Mooney Mountain Flying

[Phil_M20J]

I have been flying our Mooney M20J for about 12 years, always in the East.  Next June, I hope to fly to Colorado Springs.  While there, I hope to take a mountain flying course in our plane.  Yesterday, I consulted the performance tables in our POH.  The tables give no data above pressure altitude 8,000.  That seems to imply that the plane will not climb above that pressure altitude sufficient for takeoff.  Can that be correct?  Does anyone have high altitude experience with a 201 that will give me a little guideance?  Maybe this sea-level pilot has just forgotten how to work those charts.

[FoxMike]

Phil, 

I have been flying in Colorado for 40 years.  Most of the time in one or another Mooney.  M20Js will work out here ok.  I would advise that the Colorado Pilots Assn. teaches a Mountain Flying Course that would be invaluable.  Next years course dates have not been set but watch their website for more information.  www.coloradopilots.org 

Walt

[HartParr]

I have taken off at 8k with full family and fuel just fine in my E.

[THASE]

I live in Aspen CO (8000') and owned a M20J for 2 years. It did just fine. Watch your vertical speed when on lee side. If there's a big pressure difference from Western CO to the front range, there could be some mountain wave. Fly to Leadville in the morning and get your certificate. I miss the 201

[KSMooniac]

I've been to Aspen and Leadville in my J, but solo, and it did fine.  DA departing Leadville was almost 13k' so my takeoff roll was looooong and climb rate was low, but it worked fine.  Cooler temps and light winds are obviously desirable in the mountains, so plan your flying accordingly, especially for the first time.  Getting into and out of COS will be relatively easy, so don't fear that, and taking a course while you're there is very wise.  The CPA course mentioned by Walt is good, and MAPA sometimes has a PPP course in the mountains too.

I've had my J to just under 19k density altitude and it flies just fine up there, but climb rates are low so patience is needed.  

[The-sky-captain]

Quote: Phil_M20J

I have been flying our Mooney M20J for about 12 years, always in the East.  Next June, I hope to fly to Colorado Springs.  While there, I hope to take a mountain flying course in our plane.  Yesterday, I consulted the performance tables in our POH.  The tables give no data above pressure altitude 8,000.  That seems to imply that the plane will not climb above that pressure altitude sufficient for takeoff.  Can that be correct?  Does anyone have high altitude experience with a 201 that will give me a little guideance?  Maybe this sea-level pilot has just forgotten how to work those charts.

[Jeff_S]

I just got back from a trip to Denver in July. I didn't have time to take the full MAPA mountain course that was being held that same week, but I did go up with a CFI from Longmont for a day (Cleon Biter). Weather was already moving into the mountains around Leadville in the morning so we cut it short on a northern route up over Rollins Pass, into Kremmling, then over Rabbit Ears pass to Steamboat where we landed briefly, then back over Rabbit Ears and Cameron Passes and down into the plains again. 

My J did fine, but admittedly not an overwhelming climber with DA's that high. We got to 12,500 at the highest point to cross Rollins Pass, and I had to keep the climb rate at about 100-300 fpm in order to keep speed up and not let the engine overheat. It was a good chance to learn how to find thermals and use their help to climb (Biter is a glider CFI as well).

Once at altitude, though, I was amazed that I was still able to get 150 KTAS on a slighlty LOP setting.