Why owning a Mooney is cool!!

[GeorgePerry]

Two racing buddys and I decided to catch the Indy car race in Watkins Glen NY.  Up and back in the same day.  Yep, it's kinda goofy but it really shows the kind of freedom that comes with an airplane. 

[The-sky-captain]

I love the freedom too. Last week I was able to be on a white sand beach for my 6th wedding anniversary and next week I'm going to climb a 14er in Colorado. Both would be in excess of 15 hour drives (each way)and I'm there in 3.5 to 4 hours in the Mooney. Great video George, thanks for sharing.

[MattS]

Great video and I completely agree.  Flew my wife down to the Oregon shore over the holiday weekend.  My friends drove and met us down there.  1.2 in the air vs. a 5 hr drive. 

My wife and I have taken so many unforgettable trips that would not have been possible without the Mooney. Makes it worth all of that money...

[KSMooniac]

I might as well throw my July 4th story in as well... flew from Wichita to Beaver Lake, AR (1.2 hours vs. 4 on the road) and landed *right at the lake* and had friends pick us up.  Took a buddy and 2 girls that were rookie-GA flyers and they loved it...and are now spoiled on quick and easy Mooney travel. 

So many great things about owning a Mooney, but at the top of my list is the expanded range for a fun weekend trip.

[The-sky-captain]

Scott- If you landed at ROG you were at my home base. I don't remember seeing any Mooney's on the ramp but I could have missed it.

[MattS]

Quote: KSMooniac

So many great things about owning a Mooney, but at the top of my list is the expanded range for a fun weekend trip.

[KSMooniac]

Bodie, I went into Lost Village (40AR), about 7 nm to the east of KROG.  The cabin we were in is almost walking distance from that strip, so it is very convenient.  It is also quite a challenging approach!  I have some pics I might have to try to post.

[The-sky-captain]

Challenging indeed!! An acquaintence on mine actually wrecked a plane there a year or so ago on a botched landing. I look forward to seeing your pictures.

[MooneyMitch]

and then there's the famous saying Jim........"time to spare, go by air".  Hope your weather clears and you can be on your way to that incredible place!

Flew the Ovation on a CA trip today.  New tires and all!!!  We love our Mooney's!!!

[GeorgePerry]

IFR certified enroute and approach GPS with 496 XM WX.  Not too much keeps me from going when and where I want.

[The-sky-captain]

I agree Jim. I usually find myself in the middle of a great vacation ready to go home just so I can fly! Have a safe trip.

[skyking]

I love my Mooney because i can go see my Grandkids in a day as opposed to the 2 day trip it was in my old '172.

Last summer we did a complete Canadian cross country.

 

 

[Chris White ex-N205KD]

Quote: JimR

I'm weathered in in Kentucky as I write this, en route to Dayton, Ohio from Florida to visit the U.S. Air Force Museum over the weekend. One of a million weekend destinations that would be impossible without the Mooney. Like Patton said of war (at least in the movie!), God help me I love it so.

[FlyDave]

I'm with all of you on how great a Mooney is!!!

A friend just called me from Arcata, CA. He flew his 210 up there to pick up his daughter and he thinks he blew a cylinder. I'm looking at the time/fuel to go pick him up and it stacks up as follows:

M20J (I want): 3h 20m, 36 gal. fuel

Cherokee 140 (I have): 4h 50m, 47 gal. fuel - NOT including the fuel stop required (read 6 hours & 60 gallons)

What a difference!!

What an Airplane!!!!

[KSMooniac]

Dave, you have discovered the absolute *best* part about Mooney ownership vs. all the others... a Mooney will always get the XC job done on dramatically less fuel than any other single, and often times it will be faster too.  Some of the bigger turbo planes might do some missions faster over longer distance, but will use a lot more fuel.

So far my banner trip is Las Vegas (Henderson Field) to Wichita in 5:51 on 49 gallons of fuel total.  My parents, bro and sis-in-law and I all left the hotel at the same time.  They went to the commercial airport and I cabbed it to Henderson where I needed to flight plan & fuel before leaving.  They went to Dallas and Aspen, respectively, via the airlines and I beat all of them home. 

I love my Mooney!

[KSMooniac]

Here is the view on final at 40AR...a few more in my gallery that I just created.

[Cruiser]

I bet you get some interesting turbulence off that tree line on a gusty day.

[piperpainter]

Driving places seems to be a thing of the past for me. I mean really, your not going to get a speeding ticket, fight traffic, road construction etc. Plus you just sit there barely touching the trim wheel (unless its bumpy) listen to the music and every so often talk to ATC to change freqs! I have managed to drive only within about 1-1.5 hr distances in the last year. Everywhere else I flew!  

[KSMooniac]

Same here, Bryan.  Since my purchase 2.5+ years ago, I have only driven 90 miles for a concert (so beers could be had) and one ski trip in January to CO...no way I could take 2+gear into the mountains in the winter in my Mooney, so we had to drive it.  Otherwise...fly!  Nothing does a trip better than a Mooney.

[The-sky-captain]

I guess it runs in our blood. I recently had a "discussion" with the wife about postponing the 3 hr drive to Little Rock in favor of the 1 hour flight due to bad wx that day. To bad it was Christmas or I may have won! Not only is it much more enjoyable but the fuel cost is almost identical compared to our SUV. I love to fly.

[Chris White ex-N205KD]

Great flight into Wilmington, DE today (hell, does it even matter what the destination is?), and thankful not to be job searching. 

Gave a curious line guy a tour of the Aspen at KILG.  He was suitably impressed!  His father is considering a glass install in his first-gen SR-20, while the son flies twins for a charter whenever possible.

Taking my hangar neighbor, who's a brand new student, to breakfast in the morning via Mooney Air.  He's a retired State Trooper (he retired at 13 years - I have more tenure than him!) who went to the dark side aka law school after OSP.  We should have a lot to talk about, but I bet it will be airplanes, not law.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N205KD/history/20090909/1925Z/KILG/KVTA

[Parker_Woodruff]

Great photos...nice plane...where did you end up getting the engine overhauled at?

[Chris White ex-N205KD]

Gann Aviation in LaFayette, GA 9A5.  It's a super smooth IO-360.

[lahso]

Quote: mooney205kd

Gann Aviation in LaFayette, GA 9A5.  It's a super smooth IO-360.

[skyking]

Here's another great thing about the speed of a Mooney.

We left Edmonton yesterday, went to Calgary to see a freind, then off to Banff for lunch and Jasper for supper and an overnighter, then Home to Edmonton this morining. Try doing that in a car and still be home on time for work on Monday.

Russ