I have had my M20J 1 year today

[Tim Jodice]

A great year it was, it is a perfect match for the flying i do. Like many I still look on controller and look at bigger better faster  it take but 30 seconds to realize that I already have an awesome airplane. 

Special thanks @MarkD34M for all kinds of help while buying the airplane, @FoxMike for propeller advice, @GEE-BEE for awesome baffles to help get my temps down and many others with nick nack questions. 

Lurkers here in the area that are interested in a Mooney but have never sat/flown in one reach out if you would like to. 3 years ago a friend did it for me and it is a big reason I now own one.

Took a new friend flying Thursday and now he is looking for a M20C instead of a 172.

What is your story?  How long have you owned your Mooney? 

[201Mooniac]

I've owned my 1980 M20J for a little over 25 years.  The plane has met every expectation and in about 3000 hours of flying we've touched a lot of this country and have build many wonderful memories.  Since I decided a long time ago that this was my forever airplane, I've never stopped upgrading and after doing interior, paint, new panel 2+ times, engine, prop, cowling, and a few speed mods.  I'm thrilled to be a 201Mooniac!

[carusoam]

20 years of Mooneydom...

I didn’t use it for business very often... but when I did... Magical..!

Combining vendors with customers... taking work mates, in from Europe, past NYC at 1k’...  friendship building 1001!

People that know you from one arena... are even more impressed when they see how well you operate in a different arena altogether...

They really want to have a conversation with you...

My favorite conversation...

Would you like to have a tech engineer discuss this at your office?

Which is better for you... tomorrow, or later today?

 

Or how do we get those parts from NC to NJ, how long will that take?

 

Go Mooney!

-a-

[Tx_Aggie]

18 hours ago, 201Mooniac said:

I've owned my 1980 M20J for a little over 25 years.  The plane has met every expectation and in about 3000 hours of flying we've touched a lot of this country and have build many wonderful memories.  Since I decided a long time ago that this was my forever airplane, I've never stopped upgrading and after doing interior, paint, new panel 2+ times, engine, prop, cowling, and a few speed mods.  I'm thrilled to be a 201Mooniac!

Cowling, as in lo presti?

[Tx_Aggie]

On 12/6/2020 at 2:13 AM, Tim Jodice said:

A great year it was, it is a perfect match for the flying i do. Like many I still look on controller and look at bigger better faster  it take but 30 seconds to realize that I already have an awesome airplane. 

Special thanks @MarkD34M for all kinds of help while buying the airplane, @FoxMike for propeller advice, @GEE-BEE for awesome baffles to help get my temps down and many others with nick nack questions. 

Lurkers here in the area that are interested in a Mooney but have never sat/flown in one reach out if you would like to. 3 years ago a friend did it for me and it is a big reason I now own one.

Took a new friend flying Thursday and now he is looking for a M20C instead of a 172.

What is your story?  How long have you owned your Mooney? 

I bought a 1980J in August and love it. Can you tell me more about the new baffling before and after?

[201Mooniac]

Just now, Tx_Aggie said:

Cowling, as in lo presti?

Yes, the LoPresti cowling was designed on my airplane.  In 1999 when I was part ofthe planning committee for Mooneys to OSH, I met Roy LoPresti when I got him to be a speaker at our BBQ.  He told me he was considering a cowling project and was looking for an M20J to borrow to do the development and I immediately offered my plane.  It was a wonderful experience working with Roy and Curt on this project.  I love the cowling and it has performed very well over the years.

[Tim Jodice]

2 hours ago, Tx_Aggie said:

I bought a 1980J in August and love it. Can you tell me more about the new baffling before and after?

When I bought the plane in the winter I thought it was difficult to keep cool. My reference was a 67 M20F that I had flown for a few years that was easy to keep cool even in the summer.

The original baffles were not horrible (so I thought) some light was visible where the baffles meet the cowling and were wrinkled in some places.

Spoke to @GEE-BEE and learned about cooling stuff from him. I ordered a set from him and put them on at annual in February. They brought the CHTs down about 20-30 degrees. I still need to keep an eye on it in the summer but i can only imagine how bad it would have been with the old baffles. 

I installed the baffles and having never done it before I was really happy how it came out. No trimming and no wrinkles. It sealed everywhere. I didn't realize how bad the old ones were until I checked how no light came through when shining a light through the hatch on top of the cowling. 

