What Will $125,000 USD Get Me?

[GeneralT001]

1 minute ago, PT20J said:

I always thought Mike Bush's advice sound: Buy the newest, lowest time airframe you can find because that's the one thing you can't replace. Better if you can find an appropriately discounted one with a run out engine because you then have control over the quality of the overhaul. Good luck trying to find one with the avionics you want. The installation cost for the new Garmin stuff costs at least half the price of the equipment and the insurance company figures a 40% immediate depreciation on the hardware. So unless you find an estate sale, no one is likely to part with a recently upgraded panel and take that loss. Better to find one with avionics you can live with for a while and then decide what you really need.

Skip

 

Well, I now have the aircraft  and will spend some time to figure out how to proceed with a panel redesign. I know it won't be cheap but as they say, buy once cry once.

[Lance Link]

That is a very nice looking aircraft!

[GeneralT001]

Just now, Lance Link said:

That is a very nice looking aircraft!

I may have misspoke... I don't have it in my possession yet...its about 1700NM away...but I have a purchase agreement....not sure when I'll be able to fly the aircraft out to my base...maybe late Dec/Jan?? Wx kinda sucks this time of year.

[PT20J]

1 minute ago, GeneralT001 said:

Well, I now have the aircraft  and will spend some time to figure out how to proceed with a panel redesign. I know it won't be cheap but as they say, buy once cry once.

Good for you!

Having just gone through that exercise, here's my thought process. Yours may be different 

I wanted to fly single pilot IFR. It is really not possible to do that with modern GPS navigators that take a lot of programming without a good autopilot. The old autopilots are becoming failure prone and expensive to maintain, so a new autopilot is the first thing to upgrade. At present, the only viable option is a GFC 500. Unlike older autopilots that had a computer, gyros and servos, this autopilot uses a distributed architecture: the flight director software is in the PFD, the autopilot software is in the servos, the controller doesn't do much more than provide a user interface and some back up fault detection. So, this means you need a G3X Touch or dual G5s or dual GI 275s. For a whole new panel, the G3X just makes more sense especially the G3X, GFC 500 and G5 (for a backup ADI) were designed to work together. And you can add the EIS to the G3X and get a very capable engine monitor.

Skip

[GeneralT001]

2 minutes ago, PT20J said:

Good for you!

Having just gone through that exercise, here's my thought process. Yours may be different 

I wanted to fly single pilot IFR. It is really not possible to do that with modern GPS navigators that take a lot of programming without a good autopilot. The old autopilots are becoming failure prone and expensive to maintain, so a new autopilot is the first thing to upgrade. At present, the only viable option is a GFC 500. Unlike older autopilots that had a computer, gyros and servos, this autopilot uses a distributed architecture: the flight director software is in the PFD, the autopilot software is in the servos, the controller doesn't do much more than provide a user interface and some back up fault detection. So, this means you need a G3X Touch or dual G5s or dual GI 275s. For a whole new panel, the G3X just makes more sense especially the G3X, GFC 500 and G5 (for a backup ADI) were designed to work together. And you can add the EIS to the G3X and get a very capable engine monitor.

Skip

Okay...I'm in love and I don't believe in rebuilding the wheel....this is something I would like to duplicate!

If you have any build logs/vlogs or any detail whatsoever about how you went about this, please let me know. Did you do it all yourself or hire a 3rd party like Steinair?

[PT20J]

10 minutes ago, GeneralT001 said:

Okay...I'm in love and I don't believe in rebuilding the wheel....this is something I would like to duplicate!

If you have any build logs/vlogs or any detail whatsoever about how you went about this, please let me know. Did you do it all yourself or hire a 3rd party like Steinair?

Attached is a copy of the specification I wrote. The installation was done by Crown Aviation at Paine Field in Everett WA. I am familiar with that shop and they do excellent work. I sent the spec out for multiple bids by well known shops and Crown was about in the middle for price. The installation was flawless.

 

 

Glass panel R3.docx

[GeneralT001]

5 minutes ago, PT20J said:

Attached is a copy of the specification I wrote. The installation was done by Crown Aviation at Paine Field in Everett WA. I am familiar with that shop and they do excellent work. I sent the spec out for multiple bids by well known shops and Crown was about in the middle for price. The installation was flawless.

 

 

Glass panel R3.docx 26.4 kB · 1 download

It says the start date was 9 Aug...how long did it take to complete?

