Utah20Gflyer Posted May 23, 2021 Report Posted May 23, 2021 Hello everyone, After looking at Mooney's for years and spending about one year really trying to find an aircraft to purchase I finally purchased my Mooney about a month and half ago, a 1968 G model. Since then I've put 26 hours on it. This plane sat for about 8 years in Tucson after the previous owner lost his medical as a result of a head injury. Previous to the plane sitting for 8 years it was extensively rehabbed 20 years ago. It's still in relatively good shape but sitting a while has definitely caused some issues from being unused. My squawk list is a full page single space but fortunately they are mostly minor issues that I am going to try to knock out in the next couple years. The goal is to get this plane to the point where I can honestly say it is in excellent condition. That's obviously a subjective determination but I don't want to be like many aircraft sellers I talked to that called their Mooneys excellent when in reality they should have used the word derelict. Anyway. I really appreciate everyone who contributes to this forum. I've learned a ton and look forward to learning much much more. Thanks, Craig 4 Quote
carusoam Posted May 24, 2021 Report Posted May 24, 2021 Fantastic! I always wondered what it would be like to have a head injury after plane ownership... I thought it was the head injury prior to plane ownership that got the ball rolling to fly... Was the plane flown any during the time off? Good luck with your new steps... What do you have in the plan? Mechanic? Transition Training? Insurance? We may have you covered if you need some info... We have an MSer’s sister who wrote a great book about recovery from head injuries... There is light at the end of the tunnel for both people and machines... That ship looks great... first project before you finance administrator sits in the front seat.... That strip of material that will cause a visual issue.... is called ‘door welt, or welting...’ For a few bucks, get it changed out before anyone sees it... I waited too long to get to it... Amazing what people think about it, and don’t say anything until it is changed.... Go MS! Best regards, -a- Quote
1964-M20E Posted May 24, 2021 Report Posted May 24, 2021 Great, good luck and goo flying. I'm always happy to see an underused and neglected plane put back into the air. 1 Quote
Utah20Gflyer Posted May 25, 2021 Author Report Posted May 25, 2021 On 5/23/2021 at 10:17 PM, carusoam said: Fantastic! I always wondered what it would be like to have a head injury after plane ownership... I thought it was the head injury prior to plane ownership that got the ball rolling to fly... Was the plane flown any during the time off? Good luck with your new steps... What do you have in the plan? Mechanic? Transition Training? Insurance? We may have you covered if you need some info... We have an MSer’s sister who wrote a great book about recovery from head injuries... There is light at the end of the tunnel for both people and machines... That ship looks great... first project before you finance administrator sits in the front seat.... That strip of material that will cause a visual issue.... is called ‘door welt, or welting...’ For a few bucks, get it changed out before anyone sees it... I waited too long to get to it... Amazing what people think about it, and don’t say anything until it is changed.... Go MS! Best regards, -a- I've actually ordered some new door welt/windlass and just haven't found time to install it yet. Also need to pick up some new screws and washers to do the reinstall. Might as well replace everything while I'm doing it. 1 Quote
Dick Denenny Posted May 26, 2021 Report Posted May 26, 2021 Congrats. I'm as new as you at this as you are. The people on this site are great. Nice, considerate (although sometimes sarcastic and annoying) and helpful. I've found I can't have enough stainless steel screws in different sizes to replace some that come loose. I laughed when I saw one of the pictures. Don't know if you've put your ipad in the holder, but in the direction you have it I found the clip on the upper right turned it off. The small sides needs to be up. See if I'm right. Dick Quote
Utah20Gflyer Posted May 26, 2021 Author Report Posted May 26, 2021 20 minutes ago, Dick Denennhy said: Congrats. I'm as new as you at this as you are. The people on this site are great. Nice, considerate (although sometimes sarcastic and annoying) and helpful. I've found I can't have enough stainless steel screws in different sizes to replace some that come loose. I laughed when I saw one of the pictures. Don't know if you've put your ipad in the holder, but in the direction you have it I found the clip on the upper right turned it off. The small sides needs to be up. See if I'm right. Dick I haven't had an issue with the I pad turning off using it that way but it does pose an issue if I want to charge it. Maybe I'll switch it and see how I like it. Question. If a screw is loose do you just use one size up but same length? I have a bunch of screws that want to fall out. Seems like that is the easy solution Thanks Quote
