EagleDriver Posted December 8, 2016 Author Report Posted December 8, 2016 As soon as I get some Mooney time I'll let you know! Though my friend I mentioned earlier flies both and can probably already tell you. (He's on his second, so it can't be bad!) KLM - thanks for the point out! That's quite an interesting sale, seems close to fitting the bill for sure! 1 Quote
carusoam Posted December 8, 2016 Report Posted December 8, 2016 One of our Naval aviators started with a nice F. Updated it over the years, then sold it before heading to Japan for a stay... Now he is back, with one of the nicest Screamin' Eagles on the East coast. It's kind of funny, you get to meet some interesting Mooney drivers over the years... MS is quite the Mooney hub. Best regards, -a- 1 Quote
gsxrpilot Posted December 8, 2016 Report Posted December 8, 2016 6 hours ago, EagleDriver said: As far as avionics, I have to cage my comments a bit. Believe it or not, any well equipped GA aircraft, or foreflight, FAR outpaces the actual avionics in the Eagle. Google a photo of the F-15C cockpit...take away the radar scope and tactical display? It's all steam gauges and round dials. That being said, they are well placed, which is totally subjective but I think most would agree based on what I've seen in GA that accompanies an "updated cockpit." All of that to say, if it isn't shot gunned, that's all I define as a need. ADI at top center, airspeed left, altitude right, compass card (preferably HSI, I admit) low center, VVI bottom right, turn & slip bottom left. Simple as that. That being said, I do look for a WAAS capable GA aircraft just because of FAA inertia. It wouldn't stop me from buying an aircraft on its own, but I can't fly any GPS approach in the Eagle, so I'm not even downgrading there! I was remiss in my "needs" and "wants" earlier, to a degree. Nothing different, but I'm basically in tune with one of the suggestions mentioned verbatim: the best, well equipped (not newest) aircraft in the budget. GA is definitely a go, so we're leaning more towards a long term solution than a "try and see." So omissions from earlier on "the list": Engine sweet spot, 500ish to 1200ish. Low/higher less important than recency and consistency. It's mechanical - use it or it goes bad. Avionics: T config, bonus items are an HSI for familiarity and WAAS for growth (not absolute showstoppers.) Airframe: seat adults in the back, assuming that and luggage would put a significant pinch on fuel load/range/etc. I like the way you're thinking. I did very much the same with my first Mooney. If I think about what a Mooney is used for, I wanted a good long distance IFR machine. That meant a proper T panel config, an HSI, a WAAS GPS, and a good autopilot. I decided I wouldn't look at anything less. I also wanted an engine in the sweet spot between 500 hours and 1000 SMOH. Beyond that I had a wish list that included ADSB, Engine monitor, speed mods (the early birds really benefit from them), paint and interior. Ideally I wanted all of this in an E and had a $50K budget. All the really nice E's were between $60K and $70K and I really didn't want to compromise. So I found a C at $48K that was everything except the ADSB and Engine monitor. I bought it and flew 400 hours in 2 years with no maintenance issues over $1000. Along the way I added the ADSB and engine monitor. Now I fly a K 252. This time I didn't buy the most expensive K252 as the most expensive models I found seemed to have spend money in the wrong places and neglected the things that matter most. But I did buy a nice one. Most of us on this board would recommend that you buy at the high end of the range. Don't stretch to get into a cheap J, rather buy the top of the range E or even C. In the long run, you'll be much happier and will have made a better investment. BTW I sold my $48K C for $50K after two years. 4 Quote
Bob_Belville Posted December 8, 2016 Report Posted December 8, 2016 11 hours ago, EagleDriver said: That's an F?! May as well be a 787 cockpit from I'm used to looking at! Aw come on. We get at least 300-500 feet per gallon! (I guess the trade off is 13 miles per minute in a rush, but still) 51 year old E model. You might be surprised what Mooney owners have done to their older planes. 1 Quote
DMJones Posted December 8, 2016 Report Posted December 8, 2016 Late to the thread (as usual, I was working...). You and I are probably very similar but I'm guessing about a decade apart. I retired in 2001 after about 20 years in all the air-to-air versions of the 15. My 23 year-old son is following me, and we have travel needs, so I just bought a 231. LOTS of considerations involved, probably too many for a post. Call me (I sent you a PM), and I'll tel you how I ended up in mine. Dave PS Just starting to learn the thing, and love it... Quote
