Richard's 1965 M20D/C

[Skates97]

On 12/12/2016 at 10:02 AM, AZOutlaw said:

Richard,  I hope you enjoy the plane as much as we all did for all these years.  I attached a picture I just found from when my brother in law first got it......before he was even my brother in law.  Note the date.  (I'm also NOT the sharply dressed guy in the Christmas sweatpants!!)  Last thing I forget to mention.  I always liked the unique N number but there are very few controllers anywhere who get it right.  Put a pause in there, Mooney 788...78, and they always get it.  Happy Flying!!

Sonny, thanks for everything and a wonderful purchase experience. You guys took great care of her over the years. I meant to grab a picture with you and the plane but after talking and going over everything I wanted to make sure we got you to your flight on time. When I come out that way to visit my family maybe I can swing by your neck of the woods and say hi. Sedona is on my list of places to visit and you're not far from there.

I finally got around to writing up about my trip to airplane ownership. Tomorrow I am meeting a CFI out at the airport to take her flying!

http://intothesky.us/2016/12/16/buying-n78878/

Edited December 17, 2016 by Skates97

[Guest]

On December 12, 2016 at 11:42 AM, Skates97 said:

"Needy" is a relative term. It does have a basic engine monitor that shows CHT/EGT but for only one cylinder. The ADF would work but the antenna was removed some time ago. I could reinstall the antenna (it came with the plane) but there really isn't a point so the ADF will come out at a future date. The Apollo II Morrow will be coming out as well. The radios are dated but they work well so I will continue to use them until they decide they don't want to work anymore.

I would like to replace the current engine monitor with one that has FF and all cylinders somewhere here in the near future. She'll be inside a hangar by midweek but I would like to get a cover for travelling, recommendations?

I initially didn't consider it because it was a D until I read that most were converted. I'll get a post written up on it tonight or tomorrow and post a link to it here.

Thanks everyone for all the congratulations and letting me hang around your forums until I was "officially" here , now I just need to get out and learn how to fly her!

If the Apollo is a GPS, you can replace it with an Apollo GX55 GPS.  Fits the same tray, and put the antenna on the roof.

Clarence

[madjano]

True on the Apollo, but those screens blacking out are too big a gamble for me. Mine crapped out finally, but knew it probably would when i bought the plane. There is a guy on Barnstormers trying to get enough buyers to get them remanufactured, but im not holding my breath.
Amazing what a solid portable GPS and ipad can do, obviously not enroute IFR certified...but still lot easier to read.
Jan

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[Hank]

Congratulations, Richard! Isn't it a great feeling to own your own plane? It being a Mooney is just that much better.

When I moved back to Alabama, I was tied down outside (with canopy cover from www.planecovers.com) for six weeks before getting into a hangar; I was on every waiting list around. The cover was included when I bought the plane, is an exact fit with three straps to hold it snugly in place, and I carrying when traveling overnight, for the weekend, etc.

[Skates97]

11 hours ago, M20Doc said:

If the Apollo is a GPS, you can replace it with an Apollo GX55 GPS.  Fits the same tray, and put the antenna on the roof.

Clarence

It is a GPS, but I think I will just wait until I am ready to do some other things to the panel and move some of them around then.

11 hours ago, madjano said:

True on the Apollo, but those screens blacking out are too big a gamble for me. Mine crapped out finally, but knew it probably would when i bought the plane. There is a guy on Barnstormers trying to get enough buyers to get them remanufactured, but im not holding my breath.
Amazing what a solid portable GPS and ipad can do, obviously not enroute IFR certified...but still lot easier to read.
Jan

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 

I agree, I don't have an iPad but my android tablet with Droid EFB is great. It's not enroute IFR certified, but then neither am I...

7 hours ago, Hank said:

Congratulations, Richard! Isn't it a great feeling to own your own plane? It being a Mooney is just that much better.

When I moved back to Alabama, I was tied down outside (with canopy cover from www.planecovers.com) for six weeks before getting into a hangar; I was on every waiting list around. The cover was included when I bought the plane, is an exact fit with three straps to hold it snugly in place, and I carrying when traveling overnight, for the weekend, etc.

I'll have to check out planecovers.com. I would like to have something for when I travel. Especially next summer for trips to my parents in AZ, that sun there is brutal.

[gsxrpilot]

1 hour ago, Skates97 said:

Especially next summer for trips to my parents in AZ, that sun there is brutal.

Whether you get the plane cover or not, get some reflective panels to go in your windows. Keeping the sun out of the cockpit will keep the interior and avionics in better shape.

You can buy a set for a few hundred $$$ or just get a roll of the silver radiant barrier from HomeDepot.  This for about $25 and cut your own. No fasteners needed just cut them a hair to big and they'll stick in the windows just fine. Roll them up and keep them on the hat rack, they won't weigh anything.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Reflectix-24-in-x-25-ft-Double-Reflective-Insulation-with-Staple-Tab-ST24025/100020855

 

[Skates97]

5 minutes ago, gsxrpilot said:

Whether you get the plane cover or not, get some reflective panels to go in your windows. Keeping the sun out of the cockpit will keep the interior and avionics in better shape.

