General First Thoughts of a New Owner

[Jimhamilton]

I bought the  231 having never flown one before.  I simply picked the Mooney for its ability to do the job I needed it to do.  I will be using it to help with my commute from KSLC to KCOS.  The MEA's are above 16,000 feet and that did not leave me too many choices on type.  The plane was well taken care of by the previous owners (Dugosh annuals for fifteen or so years).  They checked me out with about a two hour flight and off I went.

My first thoughts were these

1.  The rudder pedals seem to be far away and I sit a little low.  Takes a bit to get used to.

2.  Descents need to be thought out.  I now understand why some have the speed brake option.

3.  Speed is critical on final.  The gear is stiff and is not kind to landing flat.  Found out first hand.  First Go Arround.

4.  This plane is the fastest single I have ever flown and sips fuel.

5.  In smooth air the plane is a joy to fly with finger tip control.  Very smooth and stable.

6.  Lots of airflow through the cabin to keep it cool.

In all the plane is better than I had imagined.  At 12,500 feet I still had sea level power and if I need to go higher I can with factory O2.  It has a nice stack of basic avionics and an IFR GPS that I am still getting used to.  The autopilot also works very well.  It has been 25 years since I had flown anything like this and as I recall the autopilots on those planes never did work well.  I will go as far as saying this, this Mooney is the best single engine aircraft I have ever flown.  Also, I have been a lurker here for over a year while I made my choice.  This forum has helped me learn about this plane from the people who fly them. 

Thanks, Jim Hamilton

[PTK]

Quote: Jimhamilton

I bought the  231 having never flown one before.  I simply picked the Mooney for its ability to do the job I needed it to do.  I will be using it to help with my commute from KSLC to KCOS.  The MEA's are above 16,000 feet and that did not leave me too many choices on type.  The plane was well taken care of by the previous owners (Dugosh annuals for fifteen or so years).  They checked me out with about a two hour flight and off I went.

My first thoughts were these

1.  The rudder pedals seem to be far away and I sit a little low.  Takes a bit to get used to.

2.  Descents need to be thought out.  I now understand why some have the speed brake option.

3.  Speed is critical on final.  The gear is stiff and is not kind to landing flat.  Found out first hand.  First Go Arround.

4.  This plane is the fastest single I have ever flown and sips fuel.

5.  In smooth air the plane is a joy to fly with finger tip control.  Very smooth and stable.

6.  Lots of airflow through the cabin to keep it cool.

In all the plane is better than I had imagined.  At 12,500 feet I still had sea level power and if I need to go higher I can with factory O2.  It has a nice stack of basic avionics and an IFR GPS that I am still getting used to.  The autopilot also works very well.  It has been 25 years since I had flown anything like this and as I recall the autopilots on those planes never did work well.  I will go as far as saying this, this Mooney is the best single engine aircraft I have ever flown.  Also, I have been a lurker here for over a year while I made my choice.  This forum has helped me learn about this plane from the people who fly them. 

Thanks, Jim Hamilton

[HopePilot]

Methinks you need rudder extensions and a seat cushion like I have...

[jelswick]

Congratulations Jim!  Sounds like you might already, but you are going to love it.  There's a reason all of us are so excited about our aircraft that we spend the time we do on this site. 

[scottfromiowa]

Great write-up Jim.  Congratulations on your Mooney.  Landings will soon be a non-event once you become comfortable.  I am a 32 inseam and I have to haul that seat Waaaaaay forward.  Shoulder harness is NOT an option for me.  I love the pilot seating position in a Mooney.  View is great...especially up high above a layer where you have to look twice at your fuel flow as you "feel" the speed as clouds zip by at over 150 knots.  You think you like your plane now...

[drapo]

OOPS!

[fantom]

Excellent first impressions, and thanks for the picture, Jim

[thinwing]

Congrats on the new bird...I believe I saw it out on the ramp last weekend @ Heber valley ...very nice...kp couch

[N33GG]

Congrats Jim!  After a few more hours flying in your new beauty, most of what you described will just disappear as it becomes second nature to fly your 231. 

[Parker_Woodruff]

Nice looking plane.  Congrats!

[jlunseth]

I have a 231.  Here are my thoughts on your thoughts.  And congratulations by the way, its a great airplane!

1.  The rudder pedals seem to be far away and I sit a little low.  Takes a bit to get used to.

Seat should be adjustable by the bar under the front.  Put it where you want it.  When I first flew mine, I had it close to the pedals, wanted the feeling of control.  As time went on I became comfortable with more leg room.  You don't need the rudders for much, some right rudder for climbs, and of course rudder on takeoffs and landings, but if you Mooney rigging is good, there is no need for rudder at cruise.

2.  Descents need to be thought out.  I now understand why some have the speed brake option.

You will find it is easier to lose airspeed in this plane than you think.  I try to fly about 24.5 inches when I am about 20 out from the airport, that typically brings 120-125 in level flight, and then when you drop the gear it will be 90-100. 

3.  Speed is critical on final.  The gear is stiff and is not kind to landing flat.  Found out first hand.  First Go Arround.

The gear is stiff, yes, but more important to landing the Mooney is to flare - keep the nose wheel up until after the mains.  There is little forgiveness for a landing on the nose wheel.  It is one bounce, two bounce, prop strike.  The cure is eithere to add a small amount of MP to keep the nose up and ease the plane to the ground on the mains, or full power and go around, but don't wait for the third bounce.