Dick Denenny Posted May 26, 2021 Report Posted May 26, 2021 That's what I've been doing. I go into my local Ace and get a bunch of different sized stainless steel screws and just work with them. Some need the beauty washers and some work well with just a flat head. Quote
DXB Posted May 26, 2021 Report Posted May 26, 2021 Congrats! Always great to see a sitting vintage Mooney brought back to life, and you sound very realistic about what it takes to get it in top shape again. You also brought back a memory from when I first got my bird and decided to replace the shredding windlace. All those tiny screws were a PITA!!! Quote
carusoam Posted May 26, 2021 Report Posted May 26, 2021 3 hours ago, Utah20Gflyer said: I haven't had an issue with the I pad turning off using it that way but it does pose an issue if I want to charge it. Maybe I'll switch it and see how I like it. Question. If a screw is loose do you just use one size up but same length? I have a bunch of screws that want to fall out. Seems like that is the easy solution Thanks 16 minutes ago, Dick Denennhy said: That's what I've been doing. I go into my local Ace and get a bunch of different sized stainless steel screws and just work with them. Some need the beauty washers and some work well with just a flat head. Screws... Aviation screws have different shapes than ordinary hardware screws... Get a copy of the parts manual... find the various screws there are... buy a bazillion of each size... Sheet metal screws no longer have the point on them... no more blood letting... They also have a specific angle on their heads for matching the countersink in the sheet metal... first annual, start replacing any screw that looks like it fought a battle... Don’t use the oversized screw technique... chances are, the thing it is threaded into is worn... a clip that should be replaced... those speed nut things have an aviation name for them as well... Know that we were all new at this game once... +1 for the description of all the people here... They are real... They have feelings... They aren’t always very good writers... Be nice to everyone... - Mom Best regards, -a- Quote
Hank Posted May 26, 2021 Report Posted May 26, 2021 7 hours ago, Dick Denennhy said: That's what I've been doing. I go into my local Ace and get a bunch of different sized stainless steel screws and just work with them. Some need the beauty washers and some work well with just a flat head. Take your old screws to Ace, compare against their stock and write down the sizes. Then order bags of 50 or 100 each from Aircraft Spruce--they will fit properly, and do the job better. There's a lot that goes into making a good screw besides the size! I wouldn't want a hardware store el cheapo screw holding together anything important on the machine that's dragging me through the clouds 2 miles above the ground at triple highway speed . . . 2 Quote
Utah20Gflyer Posted August 8, 2021 Author Report Posted August 8, 2021 On 5/25/2021 at 5:51 PM, Utah20Gflyer said: I've actually ordered some new door welt/windlass and just haven't found time to install it yet. Also need to pick up some new screws and washers to do the reinstall. Might as well replace everything while I'm doing it. Finally got around to doing that door windlace. Looks much nicer now. 1 Quote
KLRDMD Posted August 8, 2021 Report Posted August 8, 2021 That's Dale Mooneyham's (yes, that's his real name) old Mooney. He was a Southwest Airlines A&P/IA. that worked at PHX. I remember when he brought it back to CHD as a basket case and essentially a barn find. Over a period of a few years he slowly rebuilty it - completely. He flew it for a number of eyars and then yes, it sat for some time but at least it was on the ramp at AVQ then later RYN. Quote
Utah20Gflyer Posted August 9, 2021 Author Report Posted August 9, 2021 3 hours ago, KLRDMD said: That's Dale Mooneyham's (yes, that's his real name) old Mooney. He was a Southwest Airlines A&P/IA. that worked at PHX. I remember when he brought it back to CHD as a basket case and essentially a barn find. Over a period of a few years he slowly rebuilty it - completely. He flew it for a number of eyars and then yes, it sat for some time but at least it was on the ramp at AVQ then later RYN. You are correct, I purchased the plane from Dale Mooneyham in April. He put a lot of attention and love into the plane to get it in good shape about 20 years ago. I'm sure he never would have sold it to me if he hadn't lost the ability to get a medical. It did sit for a while but I'm incrementally trying to get it back into excellent shape. I've put about 70 hours on it since I bought it 4 months ago so it's getting well used now. 1 Quote
Ty5222 Posted August 22, 2021 Report Posted August 22, 2021 Where did you get the door welting? Mine could stand to be replaced. Quote
DXB Posted August 22, 2021 Report Posted August 22, 2021 6 minutes ago, Ty5222 said: Where did you get the door welting? Mine could stand to be replaced. I used this stuff https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/appages/windlacedoorwelt.php Quote
carusoam Posted August 22, 2021 Report Posted August 22, 2021 Find…. Welting and Windlace… https://mooneyspace.com/search/?q=welting windlace&updated_after=any&sortby=relevancy&search_and_or=or -a- Quote
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