Search Concluded - Mooney Missile

[carusoam]

Michael,

When you get a chance (maybe at annual) a photo of the Acclaim installation is an engineer's engine dream...

The balanced air intakes are sweet, extra enhanced with turbos........yum!

Best regards,

-a-

[AustinChurch]

Quote: Seth

 Thanks Brandon.  That would have bothered me all morning.  Is that the same setup as yours Austin?  My F Model had the oil filler on the right side of the aircraft - the right seat / co-pilot side.   Do any factory Mooney aircraft have the oil filler on the left side?  What about the Rocket?

-Seth

[74657]

So how did the trip home go?

 

[Seth]

Flew the Missile home on Tuesday.  What a trip!  Left FCM - Made a precautionary stop (to check oil, take on a little fuel for safety) halfwayish - Fort Wayne - FWA and then continued home to GAI.  I could have flown direct in about 4 hours 18 minutes.

More observations to come later, but here are is a list:

1.  The Missile is indeed a heavier airplane to the M20F in all respects. 

2.  It is FAST

3.  During the break in, the GPH rate is high

4.  Autopilots assist workload like you would not believe.

5.  This is one heck of a hotrod – I now get what the Missile and probably Rocket people talk about.

6.  The six cylinder IO-550 is indeed smoother running than even a smooth running 4 cylinder 360.

7.  I see why Mooney went and built the Ovation.

This airplane is amazing performance wise, it is heavier by all respects compared to my former M20F, and boy do I need to give LOP ops a try in about 50 hours once I'm comfy with the airplane.  I do have Gami's, so that should make it possible as long as the engine is smooth.  I can't wait to finish the engine break in (well on it's way) so I can take her up to seven to nine thousand feet and see what she can really do.  The trip home was fast - 175 - 190 knots groundspeed often, and at one point over 200 knots.  I flew the trip home between 4 and 6 thousand feed - mainly 4 to 5. 

I'm flying again later today.  Oil consumption is already dropping.

Ran into another Mooneyspacer while at BBB talking with the A&P I used for the prebuy and engine install.  That was pretty neat.  For the install and work, I hired Jason Doscher – he used to manage the Wilmar shop for Bruce Jaeger.  He's a good, honest A&P and will work with you the right way - I recommend his services.

Bruce Jaeger I also recommend for any training.

Tim Lundquist I recommend if you are looking to buy or sell your Mooney (or other aircraft).  He made sure this deal happened and has followed up with me even after purchase. 

These three made a great team for the purchase, pre-buy, work, and training.  PM me any time for their contact information.

Back to Auto Pilots - I did not have one in my M20F - well, I did - the PC wing leveler.  And I flew a lot of IFR, a lot of long Cross Country flights and even the circling of the USA in 2010.  From DC to NC to TX to CA to OR to MT to MN and back.  I've had the plane to FL, MN, OH, TX many times.  For all these flights I hand flew the plane, hand flew the instrument approaches, to minimums a few times.   The AP takes a huge workload off and allows you to monitor and manage as opposed to primarily flying and correcting consistently without the step back overview.   I will still hand fly approaches from time to time to keep my hand flying skills up, but boy does an auto pilot decrease the workload.  If you are ever thinking of getting one - don't think twice - DO IT.

I'll have more thoughts about my Missile up in a the next few days - also watch out for a thread about a Maryland/VA/DE/PA/WV get together for the mid-atlantic Mooney's.  I'll set something up at an airport sometime in the next month on a weekend for lunch. 

Take care,

-Seth

 

 

[scottfromiowa]

Great write-up Seth!  I can feel your excitement, passion, awe and pride in your new plane.  So happy for you  I hope to see and hear your bird some day.

Best wishes,

Scott

[aviatoreb]

Quote: Seth

4.  Autopilots assist workload like you would not believe.

....

...

Back to Auto Pilots - I did not have one in my M20F - well, I did - the PC wing leveler.  And I flew a lot of IFR, a lot of long Cross Country flights and even the circling of the USA in 2010.  From DC to NC to TX to CA to OR to MT to MN and back.  I've had the plane to FL, MN, OH, TX many times.  For all these flights I hand flew the plane, hand flew the instrument approaches, to minimums a few times.   The AP takes a huge workload off and allows you to monitor and manage as opposed to primarily flying and correcting consistently without the step back overview.   I will still hand fly approaches from time to time to keep my hand flying skills up, but boy does an auto pilot decrease the workload.  If you are ever thinking of getting one - don't think twice - DO IT.

[Seth]

TKS just was not in the cards for this upgrade - thought it would have been nice.

Today I took the plane out for another 2.1 hours.  I was able to replace a fuse for the interior cabin lights (they didn't work when I triend them on the flight home - good thing for flashlights - the panel lights worked just fine).  Also, had my smoothest landing in the Missile today. 

I've run it at high power for the break in, and 180+ knots sure is nice!  I'm looking forward to getting it up to 8000 or so and leaning out for a better fuel burn. 

It's time for the first oil change and to check the filter to ensure it doesn't reveal anything negative.  I'll have that done this week. 

[jetdriven]

if oil consumption stabilized the break in of cylinders is pretty much done.  If you have been flying it hard, that might have only taken 4 hours.

 

[aviatoreb]

Quote: Seth

TKS just was not in the cards for this upgrade - thought it would have been nice.

[orangemtl]

Quote: carusoam

Michael,

When you get a chance (maybe at annual) a photo of the Acclaim installation is an engineer's engine dream...

The balanced air intakes are sweet, extra enhanced with turbos........yum!

Best regards,

-a-