EagleDriver Posted December 9, 2016 Author Report Posted December 9, 2016 18 hours ago, gsxrpilot said: I like the way you're thinking. I did very much the same with my first Mooney. If I think about what a Mooney is used for, I wanted a good long distance IFR machine. That meant a proper T panel config, an HSI, a WAAS GPS, and a good autopilot. I decided I wouldn't look at anything less. I also wanted an engine in the sweet spot between 500 hours and 1000 SMOH. Beyond that I had a wish list that included ADSB, Engine monitor, speed mods (the early birds really benefit from them), paint and interior. Ideally I wanted all of this in an E and had a $50K budget. All the really nice E's were between $60K and $70K and I really didn't want to compromise. So I found a C at $48K that was everything except the ADSB and Engine monitor. I bought it and flew 400 hours in 2 years with no maintenance issues over $1000. Along the way I added the ADSB and engine monitor. Now I fly a K 252. This time I didn't buy the most expensive K252 as the most expensive models I found seemed to have spend money in the wrong places and neglected the things that matter most. But I did buy a nice one. Most of us on this board would recommend that you buy at the high end of the range. Don't stretch to get into a cheap J, rather buy the top of the range E or even C. In the long run, you'll be much happier and will have made a better investment. BTW I sold my $48K C for $50K after two years. Spot on, in my opinion. Thanks for sharing, especially in summary about the top of a range vice stretching into the bottom of the next one up. Info find its easy to fall into "well...here's a J and it's only X more!" Dave - got your message, I'll give you a shout soon. Mired at work; nothing thy would surprise you! Thanks for reaching out! Quote
EagleDriver Posted December 9, 2016 Author Report Posted December 9, 2016 12 hours ago, Bob_Belville said: 51 year old E model. You might be surprised what Mooney owners have done to their older planes. That is an unbelievable example - I keep coming back to look! The cockpit is mesmerizing...but the body/shape is fantastic. It may be the angle of the shot (don't see many framed like that with the gear up?) The windshield and forward just look different - anything specific of am I seeing things that aren't there? Cheers Quote
Bob_Belville Posted December 9, 2016 Report Posted December 9, 2016 32 minutes ago, EagleDriver said: That is an unbelievable example - I keep coming back to look! The cockpit is mesmerizing...but the body/shape is fantastic. It may be the angle of the shot (don't see many framed like that with the gear up?) The windshield and forward just look different - anything specific of am I seeing things that aren't there? Cheers Thanks! (Long time MooneySpacers are pretty tired of pics of that panel.) The windshield is 201 style M20J, The cowl is an ARI STC that closes much of the original "guppy" intake. The oil cooler is relocated from the front to the rear allowing a 2nd landing light. The pointed spinner is also different from the original and is there to fit the modified cowl. Here's pics of my first '66E before and after painting. The one I have now would have looked the same before the plastic surgeons did their magic. 1 Quote
bonal Posted December 9, 2016 Report Posted December 9, 2016 Hello Eagle D I can't imagine what an incredible experience it must be to pilot one of the finest fighters ever made might be like flying one of the finest GA aircraft ever made a Mooney. GXR had one of the nicest C models but alas he has moved on to a higher level. As someone that flys one of the most basic Mooneys around these parts I can tell you that as long as you find a sound engine and airframe you will be rewarded with a great flying machine. My wife and I love ours and have no problem taking it over the Sierra Nevada and mountains surrounding Montana. I love the manual gear and even some of the high end Mooney guys wish they still had their Johnson....Bar. Here is a shot of our simple short body Snoopy. And thank you for your service to our country 3 Quote
kpaul Posted December 9, 2016 Report Posted December 9, 2016 Don't worry guys, I will be taking Eagle Driver up this weekend. Although my F is modest compared to Bob's machine. Planning on running up to 15J, Cook Co. in Adel GA for their fly-in and lunch http://www.socialflight.com/event-details.php?eventId=168384 It will be about an hour each way so hopefully a 2.0 will push him firmly to Mooney. 2 Quote
astravierso Posted December 9, 2016 Report Posted December 9, 2016 EagleDriver, If you swing TDY orders to Hill AFB drop me a line and you can try a "B" model on for size. Plus there was an F15 Driver who had a nice "E" model, not sure if he sure if he still has it though. Cheers Quote
EagleDriver Posted December 9, 2016 Author Report Posted December 9, 2016 Bob - definitely the cowling that's grabbing my attention. I suppose it changes the lines just enough to make a difference - before or after, Mooney made a fine airplane. Bonal - It's definitely something I wish everyone could experience; but GA is the same thing to me for different reasons. Thanks for showing off the pictures, she's a beaut! They look fast sitting on the ground... kpaul is right, and I can't wait! 2 Quote
