Sitting Mooney Advice

[cwaters]

Hey Mooney Family, 

 

I have a work trip coming up for 3 months to southern California, I am based in Northern Va. I am debating taking my bird out there but once there will have no time to fly out there and will likely have to tie down for the time out there. So here is the question: Should I take my bird out there and tie down for 3 months and roll the dice on being able to get it off the ground in the 3 months I'm there or leave it here in a climate controlled hangar where I know it will not fly for 3 months ? 

 

I'm leaning closer to leaving it here rather than tied down out there if its not flying in either situation. 

[Rick Junkin]

Hangar wins over tie down, all other things being equal. Three months outside in the SoCal heat and sun with little/no opportunity to get the benefit of flying her wouldn't be doing your bird any favors. Of course the flight across the country is spectacular and has value as well, so you'll need to weigh your priorities in that regard.

I'd leave her in the hangar with a dehydrator hooked up to keep internal condensation and corrosion at bay, and then do a pre-lube procedure before starting her the first time when you get home. I've had to sit down for the past three months after a medical procedure (I get my wings back on August 6th, yay!) and that's what I've done with mine. I use this dehydrator https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/eppages/engsaver.php?clickkey=5716 and the desiccant is good for about three months here in the Tennessee humidity. The pre-lube is detailed by Mike Busch here https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2019/march/pilot/savvy-aviator-powerplant-resurrection.

Cheers,
Rick

[cwaters]

3 minutes ago, Junkman said:

Hangar wins over tie down, all other things being equal. Three months outside in the SoCal heat and sun with little/no opportunity to get the benefit of flying her wouldn't be doing your bird any favors. Of course the flight across the country is spectacular and has value as well, so you'll need to weigh your priorities in that regard.

I'd leave her in the hangar with a dehydrator hooked up to keep internal condensation and corrosion at bay, and then do a pre-lube procedure before starting her the first time when you get home. I've had to sit sown for the past three months after a medical procedure (I get my wings back on August 6th, yay!) and that's what I've done with mine. The pre-lube is detailed by Mike Busch here https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2019/march/pilot/savvy-aviator-powerplant-resurrection.

Cheers,
Rick

Thanks for the advice, I just got it in Jan so I think I'm having some separation anxiety already. 

[rbridges]

Is there a CFI or friend who could fly it one every 3 weeks or so for an hour?  That would be best if insurance allows it.  

[Rick Junkin]

@cwaters I added this on edit to my original reply "I use this dehydrator https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/eppages/engsaver.php?clickkey=5716 and the desiccant is good for about three months here in the Tennessee humidity."

You can also use spark plug desiccants https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/eppages/dehydrplugs.php?clickkey=5716 for longer term storage or as a  substitute for a dehydrator in the short term. The benefit of the dehydrator is it forces dehumidified air into the crank case and offers protection to the crank, cam and all other internal components. The plugs do the same but its more of a pull from the cylinders rather than a push from the oil breather.

If you were to decide to make the trip, the spark plug desiccants could be used at your tie down as a mitigator. You would want to check them periodically and refresh the desiccant if necessary. Internal window heat shields work well at keeping the sun out and the internal temps down. Depending on where you are going in SoCal You may or may not want to put a cover on the airplane. Covers can do more harm than good in a sandy environment. A good coat of wax with a UV additive to protect your paint would also mitigate the 3 months of sun.

Just a few more thoughts for your consideration.

Cheers,
Rick

[N201MKTurbo]

Mooneys are tough. I had my old one tied down for years with no ill effects. 

What's all this talk about southern Cali being sunny and hot, I was just there and it was freezing cold and cloudy.

[PT20J]

Here’s Lycoming’s recommendation for storage. 

Engine Preservation for Active and Stored Aircraft.pdf

[cwaters]

2 hours ago, N201MKTurbo said:

Mooneys are tough. I had my old one tied down for years with no ill effects. 

What's all this talk about southern Cali being sunny and hot, I was just there and it was freezing cold and cloudy.

I'm not as worried about it being tied down as if my options are little to no opportunity to fly out there and it tied or not flying at all but in its hangar here. 

 

 

[steingar]

If you're in a hangar I doubt I'd worry about it.  I know I've had 2 month layoffs and might even have had three, when winter weather gets nasty and I can't go anywhere.

[carusoam]

Fly early and often…

Meet some MSers everywhere you go…

Get a plane cover.

Best regards,

-a-

[cliffy]

90 days isn't going to hurt it at all  Get a cover to keep the heat out of the cabin and don't worry about it AND you might find you have

a chance every couple weeks to actually fly it. 

Where in So Cal will it be?

[Bartman]

I would not pass up he opportunity to fly coast to coast and back. Will you ever get the opportunity to do it again ???

