Hello Jonny.....

[JT]

I thought it may be a good idea to reach out and try to start a direct discussion between Jonny Pollack (left seat at the Mooney factory) and MS'ers. 

I would like to first express, and I think I am speaking for everyone here, my gratitude for your efforts in breathing new life into our beloved Mooney. You are not alone. It may be that owners of legacy aircraft will never generate the revenue needed to sustain Mooney but we may be able to help get the company over the first hill. I think that we all share in the hope that Mooney goes on to take it's rightful place as a premium aircraft manufacturer in the world and sustains that role.

There have been a lot of ideas floated on MS over the last months about possible directions, some probably ludicrous, some possibly helpful. I'm assuming that you're WAY too busy right now to be reading and posting on MS on a regular basis, and I would ask that posters try to avoid the usual thread drift, and keep this one as a tight and direct line to the company if they choose to jump in.

Hopefully someone will point Mr Pollack in this direction.

[Jonny]

Hey JT!

I wanted to thank you for your kind note and words of encouragement. In fact, I located this post on my own a while back and meant to respond but as you can imagine it was easy to get sidetracked. So please accept my apology for the long delay.

To your point, I think it's important that the Mooney Community have access to the company. As a Mooney owner I never felt a connection to the company even though I relied on the engineers, metal workers, electricians and other artisans every time I turned the key in my 201 or Acclaim. I'd like to change that dynamic and as you've probably gleaned from my interviews, reconnecting to the Mooney Community is a priority.

In the coming weeks we'll be building out a new website and it will allow me to communicate with Mooney owners and advocates more directly. Eventually, the site will also invite participation from the Mooney Community so everyone can have more of a seat at the table so to speak.

As you correctly pointed out, we're working to get over this "first hill." I'd be dishonest if I told you it was easy. There is a reason Mooney finds itself in the position it's in and it will take an awful lot of work to undo some of that and get us going in the right direction. But the one thing I am confident of is that Mooney is still the best single engine piston out there and always will be. "Like flying a Ferrari in the sky" I like to say. That reputation still has some gas in the tank and I promise to do my best so that Mooney can rise again. In the meantime, we'll keep the parts going and look to offer improvements to the fleet.

I probably won't have time to respond to all the questions and suggestions I expect will be posted, but I promise, I will read each and every one.

Thanks again, JT

Best,

Jonny Pollack

 

 

 

[GeeBee]

Thank you for taking on the mission Jonny. I am sure each day you shake your head as you find out new "gotchas" I've been in your shoes trying to resurrect an FBO and just when you think you can come up for air, someone pushes you back down.

I would like to bring up a dire issue that is grounding Mooney's and almost grounded mine. That is the "No back spring" kit. M20-282. I think I bought the last kit in America last month and I called just about every MSC to find one, only to find no stock. As luck would have it, I found one at Cole Aviation just an hour drive away. I know talking to Lasar they have 15 on back order and other's do as well. Without these kits, we cannot fly. The only choice is to find a used actuator starting at about 8000 dollars vs 1000 for the kit. There are many parts owners can reproduce, but this is not one them. Any idea when relief will come?

 

[Jonny]

Hey! In fact, I'm well aware. We don't manufacture these, they come from a third party manufacturer. They have been on back order and I literally heard today that we're getting close. Please stand by, I am on top of this!

Jonny

[AIREMATT]

Hi Jonny, 

Looking forward to the new direction you are going with Mooney and wish you the best of luck for all us Mooney drivers.

Any suggestions you have for how we can help are welcome.

Dan 

[Missile=Awesome]

Porsche.  Porsche has a history and is an engineered evolution 911) that reflects the M20 way better than Marinello...Mooney is the Porsche of the sky...

And Ferrari sucks in 2020 F1...So there is THAT...

[carusoam]

Welcome aboard Jonny!

Glad you could stop in.

MS is the place to see, feel, and get to know Mooney owners...

Often, prospective Mooney buyers find MS prior to buying a plane... preflown or new...

Some of us are here every day... Others drop in around the weekends...

The variety of MSers often mirrors the variety of new Mooney buyers...
 

My favorite part of MS... Owners around the world are always looking for parts, services, advice, and instruction...

We have a few MSers that have started out in Mooney ownership in a similar fashion as you... and moved up to another Mooney in the following years... Often there is a plan to have a retirement Mooney at the end...

You might see terms around here like forever-planes... Many Mooneys achieve the level of having so much value to the pilot... they keep the plane forever... No plane has as many upgrades as a Mooney that has achieved forever status...

Oddly enough, we all have Mooneys in common... but our choice of other vehicles is as varied as there is shades of color... we have a few threads around here with pics of Mooneys and automobiles... and Mooneys and their other plane... 

Scott above, prefers Guard’s Red over Ferrari Red... me, I’m more of a Chevy man...  

If there is anything I can help you, and the rest of the Mooney World, navigate around MS... feel free to let me know...

I haven’t missed a post since day one... ten plus years ago...
 

There are a few parts that have made it to the hard to find list... some of them don’t even cost very much... Lately they have been sensors of the OilT and OilP variety... the air intake hoses for 60s models have bubbled up on the hard to find list again recently...

Let’s talk!
 

Best regards,

-a-

 

 

[GeeBee]

12 hours ago, Jonny said:

Hey! In fact, I'm well aware. We don't manufacture these, they come from a third party manufacturer. They have been on back order and I literally heard today that we're getting close. Please stand by, I am on top of this!

Jonny

Thank you so much. That is good to know. I will buy a new kit just to put on the shelf. For the benefit of me and Mooney!

 

[Jonny]

Appreciate that. They're expensive and there is a minimum order so the more orders, the less we're out of pocket in advance. We ordered at least 20 so they should be out there soon.

