Lost in the Foliage

[carusoam]

Positive thinking....

I have personally witnessed an M20G sit in the weeds for 10+ years.  The aircraft was bought at auction for pennies.  Many hours of cleaning bugs and plants out, replacing rubber parts, and updating radios, then it flew.  It got an angine rebuild and left the field permanently...

-a-

[Parker_Woodruff]

Quote: KSMooniac

I'd be shocked if any of the M22's were still flying.  

 

I think Don Maxwell knows of one with a Beech Duke engine in it...

[1964-M20E]

Quote: jetdriven

The above was me: posting system error.  Sorry Jetdriven.

-dan

[jkb458]

Quote: BlueSkyTraveler

The plane is sitting at Donegal Springs, PA  identifier N71

Appears to be registered to a St. Louis individual?!?!?

N900TL is the tail number.

 

If anyone has any info please share.........

[scottfromiowa]

Quote: jkb458

I found the following when Googling "N900TL".  I imagine Tony had a lot of great flying stories!!!

 

http://static.pressrepublican.com/obit_archives/obits/2004/12072004ob.htm

 

Published: 12/7/04

Anthony E. Linck

PLATTSBURGH ? Anthony E. (Tony) Linck, 85, of 8 Bushey Boulevard, Plattsburgh, died Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004, at the CVPH Medical Center following a long battle with Parkinson's disease.

He was born in Constableville, N.Y., on Jan. 28, 1919, the son of Anthony A. and Clara J. (Schwenk) Linck.

Tony married Agnes Marie Denicore on April 10, 1950, at St. Peter's Church in Plattsburgh. Marie died March 18, 2004.

Two great loves of his life were flying and photography. He took his first flying lesson in 1939 and subsequently owned several planes including a Swift, a Mooney and a Mooney Super 21 which bore the registration N900TL (for Tony Linck). He held a commercial pilot's license, an instrument rating, a multi-engine rating and a glider ticket. Tony was a Life Magazine staff photographer from 1945 through 1954 during which time his assignments included an assignment to the European Theater toward the end of World War II and a month in South America photographing the length of the Amazon River in color from it's source in the Andes. He left Life Magazine to become a freelance photographer specializing mainly in aircraft and industrial photography. He had more than 100 covers on flying magazines and covered many shuttle launches at Cape Canaveral for Time, Inc. His favorite shot was one showing the towers of Manhattan pushing up above the soft, gray billowing mist.

Survivors include one sister, Isabella Linck of Lowville; one brother and sister-in-law, Harold and Shirley Linck of Boonville, N.Y., and their daughter, Valerie; a sister-in-law, Elizabeth Denicore Kelly of Plattsburgh; and two special friends, James Holahan of Saddle River, N.J., and Rob Mathewson of Leonia, N.J.

He was predeceased by his wife, Marie; his parents; and a sister, Elizabeth Hoag.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday from 9 to 10 a.m. at the R.W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at St. John's Church in Plattsburgh. Burial will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the charity of ones choice.

 

[aviatoreb]

Quote: jkb458

I found the following when Googling "N900TL".  I imagine Tony had a lot of great flying stories!!!

 

http://static.pressrepublican.com/obit_archives/obits/2004/12072004ob.htm

 

Published: 12/7/04

Anthony E. Linck

 

PLATTSBURGH ? Anthony E. (Tony) Linck, 85, of 8 Bushey Boulevard, Plattsburgh, died Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004, at the CVPH Medical Center following a long battle with Parkinson's disease.

 

[rbridges]

I guess his plane got forgotten?  It's a shame no one was able to take care of it.

[jwilkins]

"I'd be shocked if any of the M22's were still flying. ".... 

The last report I read said there were three M22 Mustangs still flying. At least one was in Europe. There is one on the registry here in AZ but I don't know if it is one of the airworthy ones or not.

I'd love to get a ride in one, or even a chance to sit in one, while some are still flying....

Jim

[1964-M20E]

Current Registration issued in 1991 and is expired.  Mr. Lick would have been around 72 in 1991.  It would appear he sold it at sometime well before his passing.

[KSMooniac]

It would be interesting to find out why 900TL has been sitting since Tony passed away!  Good find on the obit.

The Pietch's have one M22 flying, I think, in North Dakota.

[MooneyMitch]

This a great rescue story. I wish I were closer.  Someone go get it please!

 

[Seth]

I sighted an M22 in Tampa, FL - Albert Whitted (KSPG) .  I saw it on the ramp while taxing past March 2011.  It looked like it was in fine shape.  I did a double take.  I was in town for the NCAA March Madness opening weekend.  Bonanza looking front, Mooney Tail.

-Seth

[DaV8or]

Quote: N9453V

 

M-20F Executive 21 (1966-1977: 1241) 71% (881 registered)

- 1966: 3 M-20F (200hp Lycoming IO-360-A1A) s/n 660001-660003

- 1967: 536 M-20F s/n 670001-670539

[DaV8or]

Sadly, with the rising cost of operation and ownership, more FAA regulation and the plumeting value of our planes, there will be lots more joining the ranks in the weeds. It's easy to understand how they get there. There's an M20C parked on a tie down right next to my new hangar that is clearly almost there. They must still be paying the tie down fee, but this Ranger ranges no more. Somebody cares a little because they come by every now and then and put the home made gust locks back on (they fall off in the wind I guess?), they retape the covers on the inside of the cockpit windows when they fall down and they keep the tires up.

