new m20c mooney owner Michigan

[bixmooney]

I am new to this forum but a new vintage mooney owner awaiting delivery and happy to have any advice.  

I would like to upgrade my center stack with Garmin 530 and Autopilot.  

[Ragsf15e]

43 minutes ago, bixmooney said:

I am new to this forum but a new vintage mooney owner awaiting delivery and happy to have any advice.  

I would like to upgrade my center stack with Garmin 530 and Autopilot.  

Welcome! Congrats on your airplane!

If you already have a 530w, maybe that’s ok, but you’re going to have to pay install either way, so maybe check out the gnc355 or gnx375 or gps155(i think) models.  New units that will have much longer support than a 530 and have a lot more features.

[Utah20Gflyer]

First, Congratulations!
 

Now some may disagree but the 430/530 are getting pretty old and support for them is declining.  That’s not to say they are the “wrong” choice but something to think about.  Also in a vintage Mooney a 530 takes up a lot of space, especially if you want to also fit an auto pilot in there.  Currently your only real choice of auto pilot is the Garmin gfc 500 which is also going to require other significant upgrades like a G5 or GI275 AI and magnetometer, etc.  to make it work.  The Trutrack auto pilot is a budget possibility but its roll out has been a slow motion shit show.  So who knows if or when that may actually be a possibility.  
 

You may want to consider converting the pilot side panel to 8 pack first so as you make upgrades you don’t eventually have to redo stuff if you were to make that decision later.  
 

Do you have ADSB yet?  If not you may want to consider the Garmin 375.  If you do then you may want to consider the 355.   They are great for upgrading to WAAS gps without paying to duplicate current capability. 

[bixmooney]

Thank you for the input and I will search those.  
I am very novice about this and learning.    I had only owned one plane before, a beech be35 j model with Stec 55x with altitude hold.    My flying was mostly vfr with the heading bug but was very nice going into my airport under Bravo airspace.  

[bixmooney]

I do not have ADSB

[Ragsf15e]

1 minute ago, bixmooney said:

I do not have ADSB

If you don’t currently have adsb, gnx375 i think is a good choice.  You get a waas gps and adsb transponder with both in and out.  If you’re under a B, you need ADSB before you can even fly there, no?

[Ragsf15e]

3 minutes ago, bixmooney said:

I do not have ADSB

You could definitely do ADSB cheaper through a wingtip or taillight ADSB solution, but if you’re also upgrading to a waas gps with approaches, etc, gnx375 is nice unit that has both.

[bixmooney]

I just watched the video on gnx375 and that looks nice for my purpose.   
I also read the posts about the trutrack autopilot delays.  
i am not at the airport under bravo now but will need adsb for what I do.  

Edited October 24, 2022 by bixmooney

[Ragsf15e]

2 minutes ago, bixmooney said:

I just watched the video on gnx375 and that looks nice for my purpose.   
I also read the posts about the trutrack autopilot delays.  
i am not at the airport under bravo now but will need adsb for what I do.  

The garmin autopilot is currently the way (and the only way) to go.  It’s really good.  You will need at least a g5 to run it.  You can save some cash by just doing 2 servos, the others can be added later, but you’re looking at 20k for an autopilot installed plus whatever for the waas gps.  Those are ballpark numbers. Also, availability and installation backlog are serious issues right now.

[Stetson20]

Congrats! What part of Michigan? Welcome, there’s a ton of information and helpful Mooney enthusiasts here! 

[bixmooney]

I am in tricities area mid Michigan and plan to keep it at Jack Barstow.   I really know nothing about Mooneys yet. 

[phxcobraz]

3 hours ago, Ragsf15e said:

If you don’t currently have adsb, gnx375 i think is a good choice.  You get a waas gps and adsb transponder with both in and out.  If you’re under a B, you need ADSB before you can even fly there, no?

Agreed with this, based on the old transponder and no ADSB, the GNX375 is the best option to get all that up to date.

[Niko182]

A gnx375, G5 hsi, and gfc500 with only the pitch and roll servo will do everything you're looking at doing.

[0TreeLemur]

Wow, that's an old set of avionics.   I was in a similar situation as you in 2017.

From my experience, unless you need IFR capability now, the best first investment for you to make is a primary engine monitor.   That allows you to operate your engine properly, detect and diagnose problems that might kill you, and get rid of a bunch of engine-related steam gauges.  Then you can re-configure your panel and start from a better place.

Here's a thread you might enjoy looking at.

 

[Stetson20]

On 10/24/2022 at 7:24 PM, bixmooney said:

I am in tricities area mid Michigan and plan to keep it at Jack Barstow.   I really know nothing about Mooneys yet. 

