Where to install speed brakes in GA

[DMJones]

I just finished reading all the stuff I could find on here about aftermarket speed brakes.  I'm thinking of having them installed in the 231 I'm about to buy.  I talked with Precise Flight, but wondered if anyone here has any experience with the shops in or near North Georgia, and would recommend any of them for an install?

 

 

[M20F-1968]

I installed them in a 1968 F model.  The wings are all the same except for fuel tank configurations and wing tips.  But the Precise Flight speed brakes only as they are approved.  Precise Flight will give you information on installation.

John Breda

[Hank]

Check with Joey Cole, he moved his MSC from Rome to Dalton a little while back. Seemed knowledgable and nice when I met him in Rome. I've heard good reports about him generally, nothing speedbrake-specific, though.

[Tony Armour]

I would stay with folks that have done this before. Cole Aviation would be a good start. I also have info on a guy at LZU (I think) that used to work at a Mooney Service center in Atlanta. Just him in a single large hanger. I have been to his shop and was impressed with the cleanliness and equipment. Not sure of his speed brake experience. 

[peevee]

Probably cheaper to buy a plane with them already 

Edited November 3, 2016 by peevee

[kortopates]

There is really nothing Mooney specific on the install and thus anyone good with sheet metal work will do a good job. The one exception would be if the 231 has the extended range tanks, in which case it's more involved since the cartridges go in the area of the extended tanks.


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[Sabremech]

I will be starting the install of speed brakes on my C in the next week or two. The instructions say 40 manhours to install. I suspect I will be over that quite a bit as I'm a stickler for accuracy. 

David

[DMJones]

6 hours ago, kortopates said:

There is really nothing Mooney specific on the install and thus anyone good with sheet metal work will do a good job. The one exception would be if the 231 has the extended range tanks, in which case it's more involved since the cartridges go in the area of the extended tanks.


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That's good to know.  The one I'm considering has those tanks...

[1964-M20E]

Good luck with the installation.

Usually we spend many AMUs on making our planes go faster not slower or on electronic gadgets installed in the panel.

Your 231 is slicker and faster than my F model, your gear speed is higher and I know some times ATC will give you a quick decent where the brakes can help but knowing how fast you can get your 231 down from a given altitude to pattern altitude and be able to slow it down request lower from ATC about 5 to 10 miles before that point. That gives them time to adjust and they know you are wanting to get down in most areas this works well.  With passenger I like to keep my decent rate to 500fpm or less by myself I will take a little faster rate.  Like wise during the hotter months I will try to stay higher longer which meas a faster decent rate.

 

[jetdriven]

40 minutes ago, 1964-M20E said:

Good luck with the installation.

Usually we spend many AMUs on making our planes go faster not slower or on electronic gadgets installed in the panel.

Your 231 is slicker and faster than my F model, your gear speed is higher and I know some times ATC will give you a quick decent where the brakes can help but knowing how fast you can get your 231 down from a given altitude to pattern altitude and be able to slow it down request lower from ATC about 5 to 10 miles before that point. That gives them time to adjust and they know you are wanting to get down in most areas this works well.  With passenger I like to keep my decent rate to 500fpm or less by myself I will take a little faster rate.  Like wise during the hotter months I will try to stay higher longer which meas a faster decent rate.

 

If you have the 155 mph gear speed you can keep it really fast. Like 190 knots groundspeed on a wide crosswind. 

[1964-M20E]

My gear speed is a staggering 120mph IAS.  I'm sure a lot has to do with the manual gear and not much was changed between the J and the F models.

 

 

[Flynnupe94]

I had a guy in Robstown, Tx near Corpus Christy Tx install them on a J that I had. He did a good job and it wasn't that expensive. Its a bit of a haul for you but he can do it...

[gsxrpilot]

I have come to love the speed brakes in my 252. I rarely need a steep descent, but it's nice to use them to slow to gear speed quickly while maintaining the same descent rate.  Speed brakes can be used either way, one to increase descent rate while maintaining speed, or to maintain the descent rate while reducing the speed.

[peevee]

I figured we all knew what speedbrakes were for already. 

Edited November 13, 2016 by peevee