[201Mooniac]

3 hours ago, Tim Jodice said:

When I bought the plane in the winter I thought it was difficult to keep cool. My reference was a 67 M20F that I had flown for a few years that was easy to keep cool even in the summer.

The original baffles were not horrible (so I thought) some light was visible where the baffles meet the cowling and were wrinkled in some places.

Spoke to @GEE-BEE and learned about cooling stuff from him. I ordered a set from him and put them on at annual in February. They brought the CHTs down about 20-30 degrees. I still need to keep an eye on it in the summer but i can only imagine how bad it would have been with the old baffles. 

I installed the baffles and having never done it before I was really happy how it came out. No trimming and no wrinkles. It sealed everywhere. I didn't realize how bad the old ones were until I checked how no light came through when shining a light through the hatch on top of the cowling. 

Is there a website for that baffle kit?  I'd love to improve my baffles but finding something that works on the LoPresti cowling is tricky.  There is a template for modifying the original baffles but the baffle seals are then somewhat problematic to get right.

[Tim Jodice]

11 minutes ago, 201Mooniac said:

Is there a website for that baffle kit?  

I don't think that @GEE-BEE has a website. just reach out to him on Mooneyspace.

[Tim Jodice]

13 minutes ago, 201Mooniac said:

I'd love to improve my baffles but finding something that works on the LoPresti cowling is tricky.  There is a template for modifying the original baffles but the baffle seals are then somewhat problematic to get right.

When you down for annual send youy current baffles and he will use them as templates. As long as the ones that you have now fit well when they were new his will be awesome likely a better/thicker material than you have now.

[201Mooniac]

6 minutes ago, Tim Jodice said:

When you down for annual send youy current baffles and he will use them as templates. As long as the ones that you have now fit well when they were new his will be awesome likely a better/thicker material than you have now.

Excellent, thanks!  That is a great idea.  I didn't know they could be copied like that.

[Hank]

@GEE-BEE is a magician. I nust wish he could do something for my doghouse. I'd love a good set of baffles instead . . . . . (hint! hint!)

[Tx_Aggie]

53 minutes ago, Tim Jodice said:

When you down for annual send youy current baffles and he will use them as templates. As long as the ones that you have now fit well when they were new his will be awesome likely a better/thicker material than you have now.

What is different about his baffles than the stock, is it different material or just more thick?

[Tim Jodice]

1 hour ago, Tx_Aggie said:

What is different about his baffles than the stock, is it different material or just more thick?

Both. Next time I am at the shop I will take pictures of regular baffles. 

[carusoam]

8 hours ago, 201Mooniac said:

Yes, the LoPresti cowling was designed on my airplane.  In 1999 when I was part ofthe planning committee for Mooneys to OSH, I met Roy LoPresti when I got him to be a speaker at our BBQ.  He told me he was considering a cowling project and was looking for an M20J to borrow to do the development and I immediately offered my plane.  It was a wonderful experience working with Roy and Curt on this project.  I love the cowling and it has performed very well over the years.

Something for the @Speed Merchant to see... great pirep for LoPresti! 

Best regards,

-a-

[Pensiongeek]

My friend and I have just started the pre buy process of a "78 M20J. Never owned a Mooney before but all the research says this is the right plane for us. The Mooney we are looking at is very basic with very little avionics. 400 hour engine since overhaul direct from Lycoming. So does anyone have any suggestions on the pre buy...what to look for...things to watch out for...insurance? Thanks in advance.

[201Mooniac]

20 minutes ago, Pensiongeek said:

My friend and I have just started the pre buy process of a "78 M20J. Never owned a Mooney before but all the research says this is the right plane for us. The Mooney we are looking at is very basic with very little avionics. 400 hour engine since overhaul direct from Lycoming. So does anyone have any suggestions on the pre buy...what to look for...things to watch out for...insurance? Thanks in advance.

Number one thing to do is find a Mooney Service Center to do the pre-buy.  Another thing that helped me was MAPA provided a pre-buy checklist.  Not sure if they still have that, it was 25 years ago for me, but it had a good list of how to go about finding a shop to do the inspection, how to review the logs, how to get a list of liens and 337s from the FAA, etc.

[birddog]

I am looking to buy an airplane. On paper a Mooney sounds ideal but I have never sat in a Mooney.  I have had an older 182 for about 10 years but am looking for something faster and more efficient. 

I mostly fly alone o have one passenger (wife). However I am 6'3'' and 250 lbs....  Looking for a payload (after full tanks) of about 600 lbs.  Is that realistic for a Mooney?