[MooneyMitch]

We’re all pulling for you, and what I’m calling “The Dream Team” to find continued success for our beloved Mooney brand.  Thank you, and others for your true passion for this amazing project ahead!!

Go Mooney !!!

[JT]

Hi Jonny!

Thank you for finding the time to connect. My hope is that the silver lining of this nasty Covid cloud is a Mooney factory that is able to use this time (when it's difficult for anyone to compete) to quietly rewrite the Mooney image to align with the facts. It's 2020, be relentless and brutal to the competition. They have been to us. So- website, yes, please!

Jim

[M20F-1968]

Jonny,

I thought I would chime in as well.  I am glad to hear of the new hands-on leadership at Mooney and certainly wish you and your team the best.  Mooney has always been a great airplane with a loyal following of owners who understand its design strengths.  

My airplane is the first plane I have owned.  With the encouragement of Russell Stallings and my hands-on attitude, I bought a 1968 F model that had been stored in a Dallas hangar for 26 years, in pieces.  I bought it as a project airplane and did some homework about the company beforehand.  A crucial part of my decision to go forward with the project was that several airplane vendors and mechanics told me that Mooney has always supported its older aircraft with parts and service.  

When I was in the throws of the project, I could always count on reaching out to Bill Wheat for answers.  I stripped the F model down to a bare hull, reskinned much of the airplane, updated its structure and proceeded to make the airframe to be as close to a modern Mooney as an F model could be. with multiple mods and 337's.  It was an award winner at Oshkosh 2 years running with a Lindy Award in 2019.  I know my airplane, literally inside and out and appreciate the value in the design.  The project was completed with a DER, DAR, two IA's and several A&P's, one was a sheet metal specialist from Gulfstream.  It only shows its F model heritage by its Johnson Bar and hydraulic flaps. 

The and upgraded Vintage Mooneys have an efficiency and simplicity that lends themselves well to become a satisfying forever plane.   I have attached some pics of my bird.

My perspective as an owner is somewhat different given my history of rebuilding the F.  If I can be of any assistance to you or the factory feel free to contact me.  

John Breda

[Nilster]

On 10/10/2020 at 4:13 PM, Jonny said:

Appreciate that. They're expensive and there is a minimum order so the more orders, the less we're out of pocket in advance. We ordered at least 20 so they should be out there soon.

I can put one in my shelf for future use too, if that's of any help.

And thanks Jonny for keeping Mooney alive!!!!!

[larrynimmo]

My M20j went 1700 hours before the spring was changed...I know it is recommended to change after 1,000 hours...what do you all do it at?

[steingar]

Mr Pollack, thank you for connecting with the reprobates that frequent this site.  I truly hope you and your team are able to turn Mooney around.  

[Niko182]

I think starting witg an NXI pathway would be a good idea.

I also think the mooney needs a gross weight increase. I don't personally need it, but there are acclaims and ovations with a useful load of under 800 lbs. My recomendation would be VG's and a stronger nose gear.

And last and something a lot simpler, a shim system on the R, S, and TN for the engine like on the short and mid bodies, that lets you adjust the height of your engine so it isnt sagging.

[irishpilot]

@Jonny, I applaud you and your team for breathing new life into Mooney! You have a lot of people at MS rooting for you. As such, I think there's a great PR opportunity to do a Mooney "roof stomp" aka Factory fly-in. Great photo op and story. It can be organized to be socially distant. I know a few of us would volunteer to organize.

 

[Jerry 5TJ]

On 10/19/2020 at 2:29 PM, Niko182 said:

I also think the mooney needs a gross weight increase.

I’ll bet the loadmaster of an Antonov AN225 says his plane needs another couple hundred thousand kilograms of useful load.  

[201Steve]

On 10/22/2020 at 10:47 AM, irishpilot said:

@Jonny, I applaud you and your team for breathing new life into Mooney! You have a lot of people at MS rooting for you. As such, I think there's a great PR opportunity to do a Mooney "roof stomp" aka Factory fly-in. Great photo op and story. It can be organized to be socially distant. I know a few of us would volunteer to organize.

 

Plus one for this idea. You’d have Mooney’s from all over the country show up. What better way to build energy?

[MooneyMitch]

On 10/22/2020 at 7:47 AM, irishpilot said:

@Jonny, I applaud you and your team for breathing new life into Mooney! You have a lot of people at MS rooting for you. As such, I think there's a great PR opportunity to do a Mooney "roof stomp" aka Factory fly-in. Great photo op and story. It can be organized to be socially distant. I know a few of us would volunteer to organize.

 

My tanks are full and bag is packed....... have Mooney will travel.... FAST!!

Kerrville here we come !!! 

[LANCECASPER]

I’d even be willing to fly the 15 nautical miles over to Kerrville for the fly-in : )

[Tim Jodice]

On 10/10/2020 at 10:13 AM, Jonny said:

Appreciate that. They're expensive and there is a minimum order so the more orders, the less we're out of pocket in advance. We ordered at least 20 so they should be out there soon.

Did you receive them? I am due for one.

[Jonny]

The kits haven't arrived yet, it's a bit out of our hands but they've accelerated the delivery and I pushed to get some before we got the entire order. Stand by.

 

Jonny

[carusoam]

Great update, Jonny!

Thanks for sharing the details on a Sunday evening.  

Best regards,

-a-

[Niko182]

On 10/22/2020 at 8:25 AM, Jerry 5TJ said:

I’ll bet the loadmaster of an Antonov AN225 says his plane needs another couple hundred thousand kilograms of useful load.  

I would normally agree, but when some long body mooneys are under 800 lbs, it becomes very limiting when you try to add a third person. It also makes them hard to resell.