EagleDriver Posted December 9, 2016 Author Report Posted December 9, 2016 Will do! I need to get up there anyway, especially this time of year. Still haven't been able to ski there....yet. Quote
EagleDriver Posted December 9, 2016 Author Report Posted December 9, 2016 Okay folks, opinions on the accuracy of this M20 summary? http://www.howitflies.com/Mooney-M20 There are parts that seem to double talk, in regards to "short body," and which are which, and what that actually even means. Quote
gsengle Posted December 9, 2016 Report Posted December 9, 2016 Some nits, but largely accurate based on a quick read...Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote
bonal Posted December 9, 2016 Report Posted December 9, 2016 29 minutes ago, EagleDriver said: Okay folks, opinions on the accuracy of this M20 summary? http://www.howitflies.com/Mooney-M20 There are parts that seem to double talk, in regards to "short body," and which are which, and what that actually even means. Someone will likely type this out faster, A B C D and E models were the first and had a shorter fuselage the F G J and K were stretched I think 9 or 10 inches adding about 5 inches to the cabin space. After that the Long Bodies were made not sure how much they added to them. Most folks around will attest that a short is only good for 2 but unless your well over 6 feet up front there is reasonable space for a third. For my wife and I a short body is perfect. The one thing they all have in common is a beautiful wing laminar flow just like a P51 minus the 50's of course. Quote
gsxrpilot Posted December 9, 2016 Report Posted December 9, 2016 It's pretty accurate. B, C, D, E - Short bodies F, G, J, K - Mid bodies Bravo, Ovation, Acclaim - Long bodies Quote
gsengle Posted December 9, 2016 Report Posted December 9, 2016 http://www.mooneyevents.com/chrono.htmSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote
1964-M20E Posted December 9, 2016 Report Posted December 9, 2016 9 minutes ago, bonal said: The one thing they all have in common is a beautiful wing laminar flow just like a P51 minus the 50's of course. Speak for yourself mine has them they just retract so as not to reduce speed until I need them You have to look deep inside the wing to find them and the ammo is expensive I'd rather burn gas than gunpowder. 2 Quote
gsxrpilot Posted December 9, 2016 Report Posted December 9, 2016 Here's what you want to read. http://www.mooneypilots.com/mapalog/M20C Evaluation/M20C_Evaluation_Report.htmlhttp://www.mooneypilots.com/mapalog/m20e.htmlhttp://www.mooneypilots.com/mapalog/M20F Evaluation/M20F_Evaluation_Report.htmlhttp://www.mooneypilots.com/mapalog/M20G Evaluation/M20G_Eval.htmhttp://www.mooneypilots.com/mapalog/M20J Evaluation/M20J_evaluation_report.htmlhttp://www.mooneypilots.com/mapalog/M20K252_evaluation_report.htm Note: The C (short) and G (mid) share the same 180 hp engine. The E (short), F (mid), and J (mid) share the same 200 hp engine. So as you might expect, the C is faster than a G and the E is faster than the F. The J is faster than the E because of Lopresti speed mods. Today you can find C's and E's that have the Lopresti speed mods making them quite fast. And an E with all the speed mods should be faster than a J. The K 252 starts a whole new class of Turbo Mooney's. 1 Quote
Hank Posted December 9, 2016 Report Posted December 9, 2016 Those MAPA reports are very good. I read them when I was deciding on my plane. There's no such thing as a slow Mooney--this is my C model, 180 hp, going away for the weekend with my wife. Quote
Raptor05121 Posted December 9, 2016 Report Posted December 9, 2016 10 hours ago, kpaul said: Don't worry guys, I will be taking Eagle Driver up this weekend. Although my F is modest compared to Bob's machine. Planning on running up to 15J, Cook Co. in Adel GA for their fly-in and lunch http://www.socialflight.com/event-details.php?eventId=168384 It will be about an hour each way so hopefully a 2.0 will push him firmly to Mooney. Damn, I won't be able to make it My governor won't be here until Monday. Dang there are so many fly-ins going on around here Saturday. Bill is in our EAA chapter 797 here at 24J (just south across the state line). Tell him I said hi. There is another fellow there with a blue and white M20C. Quote
kpaul Posted December 9, 2016 Report Posted December 9, 2016 1 minute ago, Raptor05121 said: Damn, I won't be able to make it My governor won't be here until Monday. Dang there are so many fly-ins going on around here Saturday. Bill is in our EAA chapter 797 here at 24J (just south across the state line). Tell him I said hi. There is another fellow there with a blue and white M20C. Too bad, that would be an easy flight for you too. Quote
Raptor05121 Posted December 9, 2016 Report Posted December 9, 2016 Yeah I went up there the day I got my plane back. Quote
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