[GeneralT001]

4 minutes ago, JohnZ said:

@GeneralT001 if you have any questions feel free to PM. I am currently going through an avionics update almost identical to @PT20J (photo attached). I second everything Skip said about the G3X + G5 + GFC500 system. It’s all optimized to work together. Upgrading the panel involves a lot of decision making. Enjoy your new plane!

 

Thanks, it does a lot to think about. Out of curiosity  was the throttle quadrant a mod as well or is that from the factory?

[PT20J]

1 minute ago, GeneralT001 said:

It says the start date was 9 Aug...how long did it take to complete?

The start date slipped to 8/12 and it was finished on 10/20. So 10 weeks. Took me a day to remove the interior and two days to put it back in. The plastic gets old and brittle and usually has some cracks so it's a good time to refurbish it while the panel work is being done. There are threads on MS about doing that. Basically glass cloth and ABS cement on the back side. Pieces of ABS plastic sheet glued to the back for areas like armrests that need more reinforcing. Spray paint the good side with SEM Color Coat. Phantom White is a good match for the original color.

Skip

[PT20J]

6 minutes ago, JohnZ said:

There were a few years that Mooney produced the throttle quadrant. Mine is a 76’ F model. Came from the factory that way. I’m not sure when they started or stopped doing it. I’ve flown a 77’ J that had the quadrant as well. 

I believe that the 1977s were the only J's with the quadrant. I once owned a 1978 and it had the push-pull controls. I kind of miss the older instrument panel before Mooney put the hump in the middle. The glare shield was much easier to remove and it fit better. Mooney never got the hump right in the glare shield and they all are higher on the right than the left. I did a lot of rework on mine due to cracks and it fits better now, but it's still not quite right.

Skip

[ArtVandelay]

I may have misspoke... I don't have it in my possession yet...its about 1700NM away...but I have a purchase agreement....not sure when I'll be able to fly the aircraft out to my base...maybe late Dec/Jan?? Wx kinda sucks this time of year.

Are you importing it into USA? If yes, the required paperwork may take longer due to time of the year, Covid issues.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, ArtVandelay said:

Are you importing it into USA? If yes, the required paperwork may take longer due to time of the year, Covid issues.

I believe that this one is staying in Canada.

Clarence

[BKlott]

What will $125,000 USD get me?

I was going to reply “a $60,000 airplane that you can afford to own, operate and maintain”, but what do I know?!

Edited December 1, 2021 by BKlott

[WaynePierce]

I'm surprised the engine, when rebuilt, wasn't swapped out for a single mag x2 rather than keeping the -D... They kept the -D in my J as well when it had it's engine re-done.

Congratulations, GeneralT..., this may be the fastest turnaround on Mooney Space from what can I get to I got one...

Edited December 1, 2021 by WaynePierce
Congratulations

[Guest]

8 hours ago, WaynePierce said:

I'm surprised the engine, when rebuilt, wasn't swapped out for a single mag x2 rather than keeping the -D... They kept the -D in my J as well when it had it's engine re-done.

Congratulations, GeneralT..., this may be the fastest turnaround on Mooney Space from what can I get to I got one...

Not everyone sees the D2000/D3000 magneto as an issue.  I’ve had more issues with Slick magnetos than I’ve ever had with a well maintained D3000.  Most issues are brought about by people cheaping  out on maintenance.

Clarence

[WaynePierce]

19 minutes ago, M20Doc said:

Not everyone sees the D2000/D3000 magneto as an issue.  I’ve had more issues with Slick magnetos than I’ve ever had with a well maintained D3000.  Most issues are brought about by people cheaping  out on maintenance.

Clarence

I'm glad to hear that. Maybe I'm just a little more concerned about them because I had one side fail on me very soon after I took possession. Very soon was probably like 25 hours on it after I had purchased.

 

[PT20J]

There are valid reasons for swapping an A3B6D for an A3B6, but the dual mag is pretty far down the list. 

If you are doing a field overhaul, it should be less expensive to stay with your D. If you are getting a factory rebuilt, the A3B6 is cheaper because Lycoming would really like to retire the Ds. Over time, the D might be more expensive to maintain because it has fewer parts in common with the other IO-360 variants. It’s not just the accessory case that is different.

Skip

[Warren Dunes]

On 12/1/2021 at 7:08 AM, BKlott said:

What will $125,000 USD get me?

I was going to reply “a $60,000 airplane that you can afford to own, operate and maintain”, but what do I know?!

$60,000 - 75,000 that sounds about right...