New Member, Very Close to Buying C Model

[gsxrpilot]

We really just had one a few weeks ago... the San Marcos Caravan Clinic. Never the less, we should have one and quick before it gets too hot to fly in Texas.

[MBDiagMan]

Paul, 

Can you tell about the caravan clinic?

[gsxrpilot]

1 minute ago, MBDiagMan said:

Paul, 

Can you tell about the caravan clinic?

Sure, what do you want to know? It was originally scheduled for March 31, April 1,2 but was pushed out a week because of weather.  I didn't get to fly as my bird is still in the shop.

[MBDiagMan]

Thanks Paul.  Can you tell me where I can find out about this/these events?

Edit:  Never mind.  Google is my friend.  We would have loved being there with all the mooniac a, but I am not sure I am ready for formation flying.  I flew in loose formation to Tennessee a few years ago and from that I can't imagine keeping a plane a few feet from another.  I wI'll watch the video when I get back to the states though and maybe they give information that will help me warm up to the idea.

[gsxrpilot]

6 hours ago, MBDiagMan said:

Thanks Paul.  Can you tell me where I can find out about this/these events?

Edit:  Never mind.  Google is my friend.  We would have loved being there with all the mooniac a, but I am not sure I am ready for formation flying.  I flew in loose formation to Tennessee a few years ago and from that I can't imagine keeping a plane a few feet from another.  I wI'll watch the video when I get back to the states though and maybe they give information that will help me warm up to the idea.

When you get back to the US, plan to come down to KHYI for a day and fly with us.  Go through the brief with us and then for the first sortie, ride along in the right seat in one of our Mooneys. If you like it, then one of us will ride right seat with you in the second sortie.

We fly formation two or three times a month.

[Yetti]

21 hours ago, gsxrpilot said:

We really just had one a few weeks ago... the San Marcos Caravan Clinic. Never the less, we should have one and quick before it gets too hot to fly in Texas.

I have trust issues....   There are only 2 other people that I would let work on my bike.   I don't trust others riding close to me with motorcycles.    I would only trust one other pilot I know (I only know 4 well) to fly formation.   Probably something I should work through.

How about lunch somewhere?

[MBDiagMan]

I am not real keen on formation flying either, but since Mooneys gather at KHYI anyway, maybe it makes sense to add us formation phobia flyers to the group of Mooneys at the airport.  If they do it regularly, maybe we could make a regular event of it.

just a thought to keep the idea alive.

[gsxrpilot]

Don't knock it until you've tried it.

[MBDiagMan]

I am not saying I won't try it.  I am just saying that from my previous experience in loose formation, I am not sure it is something for me.  I wiill, however, pledge to ride with someone and see what I think.

[bonal]

When I used to do a lot of riding motorcycles with others really liked being in close quarters racing in the AFM better be comfortable in that kind of environment. I think would be very cool to fly formation.

[MBDiagMan]

I raced Motocross in my younger years, but close quarters in an airplane doesn't seem like it would be the same.  That said, I try new things and sometimes am surprised.

[Desertdoc75]

On 4/28/2017 at 7:12 AM, Yetti said:

We should do a Texas Mooney fly in.

 

Definitely!

[Yetti]

5 hours ago, Desertdoc75 said:

Definitely!

See the poll on the main page

[gsengle]

Great thread and welcome to the family! I don't know the handshake either and never will, as my long body Mooney isn't half as cool!

But since no one has mentioned it, many of us would highly recommend attending a Mapa PPP training weekend. You'll meet people, fly with great Mooney instructors and learn even more about your airplane. Many use it every couple of years as their BFR...

Welcome!


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[gsxrpilot]

My first exposure to formation flying was at a Texas clinic. The instructors had posted a notice on the bulletin board at Randolph Air Force base asking if any formation qualified instructors would be willing to come help out with the clinic. Two instructors showed up. Later they told us it was just to see what kind of non-sense us wannabe's were up to. After flying the weekend with us, (each of them took a turn in my right seat), they were pleasantly surprised at the degree of seriousness with which we took our flying. We used their manuals, their procedures, and were every bit as serious about it as they were in the Air Force. We've now become good friends and there are always Air Force guys wanting to ride along with us when we fly.

Most pilots new to formation work are amazed by the amount of time and detail that goes into the brief before the flight. That is often more than enough to instill confidence that we know what we're doing. And this will be a safe activity.

The Texas Wing has an open invitation to any Mooney pilot who would like to come ride along and experience close formation flight in a Mooney. We are not a bunch of guys flying in a loose gaggle to go somewhere for lunch. This is very disciplined, briefed, close formation flight. In fact, we usually brief, fly, de-brief... and then some of us might drive somewhere for lunch. We rarely fly to lunch anymore as the formation flying is just too much fun.

