Holding breath.....and jumping in...

[cafmustang]

New to Mooneyspace...(and it appears to be a very helpful site...)...

 

I’ve been flying since, oh, well, too darn long...have other planes, but have what I think is a great mission for a Mooney...a good friend who had a Bravo just loved it, (now has an Aerostar...)

 

I commute from the north side of Atlanta (PDK) to the south side (CCO/FFC/Willow pond) daily, with about once a week trips to Albany and other places in GA.  I’ve been using my Baron, but when I run the numbers, it appears a Mooney would not only be much more economical, but would provide a backup to the Baron for those times (cough) when it’s “not available”.

 

I’ve been reading Mooneyspace, trying to get up to speed (last time I flew a Mooney was in 1979), and at this point need to see if some kind soul would let me buy them lunch, some gas, and let me sit in their plane to see how I fit.  Something tells me I’m not the same size I was in 1979.....

 

 

I’ve been looking at Ovations, Eagles, etc...and welcome comments/brickbats/flames.....

 

(just fwiw...current IFR, and will be flying IFR in the Mooney, CFII, recently sold an SX...)

 

I’d also welcome any comments on how a Mooney does in the event of an engine failure.  Perhaps I’ve not been charmed, but I’ve had 3 complete engine failures in the past 40 years, so it’s on my radar....I know a Mooney is stout.  One of the reasons I sold my SX was that I wasn’t convinced I’d do so well if it decided to take the day off over downtown Atlanta.

 

(and yes, I’ve considered a Cirrus...but I use a couple of grass strips, not convinced that they’d do so well there...how does a Mooney do on grass?)

 

thanks in advance...

 

stan

[merrja]

Stan,

Congratulations on your conversion!  I've flown my F model for about 8 years and it's proven to be an excellent plane including both short and grass strips.  I'm in Charlotte and if you find yourself near Charlotte I am happy to meet. 

[carusoam]

Stan,

Welcome aboard.

Mooneys are fast and efficient.  They make a great IFR platform.  They are all here and come in a wide range, from low cost/stripped down versions to fully functional with AC and FIKI...

Stall speed is faster than a cub but slower than most kit built speedsters.  Some even come with an AOA display already installed.

The Mooney accidents that we have seen here over the years are mostly pilot preventable, but we do have a small number of engine challenges like any other Lycoming or Continental powered plane.  

One of the best parts of MS is the ability to learn from our community's experience.  Some good experiences come from the Mooney pilots that explain what they saw occurring and how they maneuvered successfully to the ground.  

My favorite experiences are the ones that open your eyes to what you can see before committing to flight.  

Touching on the last point. There isn't a Mooney parachute option.  But there are many things that can be done to improve the statistics of getting down safely.

Go Mooney, you won't be dissapointed.

Best regards,

-a-

 

[CaptainAB]

Most of the pilots I know that have a backup plane rely on that other C brand that just seems to specialize in safe, reliable, slow, steady grass ops. Though I hear cirrus pilots talk about grass ops all the time. I out your flight into flight aware and it said the route was "atl" do you really get that?

[carqwik]

FWIW, my airplane insurance restricts use to paved runways only....for insurance coverage that is.  No idea whether getting coverage for a grass/dirt runway is available or at what additional premium for a long body Mooney. 

[cafmustang]

Actually, I get PDK-ATL-CCO fairly frequently...occasionally get “the long way around”, but surprisingly often I get “proceed direct ATL, pass over midfield, maintain 4500, cleared into the Bravo”.

 

Yes, I’ve thought about the “slow, steady, reliable other C Brand”....but I like to go fast....

[Hank]

Count your blessings, I'm always told to remain clear of the Bravo. But I'm usually going back and forth from Lower Alabama to Western NC, not just hopping across town. Doesn't seem to matter, IFR or VFR, I get to go around. Adds 30 minutes to what would be 1:30 flight . . .

[Robert C.]

