New to Mooney.

[Seth]

Just as others have said, get your first couple of hours, maybe 5-10 at least in a dedicated trainer so that hard landings or a botched anything, do not cause issues due to the airframe not designed for abuse.  The C-172 is a great training platform. 

Once you get the basics, learn in your own airplane - get the Mooney at that point.  They are great machines and if you learn in them, you're mind will be at Mooney Speed early and will consider that basic pilot speed.

Take care and Good Luck,

-Seth

[mooneydrmr]

Point well taken, this makes sense.  Thanks guy's.

[jbs007]

I recommend the same as everyone else for a different reason.  Sure, you should spend your initial "30 hours" or so on something easier, but..

Fly as many types of aircraft as you can.  Not because youre trying to find something better.  Because it gives you something to compare to.  You learn a lot from comparison.  you'll never know what feel is from basis aerodynamics and what is from your particular plane.  Also, practice learning new aircraft teaches you so much.  And enables you to get a better feel for the operation of your aircraft, also through comparison.

Take what I say with a grain of salt.  I have no time in Moooneys (although I am about to buy one) and have been drinking considerably.  I have been editing this for grammar and spelling for quite sometime.

[jbs007]

I'm not sure how to respond to that.

[rbridges]

I was kind of "wowed" by that statement.  I was thinking of someone with no flying experience buying Lear to learn.  Just not something you hear a lot. 

[mooneydrmr]

Quote: jbs007

I recommend the same as everyone else for a different reason.  Sure, you should spend your initial "30 hours" or so on something easier, but..

Fly as many types of aircraft as you can.  Not because youre trying to find something better.  Because it gives you something to compare to.  You learn a lot from comparison.  you'll never know what feel is from basis aerodynamics and what is from your particular plane.  Also, practice learning new aircraft teaches you so much.  And enables you to get a better feel for the operation of your aircraft, also through comparison.

Take what I say with a grain of salt.  I have no time in Moooneys (although I am about to buy one) and have been drinking considerably.  I have been editing this for grammar and spelling for quite sometime.

[orangemtl]

Rent the 172 now; buy the Mooney later.

They're fantastic aircraft. They resent inattention and inexperience. The time you spend now in a 172 will spare you more than a few problems later. Returned to the air after many years, in a new Mooney. STEEP learning curve. Don't do what I did.

[jwilkins]

I really loved my Mooneys. My 62 C was an easy plane to fly and might have been an acceptable trainer for  a younger more 'natural' pilot than I was (or am).

I promised myself that I would not buy a plane until after I had my IR. I've always liked Mooneys since Gordon Baxter wrote about his in his Bax Seat columns.  However, I also figured that I  should get my IR and find out exactly what kind of flying I wanted to do with a plane.  If I was only going to do weekend lunch runs I'd probably have a C150. The flying club had a 150 with an STOL kit that was an absolute joy to hop around to local airports, including a couple turf ones. 

After getting my instrument rating in an Arrow I rented a Cherokee 235, a C182 and a Cardinal RG for a few 400 -500 mile trips. Then the siren call of the Mooney - faster, lower fuel burn, no scheduling issues to go on multi day trips got to me. 

The 62 C was a great plane and we made several XC trips NY to CA and AZ with it. Eventually I wanted a little nicer, little faster, longer range and moved up to the 67 F. A beautiful well equipped plane that I would still have today if I had not moved to AZ. The hot and high out here justified a move to a K. Not necessary but allowed justification.  It's a progression and I think it was a good way to move through the models. I hope I'm not done yet.

Yes, you CAN learn in a Mooney, but, for me, it would have been a lot more stressful. The early training and wonderful slow flights in the C150 I'll never forget anymore than I will forget buying the 62 C and flying it back from Alabama; absolutely crammed with paperwork, spare parts, and a Power Tow Tug from the previous owner.