Is there anyone around the NJ area that has a Mooney and would be willing to give me advise and perhaps  let me sit in one?

Thanks

Sandeep Grewal

[Pensiongeek]

Where can I find the Mooney Service Centers? The plane is in Boise, ID but I am located in Northern Indiana.

[jaylw314]

43 minutes ago, birddog said:

I am looking to buy an airplane. On paper a Mooney sounds ideal but I have never sat in a Mooney.  I have had an older 182 for about 10 years but am looking for something faster and more efficient. 

I mostly fly alone o have one passenger (wife). However I am 6'3'' and 250 lbs....  Looking for a payload (after full tanks) of about 600 lbs.  Is that realistic for a Mooney?

You MIGHT find an F or old J with a 1000 lbs useful load, but given the tanks hold almost 400 lbs of fuel, most Mooney's won't fit that bill.  My J's useful load is less than 900 lbs, and that's more typical, so the only way to carry 600 lbs is to use partial tanks.   Granted, if I carry 600 lbs, I still have 4 hours of fuel and a range of 400 nm + 1 hour reserve

[Hank]

47 minutes ago, birddog said:

I am looking to buy an airplane. On paper a Mooney sounds ideal but I have never sat in a Mooney.  I have had an older 182 for about 10 years but am looking for something faster and more efficient. 

I mostly fly alone o have one passenger (wife). However I am 6'3'' and 250 lbs....  Looking for a payload (after full tanks) of about 600 lbs.  Is that realistic for a Mooney?

Is there anyone around the NJ area that has a Mooney and would be willing to give me advise and perhaps  let me sit in one?

Thanks

Sandeep Grewal

Welcome, Sandeep!

My C has a full-fuel payload of 670 lb. I'm 5'11" 200. All Mooney front seats are the same, but A-E will not slide back as far as F-V.

My full-fuel range has been proven to be 4:45 in flight with three landings and 1:20 remaining, KEPC-41A-KALX-KHTW. Also dodging weather / icing, KFAY-KGSP-KTYS-KLEX-KHTW nonstop with 50+ knot headwinds . . . .

You will fit. You will have range. Worry less about full-fuel payload and more about fuel requirements for your trips. Even my C will walk away from a 182, on 9 gph or less; Mooneys beginning with the E model will be faster.

[201Mooniac]

2 hours ago, Pensiongeek said:

Where can I find the Mooney Service Centers? The plane is in Boise, ID but I am located in Northern Indiana.

Not sure how up to date these are but here are some links to find Mooney Service Centers:

http://mooney-4147179.hs-sites.com/service

https://themooneyflyer.com/pdf/MooneyServiceCenters.pdf

http://www.mooneyevents.com/maintenance.html

[jaylw314]

2 hours ago, Pensiongeek said:

Where can I find the Mooney Service Centers? The plane is in Boise, ID but I am located in Northern Indiana.

Advanced Aircraft in Troutdale OR is probably closest, but it still might be too far for the seller to send it there for a pre-buy.  If you do, Greg is your contact there.  I didn't use them for a pre-buy, but others have here and I recall their experience being positive

[carusoam]

Let’s see...

Welcome aboard Sandeep and pension....

On paper Mooneys are the ideal choice for speed and efficiency....

In reality... Mooneys are the ideal choice for efficiency and speed... (my personal choice)

The Mooney website is currently under reconstruction... but MSCs are listed there....

http://mooney-4147179.hs-sites.com/service

 

Useful loads for a large part of the Mooney family of planes are right around 1k#s...

Being tall... a Mooney is for you... Al Mooney was a super sized individual...  his measurements are around here or on the web somewhere...

Things start to tighten up when two big people sit side by side... so offsetting the chairs often alleviates the challenge...

You aren’t the first to ask about body sizes... the conversations come up often... the search function probably has everything including pants size around here...

If you can use the search function, some of these things are easily found...

Some are more hidden in the decade of conversations... and the search function needs some help...

 

When in NJ and wanting to sit in a Mooney for sale... there is one MSer that might be able to accommodate that...

Seeing if @Alan Fox has any Mooneys for sale in NJ? (Somebody early in the decision processor identify the right Mooney)

PP thoughts only, not a plane sales guy...

Best regards,

-a-

[birddog]

Thanks for all of the replies Guys! Appreciate the info.  There is hope!