Buying my first Mooney.....maybe

[Mooney13]

I am considering buying a Mooney (M20F)

I have been told that they are hard planes to fly and that something like a Bonanza would be better or “easier”. I currently fly a Cherokee 140…a big step up I realize, but you have to do it sometime.. I would be curious to hear from anyone that might have done the same kind of upgrade and the opinions as to how much more difficult the Mooney will be…or just in general the characteristics…

 

Also, one of the Mooney’s I am looking at has not flown much at all in 2008 as the owner list his medical…is this of major concern? I know planes do not like to sit…

Thanks for any advice…

Joe

[Magnum]

I had 50hrs in Cessna 150 to get the license and 100hrs after that in a Warrior when I bought a M20J. It took me 4 hrs for the checkout. I have to admit that I needed another 10hrs to get the "Did I forget something?" out of my head. With a good instructor it shouln't be a big deal.

How many hours did it fly in the last year? Always hangared? Here in Germany a lot of aircraft don't get over 50hrs per year. The biggest problem AFAIK is corrosion inside the engine (cylinders). My 205 flew about 35hrs/year before I got it but as it was always in a dry hangar I had no problems. A good pre buy should make sure that everything is fine.

[Mooney13]

Thanks for the fast response...I wish I knew of someone closer with one (Seattle). i have not been in one for 10 years+, but remember after being in the last one, I was sold that i would someday own one...

I have to admit, it does seem like most (if not all)  negative talk is by non owners...

One of the Mooneys I am looking at has flown maybe 20 hours in 08...the man that owns it was in a battle with FAA and has grown tired of the fight (unfotunate). it has not been hangared though...which is another topic. My porblem is i will not ebable to hangar it either...they are near impossible around here....but i I can assure you it would not sit for months without flying....

[GeorgePerry]

http://www.mooneyspace.com/index.cfm?mainaction=posts&forumid=2&threadid=9

Good thread on buying an older mooney.  If you can fly a piper, you can fly a mooney.  principles are the same.  pull back houses get smaller, push forward houses get bigger.  Not hard to land, not hard to fly.  Just get alittle training and you'll feel right at home.

[N9660M]

Joe, they are not hard airplanes to fly.  JimR is right on the money...because they are aerodynamically clean, Mooneys require more attention to descent planning than your Cherokee in order to avoid finding yourself high and fast when arriving at your destination.  But the same could be said, although maybe to a lesser extent, of any complex single and certainly any twin.

They're easy to land as long as you fly "by the numbers"...which you're probably doing already.  Most landing issues are caused by the pilot flying final approach too fast.  It's not necessary to add 10KTS becuase it's Sunday and another 5KTS because the kids are in the back seat "just to be safe".  Fly it by the book and it lands just as easy as your Cherokee. 

I bought an M20F in June, with no prior time in Mooneys.  Have about 60 hours in it now, and am absolutely confident that I made the right decision.      

[Mooney13]

Thanks again for the additional info. Being 6"1" would I have any room issues and woud there still be room for someone to sit behind me? I walked around a local airport to look at some Mooneys but only found C's and a Bravo (all good looking planes!) but was hoping the F will get me enough room for 2 more in the back....unlike my Cherokee (unless you are a contortionist)

[mooniac227]

Just transitioned from a Cessna 182 to a Mooney Acclaim in June.  Everyone here is right on with what they are saying.  Mooney's are EASY to fly - very stable and predictable.  Plan your descent and land with the correct airspeed and you will have NO ISSUES.  The "hard to fly" rap has come from folks that either don't know Mooneys or have tried to land them too fast.  Mooneys are built to FLY and until you slow down, they will continue to fly - you can't "force" them on the runway.  Fly her right down to the runway at the proper approach speed, level off, pull the power, and she'll practically land herself.

