Joe Larussa Posted April 9, 2017 Report Posted April 9, 2017 Most runways in my area are relatively friendly to Mooney's. I have pretty much new shock disks on my plane. Maybe 175 hours to be exact. Today I was taking off from Rio Vista and I swear I didn't lift off but bounced into the air. At roughly 55 MPH the nose is really bouncing but it just isn't ready yet of course. I tried holding the yolk back a bit like a soft field take off but don't think it helps. Thoughts? Quote
Andy95W Posted April 9, 2017 Report Posted April 9, 2017 You just described my home airport. I use a soft field technique every takeoff just to keep some of the weight/bending forces off the nose gear. I use FULL back pressure until the nose wheel comes off the surface, just like back in the C-152 days, then wait for the airplane to fly itself off the ground. 3 Quote
rbridges Posted April 10, 2017 Report Posted April 10, 2017 On 4/9/2017 at 10:10 PM, Joe Larussa said: I tried holding the yolk back a bit like a soft field take off but don't think it helps. Thoughts? Expand My advice would be don't play with eggs when taking off. 9 Quote
M20F Posted April 10, 2017 Report Posted April 10, 2017 On 4/9/2017 at 10:10 PM, Joe Larussa said: . I tried holding the yolk back a bit like a soft field take off but don't think it helps. Thoughts? Expand Mooneys don't have a gas strut so pulling back on the yoke isn't going to stretch the nose up much. They are poor planes for unimproved fields and landing in particular can get interesting when you hit a bump. There is a reason why you don't see any other plane with rubber discs. 1 Quote
Jsavage3 Posted April 10, 2017 Report Posted April 10, 2017 Use soft-field takeoff & landing procedures as taught in any Private Pilot training curriculum. Works good, lasts long time... 2 Quote
Joe Larussa Posted April 10, 2017 Author Report Posted April 10, 2017 I guess it's never a problem on landing because I have the yoke all the way back. Yoke that is! Lol 2 Quote
kortopates Posted April 10, 2017 Report Posted April 10, 2017 Andy nailed it above. As aviators we don't need to put up with the bouncing for very long; as well as watching the instrument panel vibrate from it. Get the nose off asap and as the lift builds we feel less and less of the bumps. Personally, just my opinion, but I don't think us pilots should ever be complaining about the runway. I am thankful for every airport we still have. Some of the most beautiful places I get to visit by Mooney are only made possible by a dirt or gravel runway. (Although these are mostly south of the border.) The Mooney, although far from ideal for them, can do them just fine with good soft field techniques and proper speeds. Still, I won't go into any dirt or grass strip - I have pretty conservative limits; but many are just fine. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 3 Quote
Yetti Posted April 10, 2017 Report Posted April 10, 2017 (edited) I hold back pressure on my home field. There is one bump right before lift off... Translates to all fields out of habit. Then there is the one whoop from the taxiway to the parking area. Edited April 10, 2017 by Yetti Quote
M20F Posted April 10, 2017 Report Posted April 10, 2017 On 4/10/2017 at 12:09 PM, bluehighwayflyer said: Beech Musketeers and Sports have rubber shock discs, too. I think the Musketeer line is a Stinson design. Just FYI. Expand Correct, I worded it badly but point is it isn't a great design. Quote
StevenL757 Posted April 10, 2017 Report Posted April 10, 2017 On 4/10/2017 at 12:25 AM, rbridges said: My advice would be don't play with eggs when taking off. Expand I don't think he should be playing with his yoke either... Quote
Mooneymite Posted April 10, 2017 Report Posted April 10, 2017 I fly off of grass at my home field. However, there are many grass strips I just won't use. The Mooney is not a "back country" airplane (PiperPainter not withstanding ). Sure your Mooney can get on and off a few times, but I think rough runways take a toll on them over time: wet wings, gear linkages, avionics, passengers all get beat up. For longevity's sake avoid the bumpy runways. 1 Quote
Hank Posted April 11, 2017 Report Posted April 11, 2017 But this is the airport where Mom & Dad live now . . . It's only a little bumpy when I first touch down, and before I rotate on departure. 1 Quote
thinwing Posted April 11, 2017 Report Posted April 11, 2017 On 4/9/2017 at 10:10 PM, Joe Larussa said: Most runways in my area are relatively friendly to Mooney's. I have pretty much new shock disks on my plane. Maybe 175 hours to be exact. Today I was taking off from Rio Vista and I swear I didn't lift off but bounced into the air. At roughly 55 MPH the nose is really bouncing but it just isn't ready yet of course. I tried holding the yolk back a bit like a soft field take off but don't think it helps. Thoughts? Expand That's funny cause Rio Vista was moved 10 or 12 years ago from its old site closest to town.That means it is one of the newest airports within a 200 mile radius!So did the contractor do a lousy paving job...is it as bad as Lodi/acampo ? Quote