Even if you have the resources to buy a fairly new complex aircraft for your flight training, I'd recommend starting out with a simple trainer airplane without the complication of buying and maintaining an aircraft until you know by experience what kind of flying you will really want to do.

 

 

[johnggreen]

N6719N spelled it out clearly.  Any good instructor is going to put you in marginal envelopes so you can learn the intricacies of flying "on the edge".  You simply can't do that safely (or without damage to the airplane) in a Mooney.  You don't learn how to fly an airplane straight and level in smooth air.  A Cessna, Cherokee, or other will go there and back without risk; a Mooney won't.

Jgreen

CFII

[Amapro65]

I couldn't disagree more with the nay sayers. There is no reason at all that you can't "crawl, walk, run" in any aircraft. It depends on the individual, and if you are willing to spend extra time training, there is no reason why you can't do in a Mooney. After some research, I think a pre-loved Mooney best fits my mission profile/budget. With the FAA's changes effective 10/31/2011, allowing pilots to concurrently train for PPL and IFR ratings, it makes the Mooneys even more attractive. Financially speaking, the local "reputable" school charges anywhere from $150-$200 per hour for a 172, and they push the Hell out of the $200 units. Then they charge an additional $20 an hour for their instructors, plus, you have to go through a number of "proficiency" check rides with another instructor at different points along the way. You have to remember, schools are set up to make money, not pilots. Based on a 60 hour training program, your looking at $15000, plus another $1000 for the "check rides", plus another $250 for their ground school. At the end, what do you have to show for it? A PPL, if your lucky, that is, if they haven't convinced you that you need more training.   I can probrably find an older Mooney for $16250, and I know that I can defiantly find one for $32500, and sell half of it to another pilot. I know there are costs of ownership associated with owning a plane, it's kind of like owning or renting a house, I don't want to make someone else's mortgage payment while they get all of the tax benefit's.

    I will do my diligence, and thoroughly research any aircraft before purchase, and make sure I am up front with any prospective CFIIs of my intentions, strengths, and weakness before I purchase an aircraft and resume training. 

[scottfromiowa]

Quote: Amapro65

I couldn't disagree more with the nay sayers. There is no reason at all that you can't "crawl, walk, run" in any aircraft. It depends on the individual, and if you are willing to spend extra time training, there is no reason why you can't do in a Mooney. After some research, I think a pre-loved Mooney best fits my mission profile/budget. With the FAA's changes effective 10/31/2011, allowing pilots to concurrently train for PPL and IFR ratings, it makes the Mooneys even more attractive. Financially speaking, the local "reputable" school charges anywhere from $150-$200 per hour for a 172, and they push the Hell out of the $200 units. Then they charge an additional $20 an hour for their instructors, plus, you have to go through a number of "proficiency" check rides with another instructor at different points along the way. You have to remember, schools are set up to make money, not pilots. Based on a 60 hour training program, your looking at $15000, plus another $1000 for the "check rides", plus another $250 for their ground school. At the end, what do you have to show for it? A PPL, if your lucky, that is, if they haven't convinced you that you need more training.

[Mooneymite]

Other than the insurance and other expenses involved in a Mooney, I think the law of primacy would support starting out in a Mooney, if that's what you're going to fly.

 

The Navy started me out in a T-34B, which is about the same complexity.  We were all expected (required) to solo on our 13th hop.  You might as well learn to put the gear down from day 1.

 

I say go for it....you won't miss the simpler trainers a bit.

[schule]

Mooneydrmr,

I believe you can learn in a M20, but there are valid reasons to beat up someone else's rental for a couple of hours.  Scottfromiowa has a good point on wasting you own money.  I would however recommend making sure you like flying prior to setting deep financial roots in it.

I do believe most military pilots solo some relatively high performance (twin engine jets/turboprop singles) at around 20 hours plus simulator time.  George might have some insights on Navy training.  It is possible with a good training plan, but real expensive for the students who find out they do not like to fly.

Good luck living your dream.

-Mark