Hi Stan,

Welcome on board. I'm far from the most experienced member here so keep that in mind when I say the following: Based on my reading and talking to other Mooney owners I will not take my long body (Ovation) into a grass trip, heck I'm chicken enough i go to great lengths telling ramp attendants I won't park on their grass if it looks like some concrete is available. I just don't want to run the risk of a prop strike or feeling my gear door(s) dig in. More experienced Mooney flyers may make a different choice.

Other than that, let me echo a few others above...Ovation/Eagle/Acclaim/Bravo are outstanding and fast traveling machines with a good demonstrated safety record for structural integrity in crashes. 

(of course we're all completely unbiased  )

[Mooneymite]

I've been operating a C model off grass for 18 years here S. of ATL...no problems.  There are J's here as well but no Long bodies.  Not all Grass is created equal.  Willow pond might be okay....Peach State....uh, probably not.

If grass of various conditions is a definite part of your flying plans, a Mooney might not be the best choice.

 

[Godfather]

IMO the Baron and Bravo/Ovation are too similar in mission strength.  The higher end Mooney aircraft can be expensive to maintain and I don't think the savings in fuel / maintenance would offset the second plane fixed expenses.  I'd look for something fun like a Vans RV for traveling alone during the work week.  That type of aircraft would would be inexpensive and fun with limited acrobatic abilities.

[Jeff_S]

Stan, my Ovation 3 lives at PDK so I'd be happy to take you up for a ride. I'll PM you with my contact info.

Jeff

[mike_elliott]

Hi Stan,

Considering the short distance of your mission, the desire for grass ops and the benne of very economical ops, I would look at C's E's F's and J's. The long bodys, are nose heavy and don't lend themselves to grass nor would the hybrids from Rocket engineering.

The Mooney airframe is a bit tougher than the other brands and more likely to be something that can save you in the event of an engine failure. Luck still plays a major role in the outcome.

A nice J would be my choice. 160kts on 10GPH, lots of useful load, long legs and you can get them for cheap to over priced, with all kinds of avionics offerings.

Pick one, get a good PPI from Joey Cole, Don Maxwell, etc, and get with a Mooney CFI for about 4 or 5 hrs, then figure out why you are keeping the Baron

 

[Bob_Belville]

5 minutes ago, mike_elliott said:

Hi Stan,

Considering the short distance of your mission, the desire for grass ops and the benne of very economical ops, I would look at C's E's F's and J's. The long bodys, are nose heavy and don't lend themselves to grass nor would the hybrids from Rocket engineering.

The Mooney airframe is a bit tougher than the other brands and more likely to be something that can save you in the event of an engine failure. Luck still plays a major role in the outcome.

A nice J would be my choice. 160kts on 10GPH, lots of useful load, long legs and you can get them for cheap to over priced, with all kinds of avionics offerings.

Pick one, get a good PPI from Joey Cole, Don Maxwell, etc, and get with a Mooney CFI for about 4 or 5 hrs, then figure out why you are keeping the Baron

 

I would agree that a short or mid-body would seem to fit the mission you outline better than a long body. I've been based on a grass strip in the past and never had an issue. Our prop clearance in about the same as a Cessna though we're "short coupled" and it is important to taxi carefully to avoid a nose bob. (My old E model can make 160 ktas.) 

Mike and Mooney Girl, and several others here have personal testimony to the strength of the Mooney fuselage "roll cage" structure in an off field event.  

[rbridges]

If it's a backup to a baron and for short trips around Georgia, I agree with Mike.  The speed difference between a J model and the longer bodies would be minor, and the J would be more practical for shorter or grass fields. 

[laytonl]

I fly my J off of a 3,000' grass strip (5GA2) and have never had any problems.  Our grass strip is fairly smooth though is does have a 50' elevation change from one end to the other.  Lee

[cafmustang]

thanks for the replies....continuing to research...

[Browncbr1]

I have taken my F in and out of 2500' grass many times without any problem at all.  However, I won't attempt TO at full gross and 90 degrees F.  An E would do better for your mission it sounds like.  In my opinion a J is overkill for your short mission.   A good E model is as fast as a J at half the price.