At KERV yesterday

[Hank]

6 hours ago, 1980Mooney said:

Well one thing is clear - It is definitely not a "test-mule" for any GW increase development of the landing gear.  I can see the usual rubber pucks in that standard nose gear.

Your xray vision is better than mine. When I zoom in, all I see is the white nose gear leg disappearing behind the blue door . . . And even less of the main gear is visible. 

[shrews]

Hello All,   I've been the owner of 197cv since August and it is back in KERV for its annual.   Unfortunately not a landing gear mule but never say never right?!   

 

Best,

Shrews

[Mcstealth]

59 minutes ago, shrews said:

Hello All,   I've been the owner of 197cv since August and it is back in KERV for its annual.   Unfortunately not a landing gear mule but never say never right?!   

 

Best,

Shrews

Welcome Shrews. Thanks for the info. Please post an introduction, if you wish, on the "General" page. I am sure everyone will be pleased to meet you. 

One question I would have is if 197CV is still in the experimental category?

[shrews]

10 minutes ago, Mcstealth said:

 

One question I would have is if 197CV is still in the experimental category?

It is not,  I'm guessing they put the sticker on it for some test flights but will find out when I pick it up next week hopefully.    

[carusoam]

Way to go shrews!

Most positive outlook award was designed for you.  

Congrats on capturing the latest M20U!

Best regards,

-a-

[McMooney]

22 hours ago, Mcstealth said:

Since I do not own a plane, I can only offer up what I observe. They are doing well in the regard that planes are going in and out. I've seen many Mooneys along with quite the assortment of everything else. The lead tech is a 30yr veteran and the owner is Stacy of Mooney fame. There are three techs along with Stacy. I've seen simple jobs to full panel makeovers including removing all vacume instruments. They are a Garmin certified store. I would not be afraid to try them just by my observation. 

Engine monitor and simple comm might be easier to find a good AP.  Brian Isabell @ kaxh or Bat Aviation @ KDWH could probably sort you. 

Actually Brian has an avionics guy now so probably can handle everything.  Would trust brian with everything mooney.

James Miller - Brazos Avionics @ ellington field   

Avionics unlimited @kcxo  

also i remember there being a shop on ksgr, sugarland avionics.  they spent some hours on my plane once charged me like 100$, seemed nice.

 

 

[TheAv8r]

5 minutes ago, McMooney said:

Engine monitor and simple comm might be easier to find a good AP.  Brian Isabell @ kaxh or Bat Aviation @ KDWH could probably sort you. 

Actually Brian has an avionics guy now so probably can handle everything.  Would trust brian with everything mooney.

James Miller - Brazos Avionics @ ellington field   

Avionics unlimited @kcxo  

also i remember there being a shop on ksgr, sugarland avionics.  they spent some hours on my plane once charged me like 100$, seemed nice.

 

 

Thanks for the PIREPs! I have an email out to Brian for a quote, he's been doing the work on my Mooney so far and has done a great job. 

I'll check out the CXO and SGR shops, the SGR shop I had heard does good work, but primarily handles jets and has little interest in piston work. 

[Mcstealth]

Another first for me. First time I've seen a composite four blade on a long body. This beautiful example was pulled into Dugosh yesterday. 

 

[LANCECASPER]

11 minutes ago, Mcstealth said:

Another first for me. First time I've seen a composite four blade on a long body. This beautiful example was pulled into Dugosh yesterday. 

 

The 4 blade MT was probably put on the Bravo because this happened:

http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2013/12/mooney-m20m-bravo-n1085s-aircraft.html

[Will.iam]

6 hours ago, LANCECASPER said:

The 4 blade MT was probably put on the Bravo because this happened:

http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2013/12/mooney-m20m-bravo-n1085s-aircraft.html

Did they ever find out what caused the gear to giveway?

[Mcstealth]

On 2/11/2022 at 7:21 PM, 1980Mooney said:

The pilot’s idle hand and inattention….

Seriously- report says the gear were up (“retracted”) when he put it into the tarmac. It didn’t “give way” - only the pilot wants everyone to think that. Then after repair the same owner was testing the new propeller and he somehow collapsed a main gear on takeoff. ( now that sounds curious- bad repair?) Then he sold it and the next owner proceeded to do a gear-up landing while doing touch and goes….

So it sounds like the prop has been replaced several times. 
Aviation Database - AviationDB.pdf

Ouch. Feel sorry for that Bravo.

[LANCECASPER]

24 minutes ago, Mcstealth said:

Ouch. Feel sorry for that Bravo.

Probably still has the original tires, since  it's had so many belly landings 

[Mcstealth]

Met Brian Hendricks Mechanic? He was test flying this Acclaim out of Mexico. He was at the self-service pump yesterday and I walked up and asked if I could take a picture. Said he was a mechanic out of San Marcos and regularly flies to Kerrville on test flights. Tall and lanky guy. Thin shouldered. No wonder he likes Mooneys. seemed like a nice guy. 

[LANCECASPER]

9 minutes ago, Mcstealth said:

Met Brian Hendricks Mechanic? He was test flying this Acclaim out of Mexico. He was at the self-service pump yesterday and I walked up and asked if I could take a picture. Said he was a mechanic out of San Marcos and regularly flies to Kerrville on test flights. Tall and lanky guy. Thin shouldered. No wonder he likes Mooneys. seemed like a nice guy. 

Brian worked at ModWorks in Punta Gorda FL up until Hurricane Charley in 2004. (http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=1946e114-50b7-4e0f-8ef4-003f1b2afb8

Mooney hired him and he ran the Mooney Service Center from late 2004 until they shut down in 2009.

He still lives in Kerrville and goes back and forth to San Marcos during the week where he runs his own Mooney Maintenance Shop (in the McKee Avionics building) (http://www.mooneysupport.com/) . There is no one on the planet who is better at Ovations and Acclaims than Brian. He makes house calls at my hangar 

[Mcstealth]

1 hour ago, LANCECASPER said:

 

I know Punta Gorda.

My Grand parents on both sides had winter homes in Port Charlotte, the next town over. Cool. 

[StevenL757]

1 hour ago, LANCECASPER said:

There is no one on the planet who is better at Ovations and Acclaims than Brian.  

Yeah...I can't argue there.

;-)

[Mcstealth]

Okay, this a couple of towns East of KERV at 5C1 Boerne, but cool enough to post regardless. 

Nice Aerostar!!!

Happy New Year Y'all!!!

 

Edited January 1, 2024 by Mcstealth

[Schllc]

That Aetostar was owned for a long time by a guy named Jack Ditmar, it was sold right around when he passed away.  I know he was of some significant fame in the racing world, but as I don’t follow the sport can’t recall exactly. 
I spoke to him about the airplane when it was listed.  He was a wealth of knowledge and his plane was in top notch condition.  He was also extremely patriotic, hence the paint scheme. 
I can tell you all with conviction, that Aerostar owners are as fervent and fanatical about heir planes as mooniacs, and it’s why I call them a mooney’s big brother.