mooneydrmr Posted February 22, 2012 Report Posted February 22, 2012 By chance I ran across a 1963 or 1960 Mooney; the owner is an older guy and he told me both years, so I'm not sure. The owner is an A&P and the plane appears to be in decent shape even though it has high hours, but the plane had the wing run into by a car years back and has since been repaired, (his wife backed into it in the hanger). I'm interested in you guys opinion on wood winged Mooneys. The wing had to repaired at point of impact, (near the tip) as well as at the fuselage. He wants $23.5 if anybody is interested I have his #. I am not affiliated. Thanks again for your input.
pjsny78 Posted February 22, 2012 Report Posted February 22, 2012 If you go to the FAA’s website you can enter in the N# and find out what year the plane is. Having the wing hit by a car may be a major deal. I’m not an A&P but if the spar was damaged I think I would pass. But again I am not an A&P and really not qualified to give advice on that but there is a lot of people on here that could tell you better than I can. Just be prepared that whatever plane you buy and no matter how good you think it may be, have a budget to fix squawks after you take delivery of it.
bnicolette Posted February 22, 2012 Report Posted February 22, 2012 Quote: pjsny78 no matter how good you think it may be, have a budget to fix squawks after you take delivery of it.
triple8s Posted February 22, 2012 Report Posted February 22, 2012 I would do lots of research on that one and to tell you the truth I would look as it as a parts plane, I have a homebuilt I have been working on for several years in my garage right now and it is wood. It is forsale because I found my Mooney. Would I trust my work? Yes I know everything about the wood, the grain count, the direction, where the wood came from the type of glue, the conditons when it was glued, the brand of the glue, AND I had help with my spars from people with experience. I believe wood is a fine material to build an airplane with, it's one of the best, look at the Mosquito built in the U.K. during WWII, however, those aircraft were built in factories that made musical instruments, because of their experience in working with wood. Do you trust the fellow who repaired the wing on the wooden wing Mooney to be a skilled wood craftsman? A licensed IA or AP with FAA credentials wont be worth a dinkers damn when you are ashes in a smoking hole. IF and its a big IF I had my heart set on a wood wing Mooney, it would not be because of price because there are metal birds out there that are as cheap as any, but IF I had to have a wood wing bird I would talk to the Mooney gurus and also talk with the Bellanca folks and some on their web groups. If that wooden wing was not repaired properly irregardless of how the AC 43.13-1B says it's to be done, if it fails, you will be flying in the clouds for quite some time with St Peter!
Ron McBride Posted February 22, 2012 Report Posted February 22, 2012 If it is a wood wing, it won't be a 63. Find a very experienced wood wing mechanic to do a prebuy on it. If you have not joined MAPA, do so. Ask on the MAPA list for experienced wood wing mechanics. I belive that there is a chat group for the wood wings. I am not a member of that group. Is this wood wing based at Fresno Chandler FCH? I am based at Mariposa, MPI. Welcome to Monney's. If I can help in any way, let me know. N9154V@aol.com or 559 577-2398 Ron
mooneydrmr Posted February 22, 2012 Author Report Posted February 22, 2012 Thanks everybody more very good info, my brother in law/partner was of the same opinion; be very wary and probably pass on it. Too bad too as the owner is just about the nicest guy I have ever had the pleasure of speaking with; great guy. And yes Ron it is at Chandler, and nice to meet you. Maybe I'll see you at Chandler sometime, I love the food at the diner there.
Ron McBride Posted February 22, 2012 Report Posted February 22, 2012 mooneydrmr I am in Fresno a lot. Give me a call, let's get together. 559 577-2398 Ron
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