Mooney Mods

[aerobat95]

Hey quick question....has anyone had any good experiences lately with Mooney Mart?  I was looking at a couple mods they have and was wondering.

Ray

[gregwatts]

Check out LASAR or SWTA first.......just my opinion.

[gregwatts]

Check out LASAR or SWTA first.......just my opinion.

[Sabremech]

Hi Ray,

 The only thing I purchased from them was their Mooney buyers kit. I'd give them a try especially if they have the mods in stock. Seems like everyone else is holding back on producing parts for their STC's.

 Just my .02

 

[dcrogers11]

Ray,

What's next on your upgrade list?  Can you tell me if you are pleased with the last mods done and did you get what you were thinking you would get on airspeed?

Don

[aerobat95]

Well I am looking at the tail mods next. Mooney Mart has a 201/212 kit that looks intersting so I was thinking about that. I probably could just get the mods from Lasar or SWTA though. I was also considering the flap hinge covers. Reguarding my previous mods I am very very happy. My plane has the lower cowl mod, oil cooler relocation, flap gap seals, wheel well liner, and the 201 windshield. With these modifications I am consistantly seeing 155-157 KTAS in the 7500-9500 ft altitude range. I have taken now a trip from San Antonio to Enid, two trips from Enid to Columbus, MS and back, and multiple trips up to the Wichita area and each time I see the same TAS on the same fuel flow. One of the things I am also considering is the M-20 Turbo Kit....right now they are selling for 29K....its alot but it would be a whole new airplane that would be able to cruise above the majority of weather at a respectable 180 KTAS. So who knows....

[gregwatts]

Quote: aerobat95

Well I am looking at the tail mods next. Mooney Mart has a 201/212 kit that looks intersting so I was thinking about that. I probably could just get the mods from Lasar or SWTA though. I was also considering the flap hinge covers. Reguarding my previous mods I am very very happy. My plane has the lower cowl mod, oil cooler relocation, flap gap seals, wheel well liner, and the 201 windshield. With these modifications I am consistantly seeing 155-157 KTAS in the 7500-9500 ft altitude range. I have taken now a trip from San Antonio to Enid, two trips from Enid to Columbus, MS and back, and multiple trips up to the Wichita area and each time I see the same TAS on the same fuel flow. One of the things I am also considering is the M-20 Turbo Kit....right now they are selling for 29K....its alot but it would be a whole new airplane that would be able to cruise above the majority of weather at a respectable 180 KTAS. So who knows....

[aerobat95]

I know....I have thought about upgrading....but the thing of it is.......I have an aircraft that has absolutely no problems.  Between the previous owner and myself I know mechanically everything is in really excellent shape.  The interior is spotless and although the avionics are not the very latest and greatest, I have no problem flying hard IFR.  Plus, I love modifying cars/motorcycles and now airplanes....I know an F is just an F but to me there is something to be said about having something that you know inside and out.  If I do do the tail mods there are no other modifications to put on the plane.  I figure with the tail mods I might see another couple of knots.  The way I look at it in the upper 150's for cruise in a F is pretty good.  Plus, I really don't want to buy another plane....I'd like to just keep this one.  The idea of the turbo is just an idea at this time.....29K for the parts is a lot of coin....plus the 40-60 hours to have it installed.  I am luck in that the area of the country I am in the labor rates are much better than in say the NE or out west.  Plus I have a really good relationship with my A&P who lets me work with him to help defray some of the costs. 

So how did you like your 71F with Turbo?  Why made you want to upgrade to a '81 M20J? 

 

[gregwatts]

Quote: aerobat95

I know....I have thought about upgrading....but the thing of it is.......I have an aircraft that has absolutely no problems. Between the previous owner and myself I know mechanically everything is in really excellent shape. The interior is spotless and although the avionics are not the very latest and greatest, I have no problem flying hard IFR. Plus, I love modifying cars/motorcycles and now airplanes....I know an F is just an F but to me there is something to be said about having something that you know inside and out. If I do do the tail mods there are no other modifications to put on the plane. I figure with the tail mods I might see another couple of knots. The way I look at it in the upper 150's for cruise in a F is pretty good. Plus, I really don't want to buy another plane....I'd like to just keep this one. The idea of the turbo is just an idea at this time.....29K for the parts is a lot of coin....plus the 40-60 hours to have it installed. I am luck in that the area of the country I am in the labor rates are much better than in say the NE or out west. Plus I have a really good relationship with my A&P who lets me work with him to help defray some of the costs.

So how did you like your 71F with Turbo? Why made you want to upgrade to a '81 M20J?

 

[KSMooniac]

LASAR has the tail mods and I installed them at my paint job a few years ago and am happy.  No measurable speed increase, though.

The fine print in the M-20 Turbos kit says that an E or F will need to do a 201 cowl conversion in order to accommodate the turbo kit.  That further complicates things, I'm afraid.

[DaV8or]

Quote: JimR

Ray,

You might want to re-think the flap hinge cover mod.  They were removed altogether from the Acclaim Type S because they reportedly created more drag than they mitigated, and there have been reports of severe corrosion in flap hinges that were covered up by them that almost certainly would have been detected earlier or not have happened at all in their absence.  IMHO, they just gave the MAC marketing department something else to crow about in '76 when the 201 was introduced. 

Jim