Student Pilot

[robert7467]

I recently purchased a M20C. I have a CFI, that performed well in it, and we are going to start my traing this weekend.

I know Mooneys are a lot of plane, but I am going to take my time and enjoy the process. I dont care if it will take me 100 hrs to get my license.

I have 13 HRS in Cessna 152 and 172. And have loged some pretty interesting hrs. High winds, night, spins, night spins.

Some can say its like putting a student driver in a high end sports car. But I am also 31, and have no interest in hot rodding either, or testing the aircrafts limits.

I think its going to be great to develop the habits of deploying the retract from the get go.

What advice do you guys have for traing in a mooney.

I plan on renting a cessna for any high stress manuvers, because this plane is a cream puff.

 

[rbridges]

did you have a hard time with insurance?  even with my pilots license, a couple of insurance companies refused to cover me.

Personally, I think you're fine starting in a mooney so long as you pay attention to details and have a good CFI.  I quickly outgrew (from a performance standpoint) the 172 and cherokee that I used in the beginning.

[201er]

Quote: robert7467

What advice do you guys have for traing in a mooney.

[Parker_Woodruff]

Quote: robert7467

I plan on renting a cessna for any high stress manuvers, because this plane is a cream puff.

 

[MARZ]

Hmm - Night Spins - I had some of those last weekend after the block party...  but I digress

I applaud you on your choice - I echo the speed control - and do make sure you let the plane land when it's ready, mooneys tend not to be as cushiony as the cessnas

[robert7467]

Yeah, I am a little concerned with the fuel tanks leaking from hard landings....

[Parker_Woodruff]

Quote: robert7467

Yeah, I am a little concerned with the fuel tanks leaking from hard landings....

[fantom]

Quote: robert7467

Yeah, I am a little concerned with the fuel tanks leaking from hard landings....

[Hank]

Welcome, Robert!

I bought my C shortly after my checkride, and had trouble getting insurance. Pay attention to power settings, and watch your speed around the pattern. Give her time to slow down, especially when descending towards the airport. Unlike the high wing/high drag planes you've been flying, your Mooney will either GO down or SLOW down, but will not do both. Get down to pattern altitude, reduce throttle, hold level and in a couple of miles you will be approaching proper pattern speed.

Suggestion:  go through the Owner's Manual and type up your own checklists. That will force you to read everything. Have your CFI go over it; compare it to the ones you have on your first trainers. Look up anything they have and make sure it's on your new one. It's a great way to learn how your plane wants to be flown.

[kerry]

I don't think you'll have any issues.  The only problem I can see that might arise is when you are ready to take your check ride with the FAA examiner.  When you submit your cross country flight plan the examiner might be confused why you planned 1 hour instead of 2 hours to get to your destination.

[MARZ]

Quote: kerry

I don't think you'll have any issues.  The only problem I can see that might arise is when you are ready to take your check ride with the FAA examiner.  When you submit your cross country flight plan the examiner might be confused why you planned 1 hour instead of 2 hours to get to your destination.

[PTK]

Quote: Hank

Suggestion:  go through the Owner's Manual and type up your own checklists. That will force you to read everything. ... It's a great way to learn how your plane wants to be flown.

[Joe Zuffoletto]

Don't do any slips with full flaps. I've read articles about Mooneys that have crashed in this configuration because the horizontal stabilizer stalled (the flaps blocked airflow to the stabilizer).

[robert7467]

Luckily, when I first met my instructor to show him the plane, he already had all kinds of print outs on it. He is coming over tonight and we are going to study the manuals, and work on about 2 hrs of ground school. He goes by the book, and I think he will have me develop good habits from the begining.

I am excited about this Mooney. It has been hangered its whole life, and it is in perfect condition, with a new engine and prop.

I know I should have trained in a cessna, but I just couldnt pass this plane up. I think I will be a better pilot learning in this thing.

Example: I bought a CRF450 dirt bike.. Wayyyyyyy too much bike for a newbie. I have ridden it for 2 years, and never had an issue with riding it... Like the Mooney, I respected it as a high performance machine, took my time learning it, and put safety first.

I have a 3 year old son, and one due in a month... I can promise they are not going to lose their dad because he decided to be a jackass.

