Commuting 1000 miles by Mooney

[glafaille]

Dear Mooneyspacers:

 

I’ve had an interesting adventure in a Mooney purchase, ownership and usage that I think some of you may find amusing and hopefully useful.

I have worked in the East Texas area for 20 years as a corporate pilot.  In December of 2019 my wife and I purchased a new home in Prescott Arizona for retirement, with a completion estimate of August 2020.  I planned to retire in July of 2022 requiring a 1200 statute mile commute for 2 years.

My pre-covid plan was to commute as required between East Texas and Arizona via the airlines as tickets at the time were under $100 each way.  In February 2020 Covid reared it’s ugly head and threw a wrench in my plans!  

My wife is diabetic and thus at high risk of Covid complications so the airline plan was out.  It’s a 19 hour, two day drive each way, I needed a new plan!  And fast.  Why not buy an airplane for the commute?

I posted this add on Mooneyspace:

https://mooneyspace.com/topic/34497-looking-for-a-mooney-c-model/?tab=comments#comment-588098

Several folks responded and I even traveled by car during the dark days of Covid to look at a few.  I drove as far as Detroit enduring shuttered hotels and restaurants to look at prospects but found nothing suitable.  

I finally ended up with a locally available, but marginally suitable early J model.  It was nothing like I was looking for!  The plane was sound mechanically but was woefully inadequate in the avionics department, strictly a VFR only aircraft, and no autopilot.  But the big gamble was the engine.  The previous owner had overhauled the engine at Western Skyways only 40 hours prior to my purchasing the aircraft.  The problem was that the overhaul was 11 YEARS prior!  The good news was the plane had been hangared the entire time and had been annualed semi regularly.  Paint and interior were less than ideal but serviceable.  

With my move in date in Arizona approaching, Covid travel difficulties still an issue, airline travel out of the question and no strong airplane prospects on the horizon, I bought the J and hoped for the best.

So the adventure began.  

Anyone interested in the story so far?  Shall I continue?

[Brandt]

4 minutes ago, glafaille said:

Dear Mooneyspacers:

 

I’ve had an interesting adventure in a Mooney purchase, ownership and usage that I think some of you may find amusing and hopefully useful.

I have worked in the East Texas area for 20 years as a corporate pilot.  In December of 2019 my wife and I purchased a new home in Prescott Arizona for retirement, with a completion estimate of August 2020.  I planned to retire in July of 2022 requiring a 1200 statute mile commute for 2 years.

My pre-covid plan was to commute as required between East Texas and Arizona via the airlines as tickets at the time were under $100 each way.  In February 2020 Covid reared it’s ugly head and threw a wrench in my plans!  

My wife is diabetic and thus at high risk of Covid complications so the airline plan was out.  It’s a 19 hour, two day drive each way, I needed a new plan!  And fast.  Why not buy an airplane for the commute?

I posted this add on Mooneyspace:

https://mooneyspace.com/topic/34497-looking-for-a-mooney-c-model/?tab=comments#comment-588098

Several folks responded and I even traveled by car during the dark days of Covid to look at a few.  I drove as far as Detroit enduring shuttered hotels and restaurants to look at prospects but found nothing suitable.  

I finally ended up with a locally available, but marginally suitable early J model.  It was nothing like I was looking for!  The plane was sound mechanically but was woefully inadequate in the avionics department, strictly a VFR only aircraft, and no autopilot.  But the big gamble was the engine.  The previous owner had overhauled the engine at Western Skyways only 40 hours prior to my purchasing the aircraft.  The problem was that the overhaul was 11 YEARS prior!  The good news was the plane had been hangared the entire time and had been annualed semi regularly.  Paint and interior were less than ideal but serviceable.  

With my move in date in Arizona approaching, Covid travel difficulties still an issue, airline travel out of the question and no strong airplane prospects on the horizon, I bought the J and hoped for the best.

So the adventure began.  

Anyone interested in the story so far?  Shall I continue?

Well, I’m interested, but it’s going to require a car chase and a shootout to keep me really hooked. 

[David Lloyd]

In the past I have relied on a single engine airplane to fly to and from on a weekly basis for a number of years.  Yes, I would like to hear more.

[LANCECASPER]

31 minutes ago, glafaille said:

Anyone interested in the story so far?  Shall I continue?

Do I get a 7 day free trial or do I need to sign up for a streaming subscription?

[Vance Harral]

33 minutes ago, glafaille said:

But the big gamble was the engine.  The previous owner had overhauled the engine at Western Skyways only 40 hours prior to my purchasing the aircraft.  The problem was that the overhaul was 11 YEARS prior!