[cwaters]

14 hours ago, cliffy said:

90 days isn't going to hurt it at all  Get a cover to keep the heat out of the cabin and don't worry about it AND you might find you have

a chance every couple weeks to actually fly it. 

Where in So Cal will it be?

out near Edwards AFB, in the desert area. 

 

 

12 hours ago, Bartman said:

I would not pass up he opportunity to fly coast to coast and back. Will you ever get the opportunity to do it again ???

I'm only 28 so I assume I'll have the ability to fly coast to coast again at some point, but further more I move to CO in April so I know I will be doing more 1/2 cross country flying as the family is all in Ga 

[thinwing]

even a climate controlled hangar in VA during the summer exposes your Mooney to signifacent humidity compared to any of the socal inland empire airports such a chino,hemet,french valley etc.I would fly it coast to coast ,get a good cover,fresh wash and wax or other uv peservative...and assume you will have some time to fly..weekends,holidays etc

[1964-M20E]

fly it there!!  even if you only get to fly it once while you are there that's more than it will be flown back in VA.

[Bolter]

L71 California City airport and WJF Lancaster are both good airports near Edwards (I used to be SoCal based).  You may find that you can get a hangar for a few months.  There is also Rosamond (with a great restaurant), which is a public access private airport fly-in community, and someone may have an empty space there that is not advertised.  PM me if you are interested, and I can call some people I know in that area.  I parked outdoors in SoCal for almost 10 years.  Other than the paint fading over time, it is a good environment, and there will be no corrosion.  Put a good wax job on it before your trip, and you will be fine.  A cover will do a lot for the heat.  If your roof is similar to mine (antenna placement), I will loan you my old Bruce's cover for the duration of your trip for the cost of shipping. 

I flew coast to coast back in 2012.  Thought for sure I would have done it again by now, but there you have it.  If you have the time, take the adventure. 

-dan

[cliffy]

I just flew from Utah to Sun n Fun in Florida and back and again last week from UT to OK City and back.

Do the trip you'll love it and park in the desert with a cover  The plane will do fine for 3 months.

[Rick Junkin]

9 hours ago, cwaters said:

out near Edwards AFB, in the desert area. 

Ok, this changes my original recommendation. When you said SoCal I was thinking San Diego/LA. If you're going to be in the High Desert then the only thing you're concerned about is heat and sun. That's been covered by others.

If you happen to be going to Fox Field (KWJF) or Tehachapi (KTSP) PM me. I may be able to help you find hangar space.

Cheers,
Rick

[hubcap]

Fly the plane and park it with a cover. No harm and lots of fun.

[carusoam]

28 with an M20J…

I don’t remember being 28…

Go do something memorable while you still can!  

 

Married with kids…. The chances to spend that kind of dough again are few and far between…

Make it happen!

Be extra safe about it too…

Best regards,

-a-

[N201MKTurbo]

15 hours ago, cwaters said:

out near Edwards AFB, in the desert area. 

 

 

I'm only 28 so I assume I'll have the ability to fly coast to coast again at some point, but further more I move to CO in April so I know I will be doing more 1/2 cross country flying as the family is all in Ga 

Way to go! I was 27 when I bought my first Mooney. 37 years of continuous Mooney ownership.

[cwaters]

Thanks for all the advice everyone, I'm so far on the fence for this its not funny. I don't really like the idea of it sitting outside for 3 months in the heat and sun, I do have a travel cover now that covers the windshield, and both sets of windows down the side and a tail cover. If all goes according to plan I will be a freshly minted IFR pilot and it will have just come out of annual the week before at AGL. 

 

[JoeM]

My three Mooneys have sat outside on tie downs in SoCal for 18 years. The high desert is hot and dry, except for summer thunderstorms, and a cover will protect the interior. If you can get a hangar with help from MSers, all the better. Certainly better to fly, even once, than to sit in the humidity without flying at all. Go for the trip!

[cwaters]

ok I'm leaning more towards doing the trip, ~12 hrs of flying and this is the route I'm looking at. I don't have O2 or any experience with flying around tall mountains or high altitude airports. Airports are notional and the path is more to keep me below 12.5 and above the mnts just fine. 

 

 

[Rick Junkin]

54 minutes ago, cwaters said:

ok I'm leaning more towards doing the trip, ~12 hrs of flying and this is the route I'm looking at. I don't have O2 or any experience with flying around tall mountains or high altitude airports. Airports are notional and the path is more to keep me below 12.5 and above the mnts just fine. 

 

 

I flew a similar track in a BE23-24 many years ago and never went above 10,000. ABQ is the best place to cross the Rockies without going too high, especially if you can stay VFR. Just keep a really close eye on density altitude, you may find you want to stick to early morning and early evening but your Mooney will do just fine.

Cheers,
Rick