"Test-Drive"

[NewMooney]

Hello All, My name is James and I just recently finished my Private and am working on my Instrument Rating. In the meantime, I am in the market for a plane... the more I read about Mooneys (both old and new) the more I like what I am reading.  However, I have not yet been up in one.  I am looking for someone in Southeast Michigan who would be willing to take me for a ride and let me have a hand at the controls sometime.  I'm happy to pay for fuel... just want to make sure its a plane I like flying before I spend the money on buying one.  

Thanks for reading and I look forward to hearing from everyone. 

 

James

[carusoam]

Welcome aboard, James!

Go ahead and update your Avatar with as much detail as possible...

This thread may grow quite long.  Your location will get forgotten by some, like me...

 

First, a pre-requisite test...

What is more important to you...?

• partaking in an LOP vs ROP discussion.

-or-

• partaking in a reseal vs bladder discussion.

-or-

• partaking in a speed vs efficiency discussion.

 

That's essentially one tricky question...  

You have come to the right place!

Best regards,

-a-

 

[Andy95W]

Which airport in Southeast Michigan?

[Mcstealth]

Welcome to the forum. 

Thanks for saying hello. 

How is the lake snow effect where you are located? Candidate for FIKI?

let us know what your mission is. Are you 5'4" 140lbs or 6'3" 235?

df?

[NewMooney]

To answer questions:

1. Speed vs efficiency I think would be the first topic to tackle...
2. I fly out of ARB
3. Not too much lake-effect on this side of the state... The western side along Lake Michigan gets pounded most winters though.  I am 6'4, 230. 

[Andy95W]

I think we have a MooneySpace member based in ARB.  I'm a bit north of you. If you can't get ahold of him, I'll come down to you if we can work out a time, preferably during the week.

[NewMooney]

Thanks Andy, I appreciate your help here.  How far north are you from ARB? DO you know the name of the MooneySpace member here at ARB?

[Andy95W]

Not sure if he's still around.  

 

[gitmo234]

I had worried about being 6’3, and 200. Not an issue at all in an E model. Why I went Mooney? Useful load is approximately the same as my 172, but I could go almost double the speed and at approximately the same fuel burn. I use my Mooney for the occasional work commute (weather permitting) and vacations or family trips. I have, on occasion, made trips in my 172 to wine country with my wife. We had to offload A few cases of because we were overweight, but that’s semi-rare. Thank god sole family members drove.

I’m not yet refined enough to have LOP or ROP opinions. 

[Bryan]

I am 6" 200 and my pedals are perfect with the seat all the way up.  Get your IFR in your plane.

[Oldguy]

Welcome aboard James. Congrats on your PPL and working on your IR. Goes a long way to getting more use out of whatever you fly, although it should be a Mooney.

Several of us here are 6'+ (or 6'++ like @Yetti) and over 200#. The front seats in any Mooney work for us, but the rear is a bit tight before the mid-body models (F/J). Mission helps define the model as well as budget and you sound like you have it fairly well laid out.

And @Bryan has it right: getting your IR in your own plane regardless of model is a great way to do it. Best of luck.