CFI, is already making custom checklist. And we agreeed, even if it takes me 100 hrs, we are going to do it right.

[John Pleisse]

I have a neighbor whose wife and son's first PP certs were multi in the family Baron. It's relative. You made a great choice. GUMP....carb heat.

[gregwatts]

Quote: colojo

Don't do any slips with full flaps. I've read articles about Mooneys that have crashed in this configuration because the horizontal stabilizer stalled (the flaps blocked airflow to the stabilizer).

[orangemtl]

In a word: been there, DOing that.  Mooneys are a lot of airplane, and at least for longbodies, resent careless piloting. Which, in my opinion forces you to be an attentive and ultimately better pilot. 

Figure out how many hours of instruction that you need; then, add another 25%. Worth. It. Don't bother renting the Cessna for training, to spare the 'creampuff'.  You're better off, I think forcing yourself to perform better as a pilot to preserve the aircraft, which in turn will contribute to preserving you as a breathing human being.

Agree completely with the older, wiser comments in the thread.  Never force that thing onto the runway: you'll only make it angry. Great choice of an aircraft. Welcome into the Circle of Trust!

[Joe Zuffoletto]

Quote: gregwatts

You can slip, but you want the nose pointed way down.

[MARZ]

Quote: colojo

Don't do any slips with full flaps. I've read articles about Mooneys that have crashed in this configuration because the horizontal stabilizer stalled (the flaps blocked airflow to the stabilizer).

[Joe Zuffoletto]

Kromer's article is the one I was thinking of. I successfully slipped my K model a few times. I definitely won't try it in my Acclaim! Thanks, Mike. You out-Googled me!

[MARZ]

Quote: colojo

Kromer's article is the one I was thinking of. I successfully slipped my K model a few times. I definitely won't try it in my Acclaim! Thanks, Mike. You out-Googled me!

[ELT]

Did some test flying in my E last March with a very experienced Mooney CFII/owner.  I use slips to get the E in short strips and all the discussion on slips had me concerned.  We took the E to 6,000, closed the trrottle, put gear and full flaps down and slipped the airplane hard right and left at 80mph.  No bad habits.  Then we did the same thing slowing the airplane till the stall warning sounded.  No bad habits.  We DID not slow it down any more.  I now feel it is safe to slip MY airplane if the airspeed is 80 mph or greater and with 2 people in the front seats.  Other configurations such as aft cg or power on probably not.  AS pointed our on this forum each airplane may be different.  Get a very good Mooney wise instructor and learn YOUR airplane.

[rob]

Quote: colojo

Don't do any slips with full flaps. I've read articles about Mooneys that have crashed in this configuration because the horizontal stabilizer stalled (the flaps blocked airflow to the stabilizer).

[rob]

To the OP:

I'm not a CFI, but I have a bunch of time in my 65 M20C. I'm based at KAWM and would be glad to discuss/fly with you and or your instructor and pass along what I've learned in my time in the airplane. My transition training was done by a Mooney owner CFI/AP/IA and his advice was invaluable in my opinion.

[74657]

Speed control, Speed control, Speed control.  Make yourself a power chart and know what pitch/power setting gets you X kts on approach and in the pattern.  Go up with your CFI and learn the basics of pitch/power and make a chart.  I made one with my CFII while doing my IR training and have the chart on my dash for reference.  I am about your age and learned to fly in 2008 in a Grumman Tiger.  I made the transition to the Missile @ 150 ish hours total.  Once you learn the ins/outs of a constant speed prop and learn how to control the speed (mainly slowing down) learning to fly in your plane will not be as hard as you think.  Like people on this board told me, it took about 30-40 hours of flying in my Mooney before I TRULY felt comfortable in it.  I have a lot more respect for flying in general while in my Mooney.  You are operating a machine that has little regard for those who fall behind the plane, especially in the pattern.  With that thought in mind, nothing strokes your ego more than greasing the landings after a long cross country, even if you're flying solo......

One thing I do is a Gump check about 5 times.  Once when I drop the gear.  One more time on downwind.  Once when I turn base, Once when I turn final and one last time when I'm over the numbers.  Seems redundant and like a lot of BS but it's part of my routine and is 2nd nature.

Congrats and enjoy.