N2652W will have a new home!

[hammdo]

Just an update:

During MSF class we were doing a practice ILS and noticed the glide-slope flag was still on. So today, had Grayson Avionics do a radio ck on the bench and in the plane. They first cleaned all the contact on the card and did a full ck out. She's working great now! Probably needed the contacts cleaned and a good seating in the tray. Display still shows all the digits but at some point will need cleaning also. Did a flight test on the 17L ILS at GYI and it's rocking the signal!

Getting the G5 hopefully in July and get going on the IFR training again...

Flying great!

-Don

[hammdo]

Recently I've been having 'antenna errors' pop up on the WX-900 StormScope and more recently wx processing lockout (unit unreliable). It seemed to progress from occasional to now full failure mode (all by antenna error). After doing research, 3 probable causes came up 

• unit failed
• recent avionics installed
• antenna being very sensitive to dirt/oil covering the antenna 

Today, I decided to do a thorough belly cleaning. After cleaning, I tested each avionics installed by pulling circuit breakers and turning them on one at a time - while the StormScope was running. StormScope worked like a champ!

It appears a dirty antenna really affects the Scope. I'll take it out for a test flight just to make sure.

We had TS in the area and the strike count worked - I could clear the screen and it would start counting again...

I have a backup unit as I like having this...

I'll clean things on the bottom more often now...

-Don

 

[hammdo]

Well more investigation is needed. Worked after startup, taxi, takeoff but started the error again. I'm suspicious of the connection at the antenna so will need to ck that next chance I get. Great day to fly though.. Happy 4th...

-Don 

[hammdo]

Success!  I took the StormScope antenna off, disconnected the connector, really cleaned the connector with DeoxIT 5% Spray Contact Cleaner.  I have a serviceable backup StormScope antenna and conductive gasket and just decided to install it (as those are a lot newer).  After cleaning and doing several connections to the new antenna, reinstalled everything.  Did a ground test and bingo - no more Error 5, Error 0, Antenna Error/ WX Processor errors!

Went and took it for an hour test flight with several landings to confirm she is working -- and it was!  We have Thunder Storms south of DFW and it was picking up strikes.  I cleared the StormScope on every turn and she responded just as I expected.  Now, all the equipment is working as expected!

While I was at it Permatexed 4 fuel tank screws -- that took care of some very small seeps.  I also used the 'magic fuel crayon' on the flat rivets and on the drain rivets -- that took care of any small seeps there.  That fuel stick really works for these little seeps like that.

Here is a link to it:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002C3L5NO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm finally ready to do a much longer cross-country.  I personally don't like to have things inop unless I know why -- now things are working great.  I'm going to order the second G5 next week and then, hopefully, install the G5 and the electric step.  Then, I can remove the vacuum pump, standby vacuum, and get ready for an auto pilot.  While the plane is wired for TruTrak, if they take too long, I'll go with the Garmin GFC 500 in the next year.

For now, the G5 AI and IFR ticket are going to be my plans for the rest of this year.  

While I was at it, I did Install 3 SouthCo retainers on the large inspection panel and a new 1/4 SouthCo DZUS stud - BTW,  She is really clean on the inside of the empennage!

After CamaroFest, I have plans to do a short cross country to Galveston (2 hrs) just to get used to the longer flights with the wife.  Plane is really running great now!

-Don

 

 

[carusoam]

Please share pics of CamaroFest!  

Congrats on getting the storm scope working…

Best regards,

-a-

[hammdo]

CamaroFest is the last one they'll be doing - #10 is it. It's been a great ride - GM is going to kill the Camaro again so...

LSFest is the place to be now...

Yeah, I like having the StormScope (especially here in Texas) - the issue had to be simple - thank goodness for a good contact cleaner and backup equipment ;o).

I have a full new wiring harness, conductive gasket, and backup scope. Sarasota Avionics is still asking $2100 for the same setup ... yikes...

The Mooney is very happy to be flying a lot ;o)

-Don

 

[hammdo]

Well, I'm approaching a milestone -- 92 hrs in type! I should be 100 by mid August. Pretty excited about that. I have 2 x-countries I want to do planned so, waiting to see how the weather goes. One short (2 hrs one way), the second longer (4 hrs one way). I'm real comfortable in the Mooney now so ready to bust loose. Working on my 'weather wisdom' and IFR studies right now...

Really enjoying this Mooney...

