WANTED MOONEY M20 C-F

[TonyPynes]

Focusing on F and G Mooneys

[flight2000]

Hi Tony,

Please check your PM's.

Brian

[TonyPynes]

This looking for aircraft is hard work.

[jax88]

Yep, but it is also quite fun as well.

[carusoam]

The rewards are worth the hard work...

The costs avoided are also worth the extra effort put in up front.

Best regards,

-a-

[TonyPynes]

And there is no F, G or J anywhere near me for sale. whats up with that. 

[HopePilot]

It took me about 2 1/2 years.  At the time it seemed like all the planes were in NC.  No joke.

[N33GG]

Here's the good news...after a long and hard search across the country, and you finally buy your aircraft, there will be a dozen just like you were looking for that will suddenly be on the market right in your back yard, and they will look awesome.  Just brace yourself...

[TonyPynes]

You guys are killing me.

[TonyPynes]

I don't doubt it at all.

I have looked at planes in Texas (4 cities/towns), Alabama, Georgia(two cities), South Carolina(two cities), yes-one in North Carolina, Virginia, and after this weekend, Ohio(2) and Michigan(1) with Tennessee thrown in if i can arrange it.

I have read logs from beginning to end on way too many planes and magnified details of pictures from over 30-40 planes from Cs to Ks.

I have learned a great deal though from how to look at trusses, test tail sections, look for corrosion- inside and out, what seeping tanks look like on the bottom and on top,  and what to look at in pictures to see what it will really look like in the flesh - or aluminum.

I have seen some real dogs with no redeeming qualities, bad paint jobs and hail damage, ugly ducklings with great engines, great planes with no logs, beautiful planes with such a mixed up panel you just want to rip it all out and start over, I have seen great avionics and a run out engine, and every combination in between. and finally I have seen the best example of an F about the time I realized I needed to get as much speed as I can afford.

So now I am looking at Js. Which means I will start looking at the lower end of the price spectrum to see if there are any in that price range worth taking a chance on. If I find the answer is no I will return to the Fs or Gs or hey if I can convince my wife an E. Hopefully I can find another great example then.

I have also found a lot of people I enjoyed meeting, a lot that wanted to share and help me learn what to look for even as they knew I was no longer interested in their plane. I met a lot of Mooney owners online who regularly give me their thoughts and insight.

I have enjoyed the community and just want to find MY plane. Where is MY plane?

 

[flight2000]

I know how you feel.  If it has the right avionics, it had a high time engine.  If it had a low time engine, the avionics and paint were wrong.  I finally decided to just find a great airframe/engine combo and do everything else myself.  It cost a little more (not much really) and now I have an aircraft that has the avionics I want, the paint scheme I want, and the interior I want.  Sometimes it's a matter of comprimise.  I don't believe that the perfect aircraft is out there unless you are buying a brand spanking new aircraft off the factory line.  Some are close, but something will always be missing from the list.  I'd make a short list of must have's and nice to have's and go from there.  I could have saved a lot of time if I had done that first instead of thinking everything was a must have.  Just my thoughts.

Brian

[TonyPynes]

My priorities are as follows:

 

Pricing must value out at or below vref.

Engine, low to mid hours

Airframe, Not crazy about too high or too low unless an overhaul was recent

Avionics, GPS 430 or better

Interior, flexible but clean

Exterior I say flexible but really a 7 or better

[Skywarrior]

Tony -

What do you mean by this:

"Airframe, Not crazy about too high or too low unless an overhaul was recent"

Recent overhaul??

Chuck M.

[TonyPynes]

Example, I see 2500 airframe hour planes with 1500 hours. It is apparent it has been sitting and I would rather see that someone has gone through the engine recently.

 

Recently would depend on how often it was flown in the last year.

[triple8s]

Reminds me of being single and cant find a date, then ya get marrried and.......well we all know how that goes.

[triple8s]

Seriously the most important thing you should do is to define your need and go from there. All Mooney's are not created equal but some are better suited for a particular mission. Define your mission then you can narrow your search.

[Jerry 5TJ]

Quote: AustinPynes

 

My priorities are as follows:

Pricing must value out at or below vref.

Engine, low to mid hours

Airframe, Not crazy about too high or too low unless an overhaul was recent

Avionics, GPS 430 or better

Interior, flexible but clean

Exterior I say flexible but really a 7 or better

[TonyPynes]

Exactly!

[jbreda]

Time is money and add travel on top of that.

It is easier to find a structurally good airframe and engine and then go from there.  You can start with the best you can find, but you will never find the perfect specimen.  Aircraft are not like people, they can be altered and modified.

[Skywarrior]

Tony Pyne said:

Example, I see 2500 airframe hour planes with 1500 hours. It is apparent it has been sitting and I would rather see that someone has gone through the engine recently.

Recently would depend on how often it was flown in the last year.

 

Tony -

I'm still confused by this. A 2500-hour airframe has... 2500 hours on it.

Are you mixing SMOH hours with AF hours?

How do you know the aircraft has been sitting a lot?

Chuck M.

 

[N33GG]

You can replace  or overhaul the engine.  You can fix the paint and interior.  You can even upgrade the avionics.  But you can't fix a bad airframe that has unrepairable damage or corrosion.  For me, it is airframe first, and everything else is second.  I don't know what is second, but it is a long way from airframe.  Just my opinion. 

[TonyPynes]

No mixing. Just omitting.

[TonyPynes]

George, absolutely agree. if the airframe is toast it is a showstopper. but then I dont want to replace an engine either although I agree it is a replaceable item. but for me i want both as my first two prerequisites.

[docket]

Quote: JimR

[N33GG]

Sorry docket... the above post was mine.  The login bug got me.