Will it ever fly again? Shall I dare rescuing the abandoned bird?

[Irmin]

Dumb question: can you just peel back enough skin in each section to get inside and clean up? Guess you have to inspect fuselage,  tail and interior too. Must be people who are familiar with this problem. Air Mods in New Jersey might be worth a call.

Everyone’s opinion so far was that the corrosion is too far, too deep for resumption of the wing


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[NickG]

10 hours ago, Irmin said:

I indeed did sink in a small fortune. What comes to my mind is the joke about how to make a small fortune in aviation. My wife is alive and doing relatively well, but the last 10 month were pure horror. Yesterday I had the impression for the first time that she can feel herself again after such a long period of being stuffed with tons of super expensive drugs. What a promising sign of hope…
Well, the MSE will not heal again and that wing will never fly again. Now I am looking for a way to get airborne again. By the way: Before the Mooney was diagnosed with lethal aluminum caries I did film an air-2-air session with her. At that time I did not even think that the coming ARC would be impossible, so I am happy to have those film snippets. Maybe I’ll edit it and post it.










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Well, it seems like there’s a lot to salvage there. So thats at least a positive.  I watched you videos and when I saw the first video of your original inspection, I had trouble believing that the aircraft had been outside for only 6 months. I think the seller was giving you a line of BS. I live in Las Vegas where the climate is incredibly dry and planes don’t really corrode here (at least due to weather). Whenever I look at planes that have spent time in the gulf coast and/or Florida area I always triple check for corrosion.

All will work out for you, I know it!

[LANCECASPER]

On 3/27/2022 at 7:46 AM, LANCECASPER said:

It depends on why you are doing it. If it's to have a really nice J model to fly, it would be a lot less expensive to find the nicest J you can find and pay market price for it. If you're doing it for the satisfaction of bringing something back to life, that's a really good reason to do it and even therapeutic. But just understand that the price you pay plus the money it will cost you to rebuild it will most likely never be recovered. To get that same satisfaction, and probably a lot less work, you might consider building a new Sling TSi with similar performance.

I’m not quoting my post from almost two years ago to say, “I told you so”. But just a reminder for anyone attempting to bring a Mooney back to life after it’s been sitting a long time: the first thing you should look for before buying or sinking your first dollar into a project like this is corrosion. 

I did something like this with an M20M I bought back in 2015, but the difference is that mine sat in a hangar, not outside,  and I went there personally and pulled inspection panels and the first thing I looked for was corrosion. I didn’t see anything that was a showstopper.

Here’s the sad part of any project like this: By the time I finished everything and got it the way I wanted it, I had as much into it as if I would have found a nice well-maintained Bravo, at the prices Bravos were going for in 2015. I’m still glad I did it - I came to know every inch of that airplane, and I could do it and fund it as I went so it wasn’t as painful as putting all of the money out at once with a purchase. However I don’t plan on doing that again. 

 

[Echo]

I just want to know your wife is O.K.  The Mooney is just a machine and unlike those we love is replaceable.  I wish you and yur family health in 2024.

[Irmin]

I just want to know your wife is O.K.  The Mooney is just a machine and unlike those we love is replaceable.  I wish you and yur family health in 2024.

She is under heavy medication after her stem cell transplant to prevent the new immune system from rejecting my wife. Also she has to take prophylactic chemo therapy to prevent the cancer from coming back. And so on. I am happy that she is alive and still with me. It’s complicated and a different life than before but that’s okay…


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[Planegary]

11 hours ago, Irmin said:

She is under heavy medication after her stem cell transplant to prevent the new immune system from rejecting my wife. Also she has to take prophylactic chemo therapy to prevent the cancer from coming back. And so on. I am happy that she is alive and still with me. It’s complicated and a different life than before but that’s okay…

I am recovering from the same donor stem cell transplant  so I understand you completely. Prayers are for her complete and speedy recovery

[NickG]

On 2/25/2024 at 7:51 AM, Irmin said:

She is under heavy medication after her stem cell transplant to prevent the new immune system from rejecting my wife. Also she has to take prophylactic chemo therapy to prevent the cancer from coming back. And so on. I am happy that she is alive and still with me. It’s complicated and a different life than before but that’s okay…


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Please update us.

[Irmin]

Hello Mooney friends. My wife recovered fine from Leukaemia,  which is the best news in a very long time, so I am NOT complaining, but my bird is scrap metal due to corrosion in the wing etc. Now I am parting it out. 

A friend wants to use my new leather seats from my J in his 1980 K-model. The front seats seem to fit, but how about the rear seats and the side panels? 

Thanks for the advise!

Irmin

[Fly Boomer]

7 hours ago, Irmin said:

My wife recovered fine from Leukaemia

That is great to hear.  Recovery from any form of that disease is far from assured.

[NickG]

So pleased to hear of your wife’s recovery!!!

[Irmin]

So pleased to hear of your wife’s recovery!!!

This is indeed the best news. I pray it stays that way. The last year made me age twice at fast…

[Shadrach]

3 hours ago, Irmin said:

This is indeed the best news. I pray it stays that way. The last year made me age twice at fast…

Irmin,

I have been tracking this thread from the outset.  You've been on one hell of a ride for the last few years.  As unfortunate as the situation with the Mooney is, I am truly delighted to learn that your wife is in remission.  I hope you all enjoy a wonderful summer together. Better days ahead!