4.  This plane is the fastest single I have ever flown and sips fuel.

Yeah, well wait until you try it at FL220 with a westerly tail wind.  220-240 and 13.5 gph is pretty typical for that.

5.  In smooth air the plane is a joy to fly with finger tip control.  Very smooth and stable.

True.  If you have the KFC200, that works really well also.  No fingertips at all.

6.  Lots of airflow through the cabin to keep it cool.

True.

[rainman]

Jim,

I recently purchased a 1979 231 myself.  I could echo all that you have said. As far as landings are concerned, my transition instructor, Bob Cabe, did a great job with me and airspeed control.  As I've gained more experience, the airspeed control comments of others on this forum have stayed true.  Don't put it on the nose and careful flare.  By the way, I've done a go around myself after a big bounce...I learned my lesson.  Congratulations on picking the plane that fit the mission for you.

[MARZ]

Quote: rainman

By the way, I've done a go around myself after a big bounce...I learned my lesson. 

Count me in on that one as well - my first landing attempt with my first passenger (my fiance whom I really wanted to impress - go figure) 

She's forgiven me as I've redeemed myself.

[DonMuncy]

"A big bounce" ? You guys must be a lot better pilots than I am. I've done several big bounces and a bunch of go-arounds.

Don

[Hank]

I've also done many go-rounds, but only one from a "big bounce." Lots of fun being a new pilot, coming home from our first vacation with the plane, loaded heavy, after dark and having Approach vector me around the Sunday night college football TFR that I had forgotten about. Came in, flared at 2-3' and quit flying the plane because I was home . . .

At the 2nd runway impact, full throttle! All I could think about was clearing the trees at the end, then "let's try one more time, nice regular landing. Figure out what went wrong later. Nice, regular landing." At some point there was a random thought about Approach control, my flight path and the TFR, but I decided they would realize I was in the pattern, and went back to "nice, regular landing."

Decided on the cause the next morning when I wasn't so tired. The moral of the story is never relax until you're in the hangar. Airplanes, unlike many dogs, will bite hard if you don't pay attention.

[scottfromiowa]

My BIG Bounce came before I began using full flaps for ALL landings.  I had family in plane on a hot day and did not apply full flaps.  Plane just quit flying in flare and dropped in.  I salvaged with adding power.  Going around is the wiser decision. 

[jetdriven]

Just a suggestion but if nighttime or crosswinds just rotate to the landing attitude (~+5 degrees) and wait for it to land. Too often people try to grease it on this plane doesnt respond well to that. 

 

Scott I agree I use full flaps for all landing except crosswinds greather than 12-15 knots.  The flaps on these are pretty ineffective as it is.

[Vref]

Confession of low time M20J Pilot....Well I bounced three weeks ago (mea culpa...I didn't fly for three weeks), consumed to much concrete on the 2000Ft RWY, speed was still to hi when I settled down so I bounced..felt uncomfortable with it, bounce plus rwy remaining..... Pushed in the throttle, stall horn was yelling kept the airplane flying just above the ground till speed was safe for positive climb and gear went up for a better second attempt....People watching found it a greaser touch and go,....... but I screwed up....well....it wasn't my day...Unlike some other aircraft I've flown which can still be recovered after a good bounce...the Mooney is far less forgiving on this...

Luc

[drapo]

There I was.....

We had a gathering a few weeks ago, at an outfitter an hour north of Montréal. A 3000ft sand runway, downwind and base over mountainous terrain, final over the water, I kind of misjudged the altitude...

There was a photographer and everybody, about 20 ariplanes, standing by the runway to meet me at my arrival.  So too much speed, a little bit high and the surprise of touching down on a sand runway, I bounced it...

Throttle back on, getting to a climb atitude to clear the trees at the other end, it gave the photographer a great shot at a Mooney overshoot... I added that to by experience bank...

[Piloto]

Man, I am so glad I read this thread.  I feel better knowing I'm not the only one.  I came in too fast/high at Hilton Head and bounced it a few times.  Luckily, it's a very long paved runway, so I didn't worry too much.  Definitely bruised my ego.  It has taught me to keep my eye on the air speed and to go around if I'm too high.

[rbridges]

that last post was mine.  For some reason, I got logged in as Piloto. 

[jetdriven]

Drapo that is a really nice looking Mooney!  Classic paint scheme.

[drapo]

Quote: jetdriven

Drapo that is a really nice looking Mooney!  Classic paint scheme.

[Joe Zuffoletto]

After flying it for 11 years and 800 hours, greasing landings in my 1998 Encore had become very routine. So I thought I'd have no problem with the longbody Acclaim I just traded the Encore for. Wrong! Much more weight on the nose and much more drag from the 3-bladed prop means the Acclaim behaves completely differently over the fence and into the flare. After two pretty good landings I did a bounce-bounce-go-around, the first I've ever done in any Mooney. The longbodies are completely different beasts and I need to relearn my landing technique accordingly.

[MARZ]

A story as told to me by a fellow Mooney driver -

I landed at the airport and taxied to the FBO - several people were sitting and watching the planes arrive and take off. 

Walking up to the group I asked "Do they charge a landing fee here"

Reply:  Yes but don't worry they only charge for the final landing - your first four will be free......