While one anecdote is not data, let me offer you some comfort.

We bought our partnership Mooney in 2004.  At the time it had about 900 hours on a 1991 field overhaul, so 13 YEARS prior!  And not a name-brand overhaul, ours was a field overhaul at a no-longer-in-business shop in California, after a gear-up landing and prop strike.

It's now 2021, engine is at 2200 hours and 30 years since that 1991 overhaul, and still running strong.  Oil changes 3x/year at 30-40 hours on the oil, we always cut the filter and pull the pickup screen (a pain, but I'm getting good at it), and borescope the cylinders.  There is some light scuffing on the cylinder walls, and compressions are down to low 70s, but other than some annoying oil seeps at the pan gasket and the spine, no issues.  We don't use Camguard or do anything else fancy, but we do fly it regularly (75-100 hours/year), and we benefit from a dry climate.

Near as I can tell, any IO-360 that's flown regularly seems to do well in the longevity department.

[Ragsf15e]

I see this story with a happy ending that includes a G3x, GFC500, GTN650 and a much lighter wallet!

[N201MKTurbo]

The winds in west Texas are some of the most annoying winds I have ever flown in. If you had to do that commute every week it will sap any love for aviation you ever had.   Just saying...

Not to mention it is one of the most boring flights imaginable. 4-5 hours east bound, 6-10 hours west bound....

Edited October 25, 2021 by N201MKTurbo

[Boilermonkey]

Carry on, I'd like to know where the story goes.

[glafaille]

Thanks for the replies so far gents.

Brandt- Sorry no car chase or shootout, but the story is still unfolding so you never know!

Lance- No 7 day trial or subscription.  My skill as a writer is mediocre at best, who would pay anyway?

Rags- You are not far off the mark!

N201MK- More like 6 hours Eastbound with one stop, and 7-1/2 hours Westbound with 2 stops.  So far I have only flown the Southern route which is about 30 min longer than the Northern route but with somewhat less hostile terrain and less ice.  Yes the winds seem to be as much a problem in the West as Thunderstorms are in Central and East Texas.  Fortunately my schedule is somewhat flexible.

[glafaille]

Here are a few BEFORE pictures:

 

 

[glafaille]

No doubt some may ask, "why the heck didn't you just retire 2 years early and forget the commute?"  

Great question and one I have asked myself hundreds of times.  The fact is that the combination of taking Social Security early, drawing from my 401K early, and 2 years of NOT contributing to my 401K, would have cost me, by my calculations over $300,000 over the course of my lifetime.  Makes an airplane seem like a bargain!  I had to find a way to make it work as long as possible, it may be a horribly boring flight but it's an even worse drive.  

With a 40 year old airplane, marginally equipped, that has been sitting in a hangar in humid East Texas for 11 years, and using it to fly 1000nm several times per month over hostile terrain, what could possibly go wrong?

[McMooney]

that's actually pretty nice add a g5 and gfc500 and go to town.  would mention trutrak but you'll prob be fully retired in prescott driving a golf cart b4 it's released.

only thing missing is Waas.

 

[Skates97]

35 minutes ago, McMooney said:

that's actually pretty nice add a g5 and gfc500 and go to town.  would mention trutrak but you'll prob be fully retired in prescott driving a golf cart b4 it's released.

only thing missing is Waas.

 

Dual G5's, a GFC500, and a GNC355 for WAAS. It makes those longer flights easy.

[glafaille]

The GPS was installed for VFR use only and not connected to any indicator.  The HSI was marginal, no working localizer, glideslope or marker beacon and no autopilot.  It does have bladders but an old installation that reduced fuel capacity by 9 gallons.

The good news is no airframe corrosion, new landing gear doughnuts, new motor mounts and a fresh IRAN on the prop.  Everything under the cowl is in good shape having only 60 hrs (11 yrs) since overhaul.  And it’s a J!

 

 

[N201MKTurbo]

1 hour ago, glafaille said:

Thanks for the replies so far gents.

Brandt- Sorry no car chase or shootout, but the story is still unfolding so you never know!

Lance- No 7 day trial or subscription.  My skill as a writer is mediocre at best, who would pay anyway?

Rags- You are not far off the mark!

N201MK- More like 6 hours Eastbound with one stop, and 7-1/2 hours Westbound with 2 stops.  So far I have only flown the Southern route which is about 30 min longer than the Northern route but with somewhat less hostile terrain and less ice.  Yes the winds seem to be as much a problem in the West as Thunderstorms are in Central and East Texas.  Fortunately my schedule is somewhat flexible.

