Ugh, No SWT Windscreens

[jax88]

Shame, just spoke with SWTA and they can no longer get the glass for their 201 windscreen mod.

[Steve65E-NC]

So, what does that say about replacement windshields for those of us who already invested in the SWTA windshield mod. 

[jax88]

Good question.  I asked if I could find one from a salvage aircraft if it would work and was told that it likely would NOT work.  You may be in the same boat (albeit one with wings) if you need to replace a 201 windscreen.

[N601RX]

I was told that the oem 201 windscreen would work, but it would require some trimming.  They told me they could get them, they just had to order 12 of them at once and did not want to put out that much money and was trying to get another mooney mod center to take half them but had not been able to find one who would.

This mod seems to be a good value and it seems that we could get 6 people on here to take them.

[jbreda]

Why could you not use the 201 windshield from LP Aero Plastics?

John Breda

[N601RX]

Quote: jbreda

Why could you not use the 201 windshield from LP Aero Plastics?

John Breda

[Mathew]

The SWTX windshiled needs a butt load of trimming as well,   I did mine years ago, and was suprised at how much time I spent with the beltsander.   no reason to suspect a genuine 201 replaceement would be any sort of dealbreaker if it gets damaged.

[aerobat95]

I talked with them off and on for the past year.  I dont think they will be getting in any more windscreens and the cowl mod that they had will no longer be produced.  Something about the resin they used to make it.  Too bad because they had a nice product.  I find it hard to believe there isnt a market for these mods still.  Even LASAR doent have the 201 windscreen mod.  Something about the cowl deck.  Since Mooney doesnt make the parts anymore they cant get them in.  I will be replacing my windscreen either this annual or next and will just replace with the same one piece I have now. 

[Parker_Woodruff]

Quote: aerobat95

 I find it hard to believe there isnt a market for these mods still.

[aerobat95]

I guess....but even when I was buying it was 30k more for a similar J model.  One with 500 hours, and new interior, and decient avionics.  Even today the J's that I have seen that I like are in the 90-110k range.

[DaV8or]

Quote: aerobat95

I talked with them off and on for the past year.  I dont think they will be getting in any more windscreens and the cowl mod that they had will no longer be produced.  Something about the resin they used to make it.  Too bad because they had a nice product.  I find it hard to believe there isnt a market for these mods still.  Even LASAR doent have the 201 windscreen mod.  Something about the cowl deck.  Since Mooney doesnt make the parts anymore they cant get them in.  I will be replacing my windscreen either this annual or next and will just replace with the same one piece I have now. 

[N601RX]

Quote: DaV8or

I talked to Russell at SWTA just a couple of days ago about my little problem with the brake reservoir. When I mentioned the 201 windshield mod he immediately responded- "We don't do those anymore." The reason being that he uses a cast, rather than extruded plastic for the windshield because it is more optically pure. It is more expensive and much more rare. The manufacturer of the plastic requires him to buy an entire pallet of the stuff or nothing at all. It's about enough to do 90 windshields. In the past he has been able to get other shops to commit to some of the production and so far nobody else will, so being that he is in business to make money, he won't be making anymore.

The 201 cowling mod is an FAA problem. He can no longer get the type of resin he used to use to make the cowl and while there are alternative resins available, the FAA requires him to go through the whole STC process again with the new resins. Again, he's in business to make money, so no more cowlings.

Sadly, a lot of STCs are going this way. Prices are up, demand is down and the FAA has a burr up it's butt about STCs these days.

My advice to people that are shopping for a Mooney now is, If you really want a 201 and are thinking about getting a cheap E or F and modding it up, skip it and get the 201. If you really like the B, C, D or E but would like one with mods for speed, find one with all, or most of the mods on you want above all else, because soon there will likely to be little to no mods available.

[N33GG]

Quote: DaV8or

I talked to Russell at SWTA just a couple of days ago about my little problem with the brake reservoir. When I mentioned the 201 windshield mod he immediately responded- "We don't do those anymore." The reason being that he uses a cast, rather than extruded plastic for the windshield because it is more optically pure. It is more expensive and much more rare. The manufacturer of the plastic requires him to buy an entire pallet of the stuff or nothing at all. It's about enough to do 90 windshields. In the past he has been able to get other shops to commit to some of the production and so far nobody else will, so being that he is in business to make money, he won't be making anymore.

The 201 cowling mod is an FAA problem. He can no longer get the type of resin he used to use to make the cowl and while there are alternative resins available, the FAA requires him to go through the whole STC process again with the new resins. Again, he's in business to make money, so no more cowlings.

Sadly, a lot of STCs are going this way. Prices are up, demand is down and the FAA has a burr up it's butt about STCs these days.

My advice to people that are shopping for a Mooney now is, If you really want a 201 and are thinking about getting a cheap E or F and modding it up, skip it and get the 201. If you really like the B, C, D or E but would like one with mods for speed, find one with all, or most of the mods on you want above all else, because soon there will likely to be little to no mods available.

[jax88]

I think the minimum number Russell has to order is a good bit north of 12.

[Sabremech]

It's true that field approvals are harder to get, but they are not gone. Having done an STC myself and producing FAA-PMA parts, I believe SWTA could do an update to their STC for the cowling mod if they wanted to. They have all of the data and could submit a new package with the new resin and the costs would be substantially less than doing an STC from scratch. I don't blame them for holding back on producing parts as I'm in the same position they are. 

 

[DaV8or]

Quote: Sabremech

It's true that field approvals are harder to get, but they are not gone. Having done an STC myself and producing FAA-PMA parts, I belive SWTA could do an update to their STC for the cowling mod if they wanted to. They have all of the data and could submit a new package with the new resin and the costs would be substantially less than doing an STC from scratch. I don't blame them for holding back on producing parts as I'm in the same position they are.