95]

Thanks everyone for all the help....I really appreciate all the advice and tips.  I have decided to go with an F model....and I cant wait.

[rbridges]

Quote: aerobat95

Thanks everyone for all the help....I really appreciate all the advice and tips.  I have decided to go with an F model....and I cant wait.