-Don

[carusoam]

Just now, hammdo said:

Well, I'm approaching a milestone -- 92 hrs in type! I should be 100 by mid August. Pretty excited about that. I have 2 x-countries I want to do planned so, waiting to see how the weather goes. One short (2 hrs one way), the second longer (4 hrs one way). I'm real comfortable in the Mooney now so ready to bust loose. Working on my 'weather wisdom' and IFR studies right now...

Really enjoying this Mooney...

-Don

Review WnB…

Do some DA calculations…

Compare to performance charts…

 

Have some great flights!

 

With so many hours in your log book… insurance costs won’t be as terrible next year… (as they could be)

Best regards,

-a-

[hammdo]

375 hrs so far.

All wb are at least 150 lbs below max with baggage/flight supplies, full fuel, my wife and I. Did the DA calcs and add about 30% more runway needed. 9000 ft at home is fine, where I'm going is 5000 ft and 7000 ft so DA will be in ck. My general rule is runway length should be very close to density altitude - simple safety ck.

I've flown her full fuel, 2 people and baggage on hot days to Bowie (0F2) 3600 ft runway and she did fine (DA was 4000 ft that day). Always best to validate ;o)

-Don

 

[carusoam]

Nice work Don!

You are the best.

Best regards,

-a-

[hammdo]

Prepped for my day trip to Galveston tomorrow. Had Grayson Avionics install a starter relay and SkyTec starter today - she was acting up the last two flights -- could hear clicks but no starter movement. Relay had high resistance when hot so played it safe. Took it out for a maintenance flight for over an hour in the pattern - she did great. StormScope testing today also showed fine. I have videos that show how to do a noise test in the StormScope - I'll post those later.

Using EzWxBrief now with ForeFlight weather - really like all it provides. With ForeFilght, Windy, and Ez, have a great weather briefing now...

She's ready to go!

-Don

[hammdo]

Trip was great! Ate at a restaurant called. 'On the River'. Great seafood and the locals love the place. It was more than I could eat! No pics or videos as I wanted to concentrate on flying today. Plane did great. I flew a little different to Texas Gulf Coast Regional. 3 .1 hrs and 20.5 gallons! I have the fuel receipt to prove it - filled to the brim! We did have head winds so that slowed us a bit.

2450 19" at 9500 (MAP pulled until it wiggled, leaned so the cylinders would stay around 390° or less.

Flew her faster on the way back and will fill it up next time to see how much more it used.

9,500 out there (before ATC lowered me for the Houston arrivals/departures)

8,500 back (Same deal here with ATC).

Fuel pump pressure got to 2/3 PSI at those altitudes but at lower was better. May need to investigate that. When needed, I just turned the boost pump on when I did any climbing and no issues.

She has a left turning tendency so may be a gear door or rigging - I ran the left tank down and it still did it.

Overall wife and I enjoyed it -- her first flight in 20+ years with me and of course I didn't do my best landing when we got to LBX - but I did when we got home. I did have to post a pic taken by my wife of the SMALLEST Buc-ees we've ever seen...

Edit:

Found out this was the 'original/first' Buc-ees that started it all...

LBX is a great airport, long runway, great fuel prices, great staff -- highly recommend the airport..

http://www.flylbx.org/page/Photo Gallery

-Don

 

[hammdo]

I don't know how I forgot this but now have 100 hrs in Mooneys!

-Don

[carusoam]

Congrats on the first 100, May there be many more!

 

Regarding left turn tendency…. This is most common when flying solo…

Burn the left tank first… to see at what point it becomes a right turning tendency…

The B in WnB has an equivalent calculation for the other axis…

Many M20Cs can be flown using weight shifting techniques inside the cockpit, to follow the magenta line… 

Nice stable air required…

Best regards,

-a-

[hammdo]

Today, I burned the left tank down to 8 gallons -- still turned left.  I have weight in the baggage area on the 'right' side to help compensate. I'll try moving that around again to see if that helps. I always put things in the rear right seat.  Very well could be my 'larger size' having an impact ;o)...

Having the wife in the right seat should have helped with that too but alias -- not to be ;o).

Autopilot would help -- that is going to have to be installed later -- have to recover from the usual first year things that seem to come up for a new owner ;o)  G5 AI is the next item I have planned -- hope to order that (waiting to see if there is any kind of 'Osh' incentive ;o).

Stratux kept acting up today (didn't record my first flight today ) so I just broke down and purchases a Stratus 3 with all the goodies it supports with ForeFlight.

Anyway, Right now, she's pretty solid mechanically ;o)

Thanks for the congrats -- 100 Mooney hrs since Feb of 2020 -- and that is with 3 months not flying (rental down for normal service/rented when I had time kind of thing -- not to mention the engine out on my B).