The northern route (CNX ONM I Assume) is much more picturesque. If the weather is bad along one route, it will most likely be bad on the other route. 

I have a turbo in my 201, so when the winds are awful, I shoot up into the high teens and go like a rocket ship east bound.

Enjoy your flights!

Edited October 25, 2021 by N201MKTurbo

[rbridges]

6 hours ago, Brandt said:

Well, I’m interested, but it’s going to require a car chase and a shootout to keep me really hooked. 

What about scantily clad women?

[N201MKTurbo]

29 minutes ago, rbridges said:

What about scantily clad women?

Well, who do you think are having the car chase?

[hammdo]

4 hours ago, rbridges said:

What about scantily clad women?

Geez, be carful, we may get one of those 'versions' from one of the 'members' on here who has an obsession with 'largely enhanced scantily clad' women ;o)

-Don

[MB65E]

Weather should be good most of the time.  I’d run it hard and fly the snot out of it. You’ll develop your own sense of reliability after a few months. I would jump in mine  and take it to TX today. No AP and currently no ADI. 
Upgrade as you see fit. Won’t find a better airplane for the mission… except for a more Equipped Mooney.
Wish I had a more useful mission for mine as you do.  

-Matt

[cliffy]

I will jump in my D model and go anywhere any time. A spur of the moment trip from Utah to Tulsa a month or two ago No problems. Jumped in it and went to      Sun n Fun from Utah No issues either. We go to Houston or Tucson or Los Angeles from Utah without even thinking about it. 

Just an Accutrac for left/right steering. No altitude hold.  Does just fine even with it turned off. 

It will/may need some sorting out as some issues crop up but keep up on the maintenance and it will be reliable. May take a little trimming to get it to fly straight and level but that is usually easy to do. 

I did my own overhaul 10 years ago and everything is running fine. Never any issues cutting the filter apart. Have almost 1000 hrs on the overhaul. Field overhauls can be just fine if one knows how to do them. 

Fly it and fix things when they go bad. No deferred maintenance allowed  :-) 

[A64Pilot]

On 10/25/2021 at 12:53 PM, N201MKTurbo said:

The winds in west Texas are some of the most annoying winds I have ever flown in. If you had to do that commute every week it will sap any love for aviation you ever had.   Just saying...

Not to mention it is one of the most boring flights imaginable. 4-5 hours east bound, 6-10 hours west bound....

I’ve lived in that part of the world and yes the winds ALWAYS blow, out of the North in Winter and out of the South in Summer. Live there for long and you will become comfortable with crosswinds.

The joke used to be, “climb and maintain 70” referencing OAT of course, enroute altitude in Summer was determined by OAT.

However there are more flyable days weather wise than almost anywhere else in the Country, every few years the Army talks about relocating their flight school from Alabama to West Tx, but politics shuts it down. 

When I fly that route, I fly with lots of water in the baggage compt and a 406 PLB, if you have a forced landing without water it could be bad.

[N201MKTurbo]

58 minutes ago, A64Pilot said:

I’ve lived in that part of the world and yes the winds ALWAYS blow, out of the North in Winter and out of the South in Summer. Live there for long and you will become comfortable with crosswinds.

The joke used to be, “climb and maintain 70” referencing OAT of course, enroute altitude in Summer was determined by OAT.

However there are more flyable days weather wise than almost anywhere else in the Country, every few years the Army talks about relocating their flight school from Alabama to West Tx, but politics shuts it down. 

When I fly that route, I fly with lots of water in the baggage compt and a 406 PLB, if you have a forced landing without water it could be bad.

Those safety and survival measures used to be more important, but nowadays Flight Aware will draw a line right to the crash site. As long as there is someone looking at flight Aware.

There may be lot's of flyable days, but not necessary good flyable days. Yes about 50% of the trips through there are beautiful and the rest are annoying. I just hate looking down at the highway and watching trucks pass me.

[glafaille]

Commuting 1000 miles by Mooney: Part 2

One thing to keep in mind during this exercise is that N144BY IS NOT a “Forever” plane!  It’s strictly a “work truck” or a tool to safely get me from my home in Arizona to my job in East Texas, plus the occasional pleasure trip with my wife.  When I fully retire in a year or so, the plane goes up for sale.  Therefore, anything done to the plane must be with an eye to preserving or enhancing the future value of the aircraft for re-sale.