If you have a M20C with crappy radios, bad paint, old interior and tied down outside, you could be just one cracked case or corroded wing spar away from joining the weed squadron. Particularly if owe money on the plane.

I have occasionally thought of a national specialty wrecking yard just for Mooneys to salvage the parts for the planes still flying. The problem is transportation of planes like the one in this thread to the central wrecking yard, probably in Arizona, New Mexico or Nevada. Then there is the problem of legal title. I have heard that because they are fedrally registered, it's more difficult to place a lein on them or get a salvage title. It's a romantic idea, but probably a bad business proposition.

[MooneyMitch]

Quote: DaV8or

Just picking a nit here with Larry Ball's book. My plane is living proof that they actually made 4 Fs in 1966. According to his numbers, my plane never existed. There are no doubt errors in other areas as well, but as a whole, I'm sure these numbers pretty close to the truth.

[DaV8or]

Quote: Mitch

Just picking a nit here with Larry Ball's book. My plane is living proof that they actually made 4 Fs in 1966. According to his numbers, my plane never existed. There are no doubt errors in other areas as well, but as a whole, I'm sure these numbers pretty close to the truth.

[DaV8or]

Quote: JimR

[900TL]

Hello everyone,

As you might guess, I just bought the subject plane, N900TL. The airplane has a certain centimental value to me, and it has some great history to it. The airplane will not be parted out, it will be restored. I have posted some pictures of it, finally in a hangar, sort of, where it will be able to dry out.

Wow, it is a mess, I cant name all of the creatures I've found in it so far, in fact, might have found a few new species...

My grandfather started working on the airplane back in 1969, when Tony had taken it to Weber aircraft for an engine overhaul, at only 1000 hours. He continued to have my grandfather work on the airplane, even after he left Weber and started his own company. In 1978, or so, the engine was again overhauled by him, again, with only 1000 hours SMOH. My father then started working on the airplane up until 1999, when it was last flown. According to them, only five people have flown the airplane, the test pilot, Tony, the second owner, my grandfather and father. It has no damage history, except a scuff on the left side of the tail, I think it is the cause of a mis-guided lawn mower while sitting in the weeds.

The airplane used to be N6860U, it was used in all the promotional flyers and brochures for Mooney to advertise the M20E. In fact, the airplane is actually a 1963, the only one from what I am told. Mooney did not offer the M20E until 1964, even if they were built in 1963, they were considered a 64, except this one. This is serial number 102, I was told that there was never a 100 or 101, this was the prototype. I have looked on the FAA registry, and found nothing, except an M20D, also 1963, with the serial number 101. If anyone knows otherwise, please let me know.

From what I am told, this aircraft also has the first Lycoming 200hp fuel injected engine in it. Serial number is 320, thought it should have been 360... I have all the original logs, brochures, operators manuals, maintenance manuals, etc that came with the plane in 1963. However, I am not sure what will be done with the engine yet, its been sitting for over ten years, maybe it has some value to Lycoming??? The airplane has only been painted once, by the factory in 1968, and it shows. But, with all the bad, there is some good. There is very little corrosion on the airplane, none in fact on the outside, just a little spot in the baggage door jam, of corse, I havent opened everything up yet.

I will be adding pictures as the restoration continues, any words of wisdom are appreciated

Joel

[kris_adams]

Joel, I look forward to watching the progress as bring this baby back to the sky.  Keep the pictures coming!

Kris

[Mac201]

Wow, good luck with your new project.

[jetdriven]

Joel, good luck with your project.  You might get away with topping the engine, but a detailed internal inspection will tell you.   Check that wing spar and the fuselage tubing for corrosion before spending too much on her.  Every thing else can be fixed.

[GeorgePerry]

Great project and I applaud you for taking it on......but I can only imagine what this is gunna cost!

My humble idea/recommendation...Elicit interest from the entire Mooney community by building a website that, through pictures, video and text, documents your progress.  Ask AA or LASAR or Wilmar if they'd "sponsor" your effort and give you a break on parts etc.  Use social media to tout the businesses that help with the restoration.  The Pictures, videos and blog will allow all of us, restoration wanna-bee's, to live vicariously through your efforts.

Additionally, put a link on the site that shows your needed "parts list".  Everyone has old Mooney parts laying around their hangers and you never know...folks might be willing to donate to your cause.  Also a link that says "donate now".  Given the factory isn't makin'em anymore, I'm sure every Mooniac would love to see one re-join the fleet and wouldn't mind pitching in a few bucks for the cause.

 

[TonyPynes]

I was at Mt Hawley airport in Peoria last week. a black short body was sitting tied down on the Tarmac. The FBO says the guy has had it there since the 90s and hopes to fix it one day. They had done a prepurchase on it years ago but the cost to fit it wasnt worth it. They said it pretty much is a birds nest now and the owner won't sell it.  I dont know the tail number.

[BlueSkyTraveler]

Joel,

 

Goodonya for taking on this project! Did you move it to one of the T hangars on the airport? When we are in the east my wife and i jump with the folks at MSPC there on the field. We hope to get to meet you some weekend if you are there. You might also get some help with anything you need from the folks who maintain the clubs 2 C182's. Ann Ross or Dave Dewolf or Ken Plankenhorn would help i am sure. Look forward to meeting you and seeing the progress, she looked so forlorn sitting out there in the weeds, it was heartbreaking.....

 

The Happy Wanderers,

Betty and Harry

 

[Ned Gravel]

Quote: BlueSkyTraveler

Joel,

Goodonya for taking on this project! ......     .....

The Happy Wanderers,

Betty and Harry