Upgrade, or???

[Chris Strube]

I have a perfectly good plane, a 1965 M20E, that's been modified heavily.  I can land and depart a 1500ft grass field, climb non-stop to FL180 in 20 minutes, then cruise at about 180KTAS for 5 hours.  It's old school, but fully IFR, with 3 axis Brittain autopilot that works well.  It's comfortable for the 2 of us, with a nice interior.  Why then, am I constantly looking at M20M TLS Bravo's?  I'm probably too old to learn a glass panel, but my brain refuses to quit looking at shiny new things.  

Free advice is worth everything you pay for.

[Schllc]

I hate to break it to you, but you have an incurable disease.  
I can spot it because I am also afflicted. 

[McMooney]

just so happens, the only guy i know with aBravo,  talks constantly about how much he misses his M20E.  i'm sure he's just trying to keep me from asking for a ride 8)

 

Glass is a big nothing burger, you'll get to used to it very quickly.   First thing you'll notice is how everything is presented rougly like a 6 pack.

[philiplane]

the only known cure for the aviation disease is an acute lack of money....

[Patrick Horan]

2 hours ago, Chris Strube said:

 then cruise at about 180KTAS for

180 KNOTS or 180MPH ? Is the engine turbo?

Most of those gages are in MPH

Edited March 3, 2023 by Patrick Horan

[T. Peterson]

2 hours ago, Chris Strube said:

I have a perfectly good plane, a 1965 M20E, that's been modified heavily.  I can land and depart a 1500ft grass field, climb non-stop to FL180 in 20 minutes, then cruise at about 180KTAS for 5 hours.  It's old school, but fully IFR, with 3 axis Brittain autopilot that works well.  It's comfortable for the 2 of us, with a nice interior.  Why then, am I constantly looking at M20M TLS Bravo's?  I'm probably too old to learn a glass panel, but my brain refuses to quit looking at shiny new things.  

Free advice is worth everything you pay for.

If 180kts TAS is not a typo, you can only regress. Put an extra lock on it, or keep it hidden from me!

[slowflyin]

14 hours ago, Patrick Horan said:

180 KNOTS or 180MPH ? Is the engine turbo?

Most of those gages are in MPH

20 minutes to 18K- turbo.  

[RobertGary1]

Do you live in a state where you have to give 10% of the new planes value to the state? If so don’t upgrade. 

[ArtVandelay]

Is it your forever plane?

[Guest]

4 hours ago, RobertGary1 said:

Do you live in a state where you have to give 10% of the new planes value to the state? If so don’t upgrade. 

No he lives in British Columbia Canada, where he’ll give the government 13%, 10 would seem a bargain.

[Yetti]

I thought about upgrading.   Then I started looking at the panels (I have a Dynon Skyview)  and that cures it pretty quick.

[glbtrottr]

Are you going to start multiplying and having children at your age where you need the extra space?

I’m not.

My 252 may be grand, and my good friend Don owns a bravo, but do I need it? Gawd no. Frankly I bought an E model - the overhaul Costs are far more palatable and I don’t really need the 28k ceilings, the 104 gallons of gas or the speed brakes. My flight director with attitude preselect is nice, but do I really need more than a wing leveler / heading bug? To quote my friend Don, I’m OK with coach (if flying a steam gauge E model is slumming it in coach)…

I already spent $50k+ on my panel before….and it isn’t glass.

Do I really want to upgrade my plane to two glass screens ? No, I’d rather keep my $70-80k and siendo it elsewhere

An E model is where it’s at…nice speed without the premium price of the J, the overhaul costs of the K, and most of the speed.

But if you want to burn more gas, fly around with more empty cabin space, and grow the price of Garmin stock, we will all ogle at your glass panel Bravo, while getting most of that info from a 760, 796, or even foreflight and getting there a few minutes after you.

[Chris Strube]

OK, thanks all for the reality check.  I knew all that, but lust is hard to let go of.  To answer a question, it is a turbo, and it works well.  It holds max allowable 27inches to FL180, and still gives me 24 inches at FL220.  The last piece of my puzzle will be a good engine monitor, after I finish paying for the new engine and turbo rebuild.  Taxes in BC are only on the sale, not annual property taxes as they are in California.

[Immelman]

I fly a plane with glass for a living. Its a great job but flying my E with its steam gauges is more fun!

If your "mission" requires an upgrade sure, but if the E fits your mission, it sounds like its time to dial in the final touches and keep it. Retire earlier, if you aren't already.

[Niko182]

If you like using grass the bravo won't be as user friendly on that as the E. The bravo also won't have the takeoff distance that the E will. 1500ft grass strip might be a bit tough in a bravo.

[T. Peterson]

6 hours ago, Chris Strube said:

OK, thanks all for the reality check.  I knew all that, but lust is hard to let go of.  To answer a question, it is a turbo, and it works well.  It holds max allowable 27inches to FL180, and still gives me 24 inches at FL220.  The last piece of my puzzle will be a good engine monitor, after I finish paying for the new engine and turbo rebuild.  Taxes in BC are only on the sale, not annual property taxes as they are in California.

I think you have an amazing airplane! I would love to see it! Any chance you could post some pictures?

 I did not even know there was a mod to turbo charge an E. Do you also have the LoPresti cowl?