I purchased N144BY December 16th 2020 after an annual/pre-buy inspection with a local Mooney knowledgeable mechanic/ IA who happened to have been previously employed by the local Mooney dealer (Maxwell Aviation).  The seller agreed to fix all airworthiness squawks to my satisfaction and the deal was completed.

As mentioned previously, at the time of sale there were numerous non-airworthiness squawks that prevented me from extracting maximum utility out of the airplane.  I considered the aircraft suitable for day VFR flight only, a limitation I knew I had to correct ASAP since East Texas is frequently IFR or marginal VFR for days on end.  I was often forced to leave the plane in the hangar and make the  one way drive to or from work, 19 driving  hours away. Sometimes it worked out to drive my own car and sometimes I was forced into a one way rental.  An inconvenient process indeed.

My first trip from East Texas (KGGG) to Arizona was to occur on December 17th, the day after closing but low ceilings prevented my departure.  The next day looked a little better with clearing later in the afternoon, but with another approaching weather system from the Southwest threatening the next several day after.  I therefore had a window of opportunity on the 17th and took advantage of it.  The problem was that my desired path to the Southwest towards Pecos Texas was closed by the clouds and high winds of the afore mentioned weather, so I departed in clear skies Northwest towards Lubbock where I spent the night.  Anticipating an early morning departure, I had the FBO put the plane in the hangar to keep it warm and headed to the hotel.

I woke up the next morning to clear skies, calm winds and cold temperatures hovering around 25 degrees just after daylight.  When I arrived at the FBO I discovered that although the aircraft had indeed been in the hangar all night, the hangar was NOT heated, in fact NONE of the hangars were heated.  A quick look at the logbooks and aircraft flight manual revealed that the best time for departure would be late in the day if at all!  The aircraft was still running  40 wt mineral oil!  I delayed as long as I could so as to arrive in Prescott Az by dark, so 1:00 pm was my best departure time. The aircraft was cold soaked and the oil was as thick as honey, but the sun was up and the temperature on it’s way to the maximum for the day of around 55 degrees.  I pushed the plane out of the hangar and into the sun and waited in the pilot’s lounge till 1:00 pm, checked the oil (not nearly as thick), and left for Deming.

In Deming I discovered that the windshield that I knew was a little cloudy, was actually much more of a problem than I thought.  I was landing in late afternoon in Deming New Mexico and found that the sun in certain situations made it impossible to see anything at all through the windshield.  Fortunately, I had some experience with iced up windshields causing the same problem, the solution is to fly in a slip, looking out the side window for reference until just before touchdown.  

I discovered another problem or two during the 8 hour first flight in my “new to me Mooney”, the first was the King KCS55A HSI was not sensing compass direction properly, it worked adequately as strictly a DG but something was not right with the flux valve system.  It’s been a long time since I had to reset the DG heading every few minutes, very annoying.  
 

The second issue is related to the lack of an autopilot and is more opinion than anything else.  Much of my previous piston  aircraft experience was gained in Beechcraft Barons and Bonanzas which are controlled with cables, wheels, and bell-cranks which tend to have a bit of slop, while the Mooney utilizes no-slop pushrods and bell-cranks.  The Mooney system provides a wonderful “connected” feel, but there is a potential disadvantage (you never get something for nothing), even the slightest movement of the yoke will move the flight control surface.  The Beechcraft type system, allows for a slight bit of play between the wheel and flight control surfaces, which means that either can be moved just a little without causing movement in the other, this allows the surfaces to streamline themselves a tiny bit in flight and is most noticeable in cruise.  Trim the aircraft for straight and level in still air and it will sit there for a bit without any tendency to change attitude.  The Mooney is equally as stable but without the slop it is much more difficult to trim the surfaces exactly right to allow it to maintain attitude, not a huge problem but it occasionally makes the process of reaching in the back seat for a sandwich an exciting endeavor!

Priority squawks for the first commute:

1. Change the oil to multi-viscosity.  Oil was changed in Prescott and filter checked, no issues noted.

2. Replace windshield - To be addressed ASAP upon return to KGGG

 

[as350]

Keep it coming! 

I'm going through a similar ownership experience, albeit a much shorter commute - only 630nm - and your story is inspiring.

[carusoam]

Nice work GL!

Interesting situation…

Its really cool when your work truck is so ready to go….

Flight planning takes a few seconds nowadays….

And ADSB in keeps your weather planning kind of up to date…

 

Will you have any ice or thunderstorms to contend with on that 1knm flight?

On board strike finder may make a good addition…

If you need any pre-flown avionics we have a guy…. Find alan…

Best regards,

-a-