You can buy a set for a few hundred $$$ or just get a roll of the silver radiant barrier from HomeDepot.  This for about $25 and cut your own. No fasteners needed just cut them a hair to big and they'll stick in the windows just fine. Roll them up and keep them on the hat rack, they won't weigh anything.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Reflectix-24-in-x-25-ft-Double-Reflective-Insulation-with-Staple-Tab-ST24025/100020855

 

The plane came with those that are custom fit for the windows.

[Bart Chilcott]

Congratulations on your purchase! She's a real beauty!

[Yooper Rocketman]

Richard,

Congrats on your first airplane, and it's a Mooney to boot!!!!  My first Mooney came out of Arizona as well, an F Model out of Falcon Field on April Fools day, 1996.  You will find airplane ownership to be an incredibly satisfying experience.

Also, congrats on you PP ticket.  I followed a lot of your blog, when I could squeeze a little time, but just before you finished I dropped off this forum for a while (I have been working almost every waking minute on my most recent upgrade).  As you have found, this forum has an incredible group of people on it.  So incredible I may have to keep my Mooney so I can continue my "membership".

Good luck and keep us posted!!!

Tom

[jonhop]

On 12/11/2016 at 3:25 PM, Skates97 said:

Santa came early this year!!

Closed on it Friday and the previous owner flew it out here to me in CA today. Some of you probably recognize it from a for sale thread here on MS. They are finishing up clearing out the hangar and then will be putting a fresh coat of epoxy on the floor. Hope to have her moved into her new home by Tue-Wed. It was a fun adventure searching for a plane and the whole process of purchasing this plane was a pleasure. The seller is a fantastic guy.

I'll get a fun write up of the whole journey on my blog later this week but I had to come here and share the good news. Oh, any of you out at KAJO (I saw a few others on the ramp) I'd love to say hi and meet sometime.

Congrats on your full house--78878--from another full house--57557... Full house tail numbers are so much fun to announce!

+1 for the plane covers cover... My fiancee' gifted me a cover for my birthday and it is superb. No more frying my hand on the center post while climbing in to my J after it's been parked in the sun for a few hours.

Edited December 20, 2016 by jonhop

[Skates97]

46 minutes ago, jonhop said:

Congrats on your full house--78878--from another full house--57557... Full house tail numbers are so much fun to announce!

+1 for the plane covers cover... My fiancee' gifted me a cover for my birthday and it is superb. No more frying my hand on the center post while climbing in to my J after it's been parked in the sun for a few hours.

Honestly hadn't even thought of that, nice!

[MHemperly]

Congrats skates! 

Looks like a beautiful plane! You're going to have a blast with it! As for your question of anyone being based at KAJO, I am. Those pictures are taken right in front of my hangar... #4. I'm currently in Austin right now but I'll be home Friday. I'd be happy to meet up with you. If you need anything let me know... I can give you access to my hangar for tools, air or whatever. I fly a 66E with the same paint scheme. Is the instructor you're working with based at corona? 

Mike

[Skates97]

11 hours ago, MHemperly said:

Congrats skates! 

Looks like a beautiful plane! You're going to have a blast with it! As for your question of anyone being based at KAJO, I am. Those pictures are taken right in front of my hangar... #4. I'm currently in Austin right now but I'll be home Friday. I'd be happy to meet up with you. If you need anything let me know... I can give you access to my hangar for tools, air or whatever. I fly a 66E with the same paint scheme. Is the instructor you're working with based at corona? 

Mike

Thanks, have a safe trip back. My instructor is not out of Corona but is close by so willing to meet me there. He's out of town for Christmas but we're going to fly again the 30th and 31st to see if we can get the rest of my dual hours done for insurance. Then I'm on my own for five more hours before taking the family flying. I sent you a PM with my cell number, we'll have to meet up.

[Yetti]

so here is a D question. How fast can the plane go with the gear down and bolted?  Is there a gear safe speed?

Congrats on the bird you will have lots of fun.

[Raptor05121]

2 hours ago, Yetti said:

so here is a D question. How fast can the plane go with the gear down and bolted?  Is there a gear safe speed?

Congrats on the bird you will have lots of fun.

 

 

Gear drop is 120 for retracts, but the limit is for the doors. For a straight-leg D model, its the regular Vne speed (189mph IAS). My Aug 1963 FLYING pilot report on the D model they author states he took the plane all the way up to Vne to check control authority.

[Rookie]

On 12/17/2016 at 5:35 AM, M20Doc said:

If the Apollo is a GPS, you can replace it with an Apollo GX55 GPS.  Fits the same tray, and put the antenna on the roof.

Clarence

Can the Data Card get updated on this Model?

[Skates97]

1 hour ago, Rookie said:

Can the Data Card get updated on this Model?

It looks like the II Morrow / Garmin AT Apollo 820 in comparing what is in the plane with what I see online. According to the link below the 820 is no longer supported by the factory so software and database updates are no longer available.

http://store.bennettavionics.com/gps820.html

[Rookie]

2 hours ago, Skates97 said:

It looks like the II Morrow / Garmin AT Apollo 820 in comparing what is in the plane with what I see online. According to the link below the 820 is no longer supported by the factory so software and database updates are no longer available.

http://store.bennettavionics.com/gps820.html

I was referring to the GX55 unit. Can that card be programmed?

[Guest]

4 hours ago, Rookie said:

I was referring to the GX55 unit. Can that card be programmed?

Data base updates are still available from Jeppessen.

Clarence