I highly recommend going to a MAPA Safety Foundation PPP. (Mooney Aircraft Pilot's Association Pilot Proficiency Program). You get credit toward the FAA Wings program, as well as possible insurance discounts. Check with your insurer. But the main thing you get is access to a highly experienced group of Mooney-specific instructors who will help you really get to know your airplane.

I got my Mooney last spring and only recently was able to attend a MAPA PPP. It's made a huge difference in my understanding of flying the Mooney, it's peculiarities, and best practices to get the most out of your experience flying these magnificent machines! I know- I sound like a brochure, but attending one of these (or at least finding a MAPA instructor to do your "transition" training) will make a huge difference.

Good luck and welcome to the Mooney community!

Edit:  Post a pic of your plane! They're all beauties!

[bixmooney]

Thank you for the input again ! 
 

I do have this engine monitor, JPI EDM 700 

I had a beech be35j in the past and didn’t get to do the beech flight training Bppp program but had an instructor who was a bppp instructor and I was lucky to have that.  
 

How can I find a Mooney instructor in my area (Michigan) for transition training ? 
 

the pictures of the panel disassembled honestly always freak me out.  

 Was able to talk to a good avionics shop about the panel and gnx375, G5 hsi, and gfc500 upgrade.   They are scheduling for April and cost roughly 25-30k it sounds like.    
I was happy they said they use the pushrods and servos and not switching out for cables.   

 

[bixmooney]

On 10/26/2022 at 9:14 AM, Stetson20 said:

 

Edit:  Post a pic of your plane! They're all beauties!

 

 

Edited October 29, 2022 by bixmooney

[Stetson20]

On 10/28/2022 at 7:16 PM, bixmooney said:

Thank you for the input again ! 
 

I do have this engine monitor, JPI EDM 700 

I had a beech be35j in the past and didn’t get to do the beech flight training Bppp program but had an instructor who was a bppp instructor and I was lucky to have that.  
 

How can I find a Mooney instructor in my area (Michigan) for transition training ? 
 

the pictures of the panel disassembled honestly always freak me out.  

 Was able to talk to a good avionics shop about the panel and gnx375, G5 hsi, and gfc500 upgrade.   They are scheduling for April and cost roughly 25-30k it sounds like.    
I was happy they said they use the pushrods and servos and not switching out for cables.   

 

www.themooneyflyer.com

[Guest]

On 10/28/2022 at 7:16 PM, bixmooney said:

Thank you for the input again ! 
 

I do have this engine monitor, JPI EDM 700 

I had a beech be35j in the past and didn’t get to do the beech flight training Bppp program but had an instructor who was a bppp instructor and I was lucky to have that.  
 

How can I find a Mooney instructor in my area (Michigan) for transition training ? 
 

the pictures of the panel disassembled honestly always freak me out.  

 Was able to talk to a good avionics shop about the panel and gnx375, G5 hsi, and gfc500 upgrade.   They are scheduling for April and cost roughly 25-30k it sounds like.    
I was happy they said they use the pushrods and servos and not switching out for cables.   

 

The first thing in training would be to put the plane on jacks and practice raising and lowering the gear until you master it.  Despite what you’ll read here it’s just like any other plane, just a little more speed sensitive on approach and landing.  

[bixmooney]

1 hour ago, M20Doc said:

The first thing in training would be to put the plane on jacks and practice raising and lowering the gear until you master it.  Despite what you’ll read here it’s just like any other plane, just a little more speed sensitive on approach and landing.  

that sounds like it would be nice but I don’t know how practical it would be here.   I am in a new area and hardly know anyone and don’t know if anyone with jacks or on field mechanic.  

I would really like to find someone who flies Mooney’s and help me transition training into the Mooney. 

I have searched a lot of videos and this landing a Mooney video seemed good. 
 

 

 

[bixmooney]

2 hours ago, Stetson20 said:

www.themooneyflyer.com

I just subscribed to the mooneyflyer, thanks 

[Keith20EH]

Love my Garmin panel, not high end big screens, but very capable.  Disregard the unfinished copilot side. Planning on a JPI 930 and a glove box.  All of my engine gauges work so not urgent.

[bixmooney]

Picture saved !    That is really clean and nice.   Thank you for posting it. 

[AIREMATT]

On 10/30/2022 at 8:50 AM, bixmooney said:

I just subscribed to the mooneyflyer, thanks 

Don’t just look  at the issues as they come out going forward.
They have about 8-10 years of monthly issues in the archives that cover almost everything Mooney related to get you up to speed. 
They have been a great resource for me as I went from 0 Mooney knowledge to “a little more” Mooney knowledge over the last 8 years.

[bixmooney]

Well, I did a little instruct time and time was tight but I got one take of and landing in and love this thing !! 
 

I have a little squawk list started.   Nothing too bad on it.    

I have one wrinkled right flap  that was hanger rash from before I bought it that bugs me and my manifold pressure gauge seems to lag.