Finally got the wife in the Mooney!

[DaV8or]

Excellent CA weather + perfect mission = happy wife! My wife had committed us to go down to Santa Maria (KSMX) and do household repairs for her aging mother this weekend. I casually suggested that we could take the Mooney and save at l east 3 hours travel time each way as I often do... and she said OK! So we piled the Mooney full of tools and overnight bags and head out. The flight to Santa Maria couldn't have been better. Clear, smooth, the auto pilot worked 100% and pilot Dave made no errors.

The flight home looked to be a repeat of the day before... until we got to Byron. The wind was blowing pretty strong over the hills and caused some pretty bouncey turbulence. The glider guys were loving all the updrafts, me not so much. I like nice stabilized approaches, today it was just keep the pointy end in the general direction of the runway. Airspeed control was a bit tough until we got down to about 200'. Fortunately, as usual, the wind was pretty much down the runway, so landed half flaps and a tiny extra speed all was well. Not the greaser I always hope for, but not embarrasing and made the usual turn off.

Bottom line was, she was all good with it and more flights could be in the future.

[MooneyMitch]

Bravo Dave. 

She has the confidence in you and all you've done with your Mooney!  Next time you all come to SMX, please give us a shout for a visit.

[231Pilot]

Congratulations!  My wife loves the convenience or shortened travel time too.  When we get up above the clouds, she usually naps....sometimes all the way to touchdown.

[co2bruce]

Never wake up a sleeping wife in the Mooney!! Let em sleep.

[Ned Gravel]

Quote: 201Pilot

Congratulations!  My wife loves the convenience or shortened travel time too.  When we get up above the clouds, she usually naps....sometimes all the way to touchdown.

[MATTS875]

I do not have any trouble getting my wife in the mooney, its getting out that she does not like..

[fantom]

I used to fly with the wife all the time. Some very nice trips. Trouble is her husband found out ;-)

[Joe Zuffoletto]

My wife loved Mooney trips when we were based in Northern CA and we had 99% silky smooth flights up and down the West Coast, sometimes even in rain.

Moved to Denver 6 years ago and now not so much. Turbulence is common here and she absolutely hates it. (I'm pretty sick of it too!)

Hope to retire to a place with smoother air someday!

[scottfromiowa]

Hey Dave, Just really pleased to hear that you guys had a nice flight.  Kel was the same way and as we have flown over the years her confidence in me, the plane and flying in GA aircraft has improved tremendously.  She still doesn't love it, but she appreciates the utility and can even relax...when it's smooth.  Once again thumbs up as I understand what a bummer it is when the one you love is not embrassing your passion for aviation.

[scottfromiowa]

D.P...

[jetdriven]

My wife was a little apprehensve at first, now she doesnt mind accompanying me to Oshkosh or Kew West.

     

[fantom]

Quote: jetdriven

My wife was a little apprehensve at first, now she doesnt mind accompanying me to Oshkosh or Kew West.

     

[Parker_Woodruff]

Good stuff!

[Becca]

Quote: fantom

As long as she's in the left seat  

[lahso]

Many years ago, my wife was apprehensive about flying. We took it slow with short sightseeing trips, and built up to overnight trips. Now, it's the preferred way to travel!

[rbridges]

my wife wouldn't shed a tear if my hangar caught on fire and my plane burned to the ground.  She doesn't oppose it and will actually fly with me if we have a reason to go to a destination, but she is definitely not in love with flying.

[kris_adams]

I'm with you Rob, that's pretty much my wife's outlook as well