-Don

[hammdo]

As promised, my StormScope checks.

To get to the 'service' menu, after the StormScope is finished with its initial startup cks, you hold down the left 2 buttons at the same time to enter the 'setup/diagnostic' menu. Once there, you can choose what you want to test. Thanks to Don Valentine (StormScope specialist) for giving me the install/test manual.  He's testing out my 2 other StormScopes (yes I have 3 total ;o).

How I did the noise check (also has a Strike Test too -- I did that also):

 

How I did the wiring move (yes, I did cut the zip-ties):

 

-Don

[hammdo]

G5 AI is ordered and the Avionics Shop I called may be able to squeeze me in sometime in August!  Since we already have the main items installed for the DG, this should be an easier install.  Once that is done, most of the new items (except the AutoPilot) will be completed.  The AutoPilot is a harder choice -- wait for Trutrak or go Garmin.  I'll just have to wait on that one probably until next year.  Lots of investment this year (first year owner stuff) and maintenance items but, she's flying great and shows its a very capable bird. 

Wife enjoyed the trip and when I explained to her we did Galveston to Home in 2:15 minutes she realized we had no car traffic to deal with, no flight delays or, check-ins to a busy airport (no rental car to return/early TSA checkin).  The drive is almost 5 hrs one way...

I showed her how the GNC-355 and DG worked, how to find airports, how the magenta line works, the iPad to track us, landmarks, etc.  Its a big difference from the old days we went cross country by VOR/Airways and paper charts (I always flew vor to vor VFR since I had them) and no onboard weather.  I later bought a Garmin 195 to do GPS more direct - I thought THAT was something then....

52W is gonna be a very happy bird now...

-Don

[hammdo]

Second G5 is in! Now, just waiting on the avionics shop to get me in - gonna be a nice panel! Stratus3 is also here and will be trying that out this weekend...

-Don

[hammdo]

Filled her up today to see how much fuel I used on the way back from Galveston - 25.6 gallons for 2.6 hours block time (avg. 9.6 an hour) - not bad! Took her for a spin in the pattern to work on landings- can't practice those too much ;o)

Waiting on avionics shop for second G5.

Plane is sure fun to fly...

-Don

[hammdo]

2nd G5 is scheduled for the 19th! That will get me where I hoped to be - minus AP and fuel flow. Starting and flying very well now that the other maintenance items are fixed.

After the G5, I'll have to schedule the electric step and vacuum system/backup removal. That should give a little bit more UL.

After G5, I have a cross-country to Tennessee planned some time in September. 
 

-Don

[M20F-1968]

On 7/10/2020 at 9:32 PM, Bluevalley said:

If you don't mind my asking, who is you're AME? I'm looking for one who will work with me. I'm no youngster either. Fifty years of flying takes it's toll....Thanks

I am a senior AME in the Boston area.  The truth is that there are only a few conditions which will be a road block on the path the an FAA medical.  The FAA wants to review many situations that are outside of the CACI protocols (which the AME can issue if conditions are met) but they do not want to deny medical certificates if at all possible.  You have to give them the information that they request, but with most medical conditions the airman will likely be approved.  Beware of AME's that hold themselves out as experts in getting pilots successfully through the Special Issuance process.  Many use it as a way to capture more patients and more money.  You just need an AME who practices good medicine, can advocate for you with the FAA, and is willing to follow-up with the FAA in an appropriate way if needed.  No AME is going to tell the FAA what it should do in any case. 

Feel free to contact me with any questions or problems by sending a PM here.  Alternatively, my e-mail is john.breda@gmail.com and my cell is (617) 877-0025.

John Breda

[hammdo]

Finally in the shop for G5! All vacuum items being removed:

AI, Standby Vacuum, suction gauge, Vacuum step bello (if someone needs one, hollar), and air pump. 

Now, when Trutrak is available, I'll plan that for later... 

Can't wait to fly it with all Garmin. 

I did fly a VFR practice RNAV 18 into Commerce.. That was fun to see how the approach looks out the window vs the G5... 

Fun! 

-Don 

[hammdo]

Almost there! 

Should be ready by tomorrow! 

-Don 

[hammdo]

Plane is done! Now for W&B, I'm going to... 

Yep, get its weight done! 

I know but I'd rather be sure what I really have and with all the changes, better to be sure... 

Hopefully scheduled for next week. Better safe than sorry... 

-Don 

[carusoam]

The truth hurts…  sometimes.

But, it’s better to know, than not know… before you go.  
 

Good luck at the weigh-in!

Best regards,

-a-