I flew with FlightChops in Vegas.

[Mooney-Mark]

21 hours ago, SantosDumont said:

Yeah ModWorks installed a TCM IO-360-ES in 1998.

That is really cool! The 6-cyl Continental must run really smooth!

[Nokomis449]

Cool video!   Thanks for sharing.

re: Johnson bar: been dere, done dat!  My Mooney instructor taught me to leave the gear down until there's no runway left to land on.  So I lift off, level off until best climb, and retract the gear when an aborted takeoff is no longer an option.  I'll adjust this for the situation - the <2,000ft grass strip in summer requires an immediate cleanup to  avoid tree trimming and parts shedding.  For me, swinging the gears either way is one constant motion.  Someone (on here maybe, or in the Mooney Flyer or MAPA Log) once described in detail how it should be done.  There's springs to help in either direction - that's why the bar stays at about 45deg when you let go.  The trick is to keep the momentum from the first spring going as you rotate your hand over the top of the bar and start to overcome the force from the 2nd spring.   My personal opinion is that your technique needs a little work, not the Mooney.  It can be an awkward handful until you find the right combination of technique, airspeed, and G-force.  It probably takes me 2 seconds in either direction.  The process seems silly simple to me with 1,000+ hours of experience with Johnson bars, but when I allow others to fly left seat it's comical to watch their first attempts.  And then I reach down from the right seat to show them how it's done, and my (unpracticed) actions with the opposite arm are just as comical.

re: inner gear doors:  I was picking up a Comanche once, and departure was delayed because the runway was fouled with a Mooney that'd landed with a flat tire and the extra gear door.  The door had already left a mark down the asphalt and there was no way to tow it without further damage.  So the shop had to change the tire while still on the only runway.  Luckily it wasn't a busy place.

You have a very nice Mooney!  I've flown a Missile with speed brakes.  Wow what a difference they make!  Someone put a lot of upgrades/money into your airplane for you to enjoy!

[gsxrpilot]

I didn't realize anyone still followed the "no useable runway" method. 

[SantosDumont]

I did some experimenting yesterday on take off, I tried stowing the gear at 70kts instead of 80kts and it seemed easier to get the bar down.

[211º]

I usually pull my E’s gear up at 80-85 mph. I’ve waited until 110mph before and I had to do the mini-dip-dive. It’s a huge difference.


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[Guest]

2 hours ago, gsxrpilot said:

I didn't realize anyone still followed the "no useable runway" method. 

With a proper sized engine you can run out of useable runway because of your height above the surface just as easily as some run out of runway horizontally.

Clarence

[gsxrpilot]

29 minutes ago, M20Doc said:

With a proper sized engine you can run out of useable runway because of your height above the surface just as easily as some run out of runway horizontally.

Clarence

And with our undersized engines, altitude is much quicker with the gear stowed. I'll take altitude over useable runway every time.

[Guest]

40 minutes ago, gsxrpilot said:

And with our undersized engines, altitude is much quicker with the gear stowed. I'll take altitude over useable runway every time.

Both methods work fine,  it depends on airframe and pilot preference.

Clarence

[Seth]

Steve from Flight Chops will be presenting at Mooney Summit!  For those of you attending and who wish to meet him.

 

Very cool experience!  Nice F!!

 

-Seth

[Mooney-Mark]

On September 7, 2018 at 6:14 PM, gsxrpilot said:

I didn't realize anyone still followed the "no useable runway" method. 

Yes, I do. Every time I fly.