To Mooney or not to Mooney, that's my question

[aviatoreb]

Shakespeare flew a Mooney?

[PTK]

Quote: aviatoreb

Shakespeare flew a Mooney?

[Toflyordie]

[Toflyordie]

[Toflyordie]

[Toflyordie]

[Toflyordie]

test, check check

[Toflyordie]

[Skywarrior]

That's yer problem raht there, Vern!

Don't use Word to compose your posts. Use the Mooneyspace message box itself, or paste in text from a text-only app like Notepad.

Chuck M.

[scottfromiowa]

Chuck, my dads name was Vern.  Can't read that without getting a good chuckle...Any 201 with removable seats.  Because der kinder will fit and avionics (auto-pilot) and speed mods will be done.  Efficiency, performance and size.  Ya?  YA!!!!!!

[PTK]

When buying an airplane you look at speed, efficiency and cost of ownership.  The Mooney covers these bases extremely well. It is the best airplane in its class.  The Mooney M20J (201) is the best Mooney ever made. 

[flight2000]

I was just up in your neck of the woods this past weekend picking up my son from soccer camp in Bitburg.  Wish I had my plane here, but it was cost prohibitive.  Are you looking for one in Europe already or looking at anything in the U.S. to bring over?  I priced out ferry flights in the $11-14K range one way. 

Brian

[Toflyordie]

Quote: flight2000

I was just up in your neck of the woods this past weekend picking up my son from soccer camp in Bitburg.  Wish I had my plane here, but it was cost prohibitive.  Are you looking for one in Europe already or looking at anything in the U.S. to bring over?  I priced out ferry flights in the $11-14K range one way. 

Brian

[flight2000]

Ben,

Only place I've found in Germany is the Coleman Aero Club in Mannheim, but that's a bit of a drive.  Took me 2.5 hours to drive to Bitburg from Wiesbaden on Monday and Mannheim is another hour South of me.  I'm not even sure if I'll make that drive just to fly.

I can PM my email address if you're interested in the operational costs for my E.

Brian

[Magnum]

In Zweibruecken (EDRZ) is a IFR N-reg Warrior for rent. I used to fly it before I bought my Mooney. I don't know how much they charge for it now, I'd suggest 150-170 Euros /hr wet. Driving by car should take about 1 hour from Bitburg.

[David Mazer]

Ben,

It would help if you could describe your typical and atypical flights and your flight experience.  I got the family of 4 part but their age and size could make a difference.  For example, 2 teenagers about to leave for school may be less relevant than 2 youngsters expected to grow up in the back seat.  Being in CO, you might want a turbo model but the $75K figure would be hard to make.

You have already heard someone say the J is the best Mooney ever made but there are those out there that claim the K is.  Either way, to get the best low down, a little more info.  Please.

[Toflyordie]

Quote: Mazerbase

Ben,

It would help if you could describe your typical and atypical flights and your flight experience.  I got the family of 4 part but their age and size could make a difference.  For example, 2 teenagers about to leave for school may be less relevant than 2 youngsters expected to grow up in the back seat.  Being in CO, you might want a turbo model but the $75K figure would be hard to make.

You have already heard someone say the J is the best Mooney ever made but there are those out there that claim the K is.  Either way, to get the best low down, a little more info.  Please.

[Carl S]

There is a lot of data out on the web including this handy reference from Lasar: http://www.lasar.com/userfiles/file/Mooney-Model-Comparison.pdf.

 

Some are better than others but this gives a pretty quick look without wading into the minutia.

[Jeff_S]

PilotFriend.com is also a good place to compare models, get history, etc.:

http://www.pilotfriend.com/aircraft%20performance/Mooney/mooney.htm

[Toflyordie]

After looking at those charts, I'd have to say the M20J is more my speed.  The range, ceiling, useful load; it all works for what I need. 

Thanks for the info...that simplified my selection...now, to get one at or below $75K.

[Hank]

There are lots of C, E & F models at/below 75K, but I think you will have to look long, hard and far to find a J in that price range.

Don't worry about your time--I bought [half of] mine at 62 hours. Insurance was bad the first year, then dropped in half because I put in 100 hours and went to a MAPA PPP. Fly a little when you can, try to get a couple of retract hours, both will help with the insurance.

Whenever you come back stateside [PCS, TDY or on leave], let us know and you can probably examine/test fit/fly while you are here.

[KSMooniac]

A J will likely be the best "value" but finding one in a good condition with a functioning autopilot for $75k or less will be difficult.  An F will be the next-best-thing as you should be able to find one that is nicely upgraded for that kind of money with some left over if you are patient, and it can deliver perhaps 80-90% of what the J delivers.  If you get really lucky, you might be able to find an F with the aftermarket turbo-normalizer kit that would be optimal for basing in CO and traveling XC.

Disclaimer...I started looking for an upgraded F, but my J appeared locally at just the right time and I really stretched the budget to go get her, and have no regrets.

[David Mazer]

I think the F or J is probably the right model for you, budget limitations being foremost.  The F will be hard to find equiped the way you want and the J will be hard to find in the price range.  Tough choices.  If you are in the Orlando area, you can certainly take a peak at mine and maybe go for a couple laps around the pattern or something.  I like an excuse to fly.

[Toflyordie]

Quote: Mazerbase

I think the F or J is probably the right model for you, budget limitations being foremost.  The F will be hard to find equiped the way you want and the J will be hard to find in the price range.  Tough choices.  If you are in the Orlando area, you can certainly take a peak at mine and maybe go for a couple laps around the pattern or something.  I like an excuse to fly.

[Toflyordie]

Quote: Mazerbase

I think the F or J is probably the right model for you, budget limitations being foremost.  The F will be hard to find equiped the way you want and the J will be hard to find in the price range.  Tough choices.  If you are in the Orlando area, you can certainly take a peak at mine and maybe go for a couple laps around the pattern or something.  I like an excuse to fly.