macosxuser Posted June 30, 2016 Report Posted June 30, 2016 Hello all, I've been nosing around here, seeing what trouble I can make for long enough, so I'll go ahead and introduce myself. I'm Steve, I'm from the FAA, and I'm here to help. *Ducks* Ok, so that takes even more explaining. I started flying in 2001 at the ripe old age of 15. I was blessed to have parents that offered to pay for my pilots license if I bought my own car. $800 got me a 1987 VW Golf, and off I went. I started my A&P training just after my 16th birthday that year. I got my first job as an apprentice mechanic in the summer of '02. After that, there is a long list of stuff, the order of which is of no particular interest, only that it happened. Helped Dad purchase and rebuild derelict cardinal A&P Certificate 2003 CFI Certificate 2005 Inspection Authorization Summer 2008 Bought my first airplane, 1970 Citabria Hired on with FAA in Air Traffic in 2008. Anyway, it gets longer and longer but here comes the fun part. At some point in the last 15 years, I've really gotten to enjoy bringing airplanes back from the brink of dead. I'm not rich, so this isn't a charity case, they have to be worth it. Enter N3480X. Sometime in Spring 2015 I flew up to WJF to visit some friends, and we happen to notice this poor little E model sitting in Transient with a VERY curled prop. I always look at these types of airplanes just 'because', and I noticed that other than the propstrike it looked like a decent bird. Then I forgot all about it. Six months later, I'm airport bumming at my home field KCCB, and Foothill Aircraft Sales guru, and general airplane guy Bob mentions to me he's got a couple of Mooney projects that will be for sale. After a little back and forth, I figure out that we are talking about the same airplane I saw... so after some haggling back and forth about price, whether or not I can dial the crank, and whether or not it comes with a battery (really?) I seal the deal. This is my third airplane. Since i've owned it, I've had the engine overhauled, pulled most of the panel out and am now finally ready to get it back home to Cable to complete the panel transformation. Here it is with my Citabria. And one of me with my '46 Swift project. 7 Quote
rbridges Posted June 30, 2016 Report Posted June 30, 2016 Nice swift. Ive got a buddy that did a near 100% restoration on one all of last year and part of 2016. Welcome to Mooneyspace! Quote
carusoam Posted June 30, 2016 Report Posted June 30, 2016 Maco, your E needs a cowl closure or that cowl update that is being worked on around here somewhere... It will be great to have all those skills you have been acquiring since the greatish depression. You may want to make a copy of this thread and include it in the other one, titled 'introduce yourself'... Best regards, -a- Quote
macosxuser Posted June 30, 2016 Author Report Posted June 30, 2016 Yeah, the Cowl Closure is on the list, the problem ends up being project creep. The thing I really want to do is the SWTA 201 nosebowl and baffles, getting rid of the plenum and relocating the oil cooler to the back. That is a $5000 and next year problem. 1 Quote
Openwheeler3 Posted June 30, 2016 Report Posted June 30, 2016 Welcome! Unfortunately, I don't think SWTA offers the cowl mod anymore... Quote
MyNameIsNobody Posted June 30, 2016 Report Posted June 30, 2016 Mine is S# 1120. Must be close. Your bird is VERY similar in appearance to mine/ours. We have lower cowl closure and 3-blade with polished spinner...otherwise might start to enter wrong bird on ramp. Enjoy. Quote
steingar Posted June 30, 2016 Report Posted June 30, 2016 Thanks for bringing the old airplanes back from the brink. Not everyone can, but its the only way we'll maintain the population of inexpensive airframes. No one I know is buying new. Quote
MB65E Posted June 30, 2016 Report Posted June 30, 2016 Looks nice man! Welcome! Keep it up. Almost bought a Swift. Probably one day! I saw your m20 at fox last fall. I frequent fox, MHV, SMO, Szp, might see you around. What ATC facility? Cheers! -Matt Quote
Danb Posted June 30, 2016 Report Posted June 30, 2016 Welcome Way to go bringing life back to our birds on disability Quote
macosxuser Posted June 30, 2016 Author Report Posted June 30, 2016 10 hours ago, Openwheeler3 said: Welcome! Unfortunately, I don't think SWTA offers the cowl mod anymore... Thanks! Yep, I talked to them, they took it down, awaiting the STC to be moved over by the FAA. Expected between a year and 18 months from the purchase of the business. With that in mind, I'm holding off the closure mod as long as I can keep CHT's manageable. 8 hours ago, MB65E said: Looks nice man! Welcome! Keep it up. Almost bought a Swift. Probably one day! I saw your m20 at fox last fall. I frequent fox, MHV, SMO, Szp, might see you around. What ATC facility? Cheers! -Matt I work at LGB tower. Moved around a little. Headed up to ZLA next year for some Center experience. Thanks for the welcome guys, I'm sticking here in the vintage section, otherwise this will be too much of a time suck, so you'll get all my panel upgrade pictures too. Quote
Openwheeler3 Posted July 1, 2016 Report Posted July 1, 2016 3 hours ago, macosxuser said: Thanks! Yep, I talked to them, they took it down, awaiting the STC to be moved over by the FAA. Expected between a year and 18 months from the purchase of the business. With that in mind, I'm holding off the closure mod as long as I can keep CHT's manageable. I work at LGB tower. Moved around a little. Headed up to ZLA next year for some Center experience. Thanks for the welcome guys, I'm sticking here in the vintage section, otherwise this will be too much of a time suck, so you'll get all my panel upgrade pictures too. Awesome! Quote
63C Posted July 1, 2016 Report Posted July 1, 2016 Good looking Mooney. I also hope to do a cowl mod and eventually the 201 windshield. (I'm also bringing a 46 Swift back from the dead) 1 Quote
3914N Posted July 4, 2016 Report Posted July 4, 2016 Nice to meet a fellow Mooney pilot at WJF. Though I'm assuming 80X won't be there for long... What's going in the panel? Quote
macosxuser Posted July 4, 2016 Author Report Posted July 4, 2016 4 minutes ago, 3914N said: Nice to meet a fellow Mooney pilot at WJF. Though I'm assuming 80X won't be there for long... What's going in the panel? I got carried away... PS Engineering 8000BT GNS480 + Sandel 3308 KX155/GS SL70R Transponder (remote box) JPI930 FreeFlight Ranger ADS-B Quote
MHemperly Posted July 4, 2016 Report Posted July 4, 2016 Welcome! I was based at fox up until this past November. I actually grew up in that area. I'm based at corona KAJO now. I remember when that airplane arrived at WJF. I think he bounded it pretty bad (proposed) and hit the prop. It sat in the same spot for a very long time. Glad it's getting some love. You and I are close in age. Not very many youngsters flying let alone owning. Mooneyspace is great! All the guys on here have so much experience with mooneys! Can't wait to see what you do. If you need a panel I just had mine done and the guy I got it from has the file for the CAD. LMK. Good luck! Mike 1 Quote
macosxuser Posted July 4, 2016 Author Report Posted July 4, 2016 19 hours ago, MHemperly said: Welcome! I was based at fox up until this past November. I actually grew up in that area. I'm based at corona KAJO now. I remember when that airplane arrived at WJF. I think he bounded it pretty bad (proposed) and hit the prop. It sat in the same spot for a very long time. Glad it's getting some love. You and I are close in age. Not very many youngsters flying let alone owning. Mooneyspace is great! All the guys on here have so much experience with mooneys! Can't wait to see what you do. If you need a panel I just had mine done and the guy I got it from has the file for the CAD. LMK. Good luck! Mike I'd love it! I've got some resources for machining, but a file for a starting point would be great! Quote
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