Colorado - Looking at buying a Mooney, but never flown in one

[Icebrk34]

Hi All, I am looking at purchasing a plane potentially a Mooney M20J or M, but I have never been in one of flown one.  I have fairly low time with a PPL and IR, and spent my time in 172's, currently working on a commercial certificate right now.  If anyone in the Denver front range area would be willing to show me a Mooney and potentially take me up for a ride (I would cover the cost), I would appreciate it.  I am closest to KAPA, but can travel to other front range area airports.  Thanks

Doug

[Vance Harral]

@TheStig moved to Florida.  But there are other Mooneyspacers in the area, including myself (M20F) at KLMO and @gsxrpilot (M20K) at KBJC.

My airplane is the last year of the M20F.  It's effectively an early-model M20J in the cockpit (electric gear and flaps, 6-pack panel, etc.), it just doesn't have the airframe speed mods that make the early model Js 10-15 knots faster.  If you can't find an actual M20J to ride in, my airplane is a decent facsimile.  I'm tied up through the end of the year, but would be happy to give you a ride shortly after the New Year if someone else doesn't before then.

For the M20M, you probably do want to find a ride in a long-body model, and I don't have any inroads for you there.  Hopefully someone else will step up and offer a ride.

[Hank]

19 hours ago, Icebrk34 said:

Hi All, I am looking at purchasing a plane potentially a Mooney M20J or M, but I have never been in one

Doug, the M = Bravo is a turbocharged, high flying beast of an airplane, a completely different animal from the J. If your mission regularly favors flying above 18K, go for the Bravo, otherwise get a J. Note, the Bravo will cost nearly double the J, with almost double the fuel burn and 30% higher TAS plus push from high altitude winds. But the Bravo is often described as a "personal airliner," it's a very capable plane.

 

[jaylw314]

1 hour ago, philip_g said:

Fiki Bravo would be my first choice if I was back in Colorado. A rocket my second. A k my third. A j would fit after a Bonanza somewhere. Everyone is different but mountain flying is a hell of a lot easier at fl180 and 1500fpm climb.

Yeah, a M20J would be pretty anemic at altitude, I'd start getting uncomfortable on flights higher than 16,000' because the climb is so slow at that point, you can't really avoid anything by going up.  I'm fine cruising at 16K when I have plenty of time and space to get up there, but if you're doing cross-country flying in Colorado, I suspect that is more likely to be untrue.

[PilotX]

Got a Bravo at Metro. You don’t want a K, way too efficient and slow. 

[Marc_B]

39 minutes ago, PilotX said:

You don’t want a K, way too efficient and slow. 

Hey!  I represent that comment!  K up in cow town (Greeley).  I am definitely in the camp of turbocharged for Colorado and have been thoroughly enjoying an M20K as my first and best aircraft!!

[Icebrk34]

I appreciate the input and support.  My mission primarily takes me to Kansas and New Mexico and potentially a longer east coast cross country.  I will reach out via PM to those of you in the front range and hopefully we can meet up.  Thanks!!

[Warren]

Also at metro and have a K.  Happy to take you for a flight.