Come fly with us and see what it's all about.

[MBDiagMan]

Thanks very much for the explanation Paul!  I had no idea that so much experience and expertise was involved.  Sounds like something that could improve my flying.

[gsxrpilot]

8 hours ago, MBDiagMan said:

Thanks very much for the explanation Paul!  I had no idea that so much experience and expertise was involved.  Sounds like something that could improve my flying.

One last anecdote for you 

After my first clinic I was hooked, and within the next six months had logged almost 20 hours of formation time. But I'd let my IFR lapse and needed an IPC to get current again. I was pretty nervous about it as it had been awhile since I'd shot an ILS approach... or any approach for that matter.  But after all the formation flying, I found that keeping the needles centered on an approach was child's play. I'm just so much further ahead of my airplane now which is definitely a safety factor in my favor. And on top of all that, it's just too much fun.

You'll have to come out and play sometime 

[JeffMirs]

NEVER assume that a MSC (Mooney Service Center) is incapable of missing stuff or even doctoring log books - I have seen it happen  Always have an independent qualified mechanic do your pre-buy inspection.  Aviation attorney...

[MBDiagMan]

Well this thread seems like the right place to continue chronicling my Mooney progrss, even as slow as it is.

Friday before the Holiday, my Girlfriends son in law Jason, a private pilot who passed his checkride last fall flew copilot with me to Galveston from NorthEast Texas.  I flew at 7,500' clearing the scattered clouds.  When ATC cut us loose, we crossed the bay southward toward runway 18 Galveston, there were low clouds, 4 mile visibility and water.  I saw nothing but white, but kept the top side up until I saw the PAPI and was right on glide slope.  The runway was huge and a nice sight at that point.  Jason said " if you can't put it on that runway I will never fly with you again."

My girlfriend was already there.  She rode with Jason's wife down there.  We had a great Holiday, soaked up sun, shrimp, steak, played in the surf, saw a great fireworks show and had good times with her kids and grandkids.

Tuesday afternoon Sandy and I headed to the airport and loaded up.  I got a sqwauk while on the ground and we flew out over the water and were handed off to Houston straight away.  We climbed to 8,500' and had smooth and 59 degree air for the flight home.  Cool air was a good thing after sweating my butt off getting loaded and doing the preflight.

Sandy was a great help in the cockpit.  She is not a pilot, but did great writing down frequencies when I was passed off and watched heading and altitude when I was doing other things.  

I know that to most of you this would have been a short local flight, but it is the farthest and highest I have been in the Mooney so far.  It was a great step forward as I get familiar and comfortable with Joyce.  She is a great plane, and I am getting more and more familiar and comfortable.  My instrument training is starting to move along too.  She's a great instrument platform.

I flew both ways at about 156 mph true and burned about 9.2 GPH.  I also learned that there is a cabin vent to allow air under the panel.  Helped a good bit.

[Hank]

Way to go, Diag! You already found the ceiling vents and the eyeball vents in the footwells, right?

9500 is a great summer altitude. I've taken off with temps in the high 90s (Higher on the asphalt), and enjoyed the goose bumps from  58° air there!  

[cliffy]

Nice trip you took there!

Speed and burn right on for what I do in mine after 1700 hrs in it.

That is what an airplane is for - fun trips! 

[KLRDMD]

20 hours ago, MBDiagMan said:

I saw nothing but white, but kept the top side up until I saw the PAPI and was right on glide slope.  The runway was huge and a nice sight at that point.  My instrument training is starting to move along too. 

Am I reading this wrong or was this flying in actual instrument meteorological conditions without a clearance and without an IFR rating ? 

[Ron McBride]

52 minutes ago, KLRDMD said:

Am I reading this wrong or was this flying in actual instrument meteorological conditions without a clearance and without an IFR rating ? 

If you are flying IFR without a rating, you will never grow old enough to learn the handshake.

Ron

 

[cnoe]

Well this thread seems like the right place to continue chronicling my Mooney progrss, even as slow as it is.
Friday before the Holiday, my Girlfriends son in law Jason, a private pilot who passed his checkride last fall flew copilot with me to Galveston from NorthEast Texas.

That's awesome Larry! I'm sure you and Sandy will be making plenty of trips to the beach house in the future. If you'd have held a southerly heading for 145 nm after takeoff you'd have flown right over me (not my boat).



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[Marauder]

Am I reading this wrong or was this flying in actual instrument meteorological conditions without a clearance and without an IFR rating ? 

Based on his prior line before the "seeing the PAPI" line, it sounded like he was in marginal VFR conditions. At least that is what I hope he meant.

I think we all have been on those flights where technically it is VFR or MVFR but you would be hard pressed to call it that (ex. Flying into a setting sun in haze).


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