MooneyMitch Posted April 11, 2017 Report Posted April 11, 2017 We have a hump built into runway 30, as we cross it diagonally near the northwest end, on departure from runway 20. If I cross that hump part at nearly rotation speed, yes, it puts me airborne prior to where I want to become airborne. To overcome this, once takeoff clearance is given, I lightly accelerate slowly until across the hump, and then off we go. Yes, our landing gear is not as forgiving as other types. No doubt. I try to mitigate situations such as bumpy surfaces, but I'm not always successful (long grass taxi situations at OSH North 40!) And, just taxing from my hangar to our self serve stop can be a bit of a roller coaster event too! With that all said, during the filming of the Boots on the Ground experience, I did learn there have been several times over the Mooney lifetime, attempts were researched and actually seriously persued in an effort to redesign the gear. But, in a non perfect world, I still choose Mooney. Quote
gsxrpilot Posted April 11, 2017 Report Posted April 11, 2017 It's pretty easy to find airplanes that are much better than Mooney's in every way... while on the ground. In the air... well that's a whole different story. 1 Quote
Mooneymite Posted April 11, 2017 Report Posted April 11, 2017 On 4/11/2017 at 8:16 PM, gsxrpilot said: It's pretty easy to find airplanes that are much better than Mooney's in every way... while on the ground. In the air... well that's a whole different story. Expand All airplanes are flying compromises. With a Mooney you just don't have to compromise as much. 3 Quote
bradp Posted April 12, 2017 Report Posted April 12, 2017 Bad yokes in this thread. My favorite bumpy road is where the inlaws are - LYH. There's a speed bump shy of 1000ft in on both ends of 4-22. I land before 1000ft I hit the bump and go flying again for a sec. The runway is in great commercial airport shape it's just that it had a hump. I take off and the same. Urg. Quote
Joe Larussa Posted April 12, 2017 Author Report Posted April 12, 2017 On 4/11/2017 at 7:16 PM, thinwing said: That's funny cause Rio Vista was moved 10 or 12 years ago from its old site closest to town.That means it is one of the newest airports within a 200 mile radius!So did the contractor do a lousy paving job...is it as bad as Lodi/acampo ? Expand Haven't been to Lodi but midway down runway 7 it gets rockin! 7 doesn't get used much because wind is usually blowing like a big dog down 25. Certainly cracks and weeds coming through. Quote
RobertGary1 Posted April 14, 2017 Report Posted April 14, 2017 Did you stop in Rio Vista for the fuel prices? I think the self serve pump at McClellen (on the West side of the field) is still the cheapest around. For a long time it was below $4. Its closer to $7 at my home field at Mather. -Robert Quote
RobertGary1 Posted April 14, 2017 Report Posted April 14, 2017 BTW: Why do I always see ads for foreign brides on this website and no where else? What have you guys been doing to the ad heuristics? -Robert Quote
carusoam Posted April 14, 2017 Report Posted April 14, 2017 Ads are funny... They are trying to show you things that are similar to your last search possibly from other applications or users on your account. Some things come from left field, completely unrelated... Best regards, -a- Quote
Oldguy Posted April 14, 2017 Report Posted April 14, 2017 One of the "fun" things about the MAPA PPP in KCHA is the ripples in the runway on 20. Quote
Joe Larussa Posted April 14, 2017 Author Report Posted April 14, 2017 On 4/14/2017 at 6:23 PM, RobertGary1 said: Did you stop in Rio Vista for the fuel prices? I think the self serve pump at McClellen (on the West side of the field) is still the cheapest around. For a long time it was below $4. Its closer to $7 at my home field at Mather. -Robert Expand Wow under 4.00? I've been paying 4.18 at Lincoln for a while but their pump has been down for weeks so I go to Rio Vista for cheap gas and high winds! Lol Quote
gsxrpilot Posted April 15, 2017 Report Posted April 15, 2017 On 4/14/2017 at 6:26 PM, RobertGary1 said: BTW: Why do I always see ads for foreign brides on this website and no where else? What have you guys been doing to the ad heuristics? -Robert Expand You could always chip in a few bucks to support the site. Then you won't see any ads. 5 Quote
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