[KSMooniac]

I concur with Jim's assessment on cockpit space.  I'm 6'1" also and fit perfectly in front.  The F and later models have an extra 8 or 10" of backseat leg room (can't remember exactly right now!) and will be comfortable for any reasonably sized adults.  The short bodies (A, B, C/D and E) are best suited to kids or one person sitting cattywompus.  I've flown my J 4-up quite a few times with no complaints from the backseaters.

[Mooney13]

Thank you all for the input and advice..I finally bought a M20J "78"..

Just waiting for the weather to straighten up so I can bring it the rest of the way home..

Happy Holidays!

[TurboExec]

Congrats on the purchase, I wish you many happy and safe hours flying!

[mph5790]

I have only owned my Mooney for a couple of months.  I can tell you that you will have more fun and get more compliments that you could believe.  I have had a Cherokee 180 and a 2000 Cessna 206.  The landing were different but not difficult after getting some adivce from Trey at MAPA.  My normal landings are better with the Mooney with very little time compared to my previous planes with many more landings.  I can't comment on heavy crosswind landings as I haven't had any yet.

[mooniac58]

Congratulations on purchasing your Mooney!  I am confident that you will not regret your choice in aircraft!

[KSMooniac]

Congrats!

[The-sky-captain]

You'll have no problem adjusting to the Mooney. All of the horror stories you read about landing by the high wing, slow flying and gas guzzling crowds are false. I moved up from a Cherokee and have had mine for around three months and put sixty hours on her. I landed in a 13 knot crosswind the other day for the first tim and she handeled it like a charm. Good luck and fly safe!

[Mooney13]

Thanks Again!

I am going crazy waiting for a break in the weather so I can go get it and bring it home!

The 4.5 hours straight I did fly it were great and as everyone has mentioned, it is plenty comfortable for a 6'1" person and you have to love the 150+ kts..

 

[TurboExec]

You love the 150kts now...but soon you'll be addicted and trying to figure out how to get a Bravo so you can go 200kts.

[dlthig]

Mooney13, how much do you weigh?  I'm 6' and 210lbs.  I keep getting told that I'm OK in a Mooney, but I'm leaning toward a Comanche.  One day I'll make a decision.  Currently, I fit OK in my normal, government loaned airplane.

[GeorgePerry]

I'm 6'1" and 185...I fit great in my M20F

[Mooney13]

6'1'  / 215lbs..was plenty comfortable....I guess the only thing better than the Mooney would be a free loaner

[dlthig]

George, you're just a skinny zipper-suited sun God.  I guess the AF physical fitness standards aren't up to the Navy's.

 

[Mooney13]

OK, so 15 hours later flying my (new to me) Mooney M20J and here is my opinion;

* Glad I made the move to a Mooney
* Plenty of room
* Nice speed..150-160kts (9.5-11/GPH) .....Still working on the perfect configuration
* Very easy to fly (both take off and landing) ....you do need to watch your airspeed and keep it tight, but it is pretty easy
It feels real stable on final..more so thant he Cherokee and yet when I level off and trim it out, it gets moving real good..NO REGRETS...Thanks for all the previous advice...now I am off to work on hour 16!

[TurboExec]

Great to hear you are enjoying your new Mooney, I'm positive that list of 4 * will get to be much longer as you build time in it.  Its nice to get near 20mpg (sm) out of the plane.

[Mooneyland]

Being in the Mooney resale biz I get to fly with a lot of different pilots and everyone has their crosswind technique they believe in. We just addressed this issue with a new article at Mooneyland:

http://www.mooneyland.com/crosswind_landings.htm 

In reading this article, some may disagree and some may learn but I invite you to check it out and have a followup discussion if need be.

Fly safe,

Richard Zephro; Mooneyland

[alun]

i was doing my IR rating last week.  we had 350ft cloud base.  25kt gusting 36kt 90 degree crosswinds and 60kts at 2000ft so rather bumpy and the mooney did well!

[harm38lw]

I am looking to purchase a M20J-201.  If anyone has comments please let me know at ozark2000@msn.com.

 

Thanks,

 

lwh