Buying a M20B

[Buff_Nav_ALO]

Can I get your thoughts on the 1961 M20B for sale at: http://www.lasar.com/w/id/256/new-plane-details.asp

I made an offer and have a pre-buy exam scheduled for this weekend.  The pre-buy is being done by a Mooney certified service center.

My primary use for the plane is to fly home from my work location on weekends to see my family.

 

[mooniac15u]

Unrelated to your purchase, is ALO a reference to your home airport?

[carusoam]

Welcome aboard Buff,

Feel free to give some background to match your question...

What costs more, your daily driver or this M20B?

Do you have an IR?

Which two airports are you planning to fly between with such frequency? (Is plan B to drive or take public trans?)

The independent PPI is designed to protect your wallet, right? (Don't skip this without knowing)

People that plan to fly every weekend usually consider more capable machinery/panels.

Don't let me ruin the fun....

Best regards,

-a-

[MitchS]

4 hours ago, Buff_Nav_ALO said:

Can I get your thoughts on the 1961 M20B for sale at: http://www.lasar.com/w/id/256/new-plane-details.asp

I made an offer and have a pre-buy exam scheduled for this weekend.  The pre-buy is being done by a Mooney certified service center.

My primary use for the plane is to fly home from my work location on weekends to see my family.

 

Looks like you might be a local guy here....I'd echo the comments by Carusoam in a lot of ways...The usage will really be the decider.  

[kpaul]

7 hours ago, mooniac15u said:

Unrelated to your purchase, is ALO a reference to your home airport?

If I had to guess, the OP is a B-52 Navigator that is filling the role of an Air Liaison Officer (imbed with Army or Marine units to direct air and artillery strikes from ground locations).

[Buff_Nav_ALO]

I am in fact a B-52 nav with ALO experience.   I am moving to Killeen, TX and I'm considering this plane as a commuter between Killeen and Shreveport.  I have a PPL with about 117 hours, and a nav rating with over 3,000 hours.   The old panel does not bug me because I am use to staring at 1960's avionics at work.  I'm hoping the weather holds and I get a pre-buy done tomorrow.

[M20F]

The plus side is your commuting plane will be newer than your work plane.  I hope it works out for you, looks to be a good one at a good price.

[Yetti]

You should be fine commuting on that route.  May have to wait a couple hours for fronts to clear.  Probably needs cylinder 3 worked over.  3 is usually the one that goes first due to heat and stuff.  Turn the prop by hand and see if it one of the cylinders is soft.  The 170B radios are solid performers.  be ready to throw some reworked cylinders on it and keep flying it.

[steingar]

So what are the main differences between the Bs and Cs?

[bonal]

Only thing I have seen is the panel. The c went to the Garwin cluster for the engine and fuel instruments where the b has individual gauges.

[bonal]

And by the way welcome to Mooney Space and thank you for your service to our country. I think the 52 is one of the most impressive airplanes ever made. As for the panel I kind of like the separate gauges kind of reminds me of an old race car.

[Bob_Belville]

4 hours ago, steingar said:

So what are the main differences between the Bs and Cs?

http://www.mooneyevents.com/cmodel.htm

[carusoam]

Re: Steingar's question....

Things that stuck in my memory...

1) Rudder length and throw.  Functional improvement.

2) back windows went rectangular with the 65C. Visual only.

3) cowling hardware and cheek access panels improved over time. Maintenace access.

4) fuel /water separator had a glass bowl in the older versions. 

5) retractable step went from cable to vacuum driven to fixed over time.

6) retractable gear went from tricep press to electric.

7) Hat shelf.

Every year there were small developments.  Often, owners updated the older planes with the newer technology.

aeordynamics took another leap forwards with the J.  Some of those mods were then applied back to the B&C. Flap gap seals and cowl closures come to mind.

Best regards,

-a-

[Andy95W]

 Think the biggest difference between the 1961 M20B and the 1962 M20C is the B had manual/mechanical flaps, the C is hydraulic. 

The second biggest difference is a very slight engine change, O-360 A1A to A1D.

After that, as Anthony (carusoam) said, the C changed significantly through its production run.

Edited March 6, 2016 by N1395W

[Hank]

The B also left the factory with a wooden tail, but were all converted to metal tails like the C, by AD in the 70s. 

[Wakeup]

I have a B and I don't think the wooden tail statement is true.  I have never read any information about that and I have complete logs without that AD.  

[M20F]

14 minutes ago, Wakeup said:

I have a B and I don't think the wooden tail statement is true.  I have never read any information about that and I have complete logs without that AD.  

Correct B is the first all metal version. 

http://www.mooneypilots.com/mapalog/woodwing.html

http://www.lasar.com/sales/buyers-guide.asp

[Buff_Nav_ALO]

Well, the pre-Buy inspection resulted in me putting my mooney dreams on hold. 

Anybody have a Mooney for sale?

[Marauder]

Well, the pre-Buy inspection resulted in me putting my mooney dreams on hold. 

Anybody have a Mooney for sale?

There are a few that I have seen pop up here.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[steingar]

There's an E on this site that's absolutely a steal.

[M20F]

1 hour ago, Buff_Nav_ALO said:

Well, the pre-Buy inspection resulted in me putting my mooney dreams on hold. 

Anybody have a Mooney for sale?

What is your budget?

[gsxrpilot]

2 hours ago, Buff_Nav_ALO said:

Well, the pre-Buy inspection resulted in me putting my mooney dreams on hold. 

Anybody have a Mooney for sale?

Can you tell us what sunk the deal? Who did the pre-buy and what was the issue? The more info the better for this group of aviators trying to keep an aging fleet flying.