Free A model in WI

[Browncbr1]

Saw this on BT

 

https://www.beechtalk.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=226372

[Sabremech]

Link didn’t work for me. Any details that can be shared directly here?

Thanks

[LANCECASPER]

1 hour ago, Sabremech said:

Link didn’t work for me. Any details that can be shared directly here?

Thanks

Beechtalk’s site was down a moment ago, but Randy Africano mentioned the Mooney and to contact him, best by e-mail. Here’s his contact:

https://www.aircraftassociates.com/contact-us/

[Nokomis449]

Link is working now, but no real info about the plane's condition.

 

[A64Pilot]

One had to assume any free anything is at best a labor of love.

[Sabremech]

Wasn’t planning on becoming a Mooney owner again, but today I finished the disassembly and pick up of a 1956 M20. Looks to be in pretty good shape so intentions are to bring it back to flying condition. Don H is going to post a couple of pictures as I don’t have any more space to post them. 

[hammdo]

Pics…

Nice looking M20 (not an M20A)….

-Don

[47U]

18 minutes ago, Sabremech said:

today I finished the disassembly and pick up of a 1956 M20

Time to update your MoooneySpace profile!

I can’t wait to follow the progress… so… O-320?

[Sabremech]

12 minutes ago, 47U said:

Time to update your MoooneySpace profile!

I can’t wait to follow the progress… so… O-320?

Yes, O-320. 

[hammdo]

David: how long did it take you to disassemble?

-Don

[Sabremech]

15 minutes ago, hammdo said:

David: how long did it take you to disassemble?

-Don

I’m going to say about 6 hours. First time I’ve done this job and didn’t have all the tools I should have. Thank goodness for tape to make a longer punch out of a punch and extension. I also didn’t have any help during the disassembly. Engine hoist and saw horses were most useful to get it in to three pieces. Brought the wing and fuselage section home today on a 36 foot long trailer. Not especially fun going through Chicago to UGN. Airplane was in Gary Indiana. Wisconsin might have been less stressful than going down 94/294. Got some strange looks! 

[M20F]

Looks to have a lot of useful load. 

[Sabremech]

Next thing I need to acquire is a Maint manual and IPC for a 56 M20. 
David

[hammdo]

David did some cleaning!

 

[kerry]

That wing looks very clean.  How do the front and rear spars look in the center section.  It's nice to be able to inspected with the rear fuselage off.  Do you have a prop?  I hear they are hard to come by for the 150hp.  Would be nice if you could fit a MT on it.   

[Hank]

1 hour ago, kerry said:

Do you have a prop?  I hear they are hard to come by for the 150hp.  Would be nice if you could fit a MT on it.   

Good luck getting and STC for one aircraft . . . There can't be many M20's left that can be made airworthy, as is being done with this one.

[kerry]

Years ago Bill Wheat told me Mooney had one with a O-540.  He said it was the best Mooney he every flew.  It might be easier to convert to a O-540 vs. finding the O-320 prop.  

[Sabremech]

5 hours ago, kerry said:

That wing looks very clean.  How do the front and rear spars look in the center section.  It's nice to be able to inspected with the rear fuselage off.  Do you have a prop?  I hear they are hard to come by for the 150hp.  Would be nice if you could fit a MT on it.   

Hi Kerry,

I do have the prop and it almost looks new. I removed it for transport as it stuck out past the trailer too far to haul it safely. I’m going to reinstall it and do an engine run in the next month or so after determining the wing condition. All signs so far are of a clean solid wing.

Thanks,

David

[47U]

2 hours ago, Sabremech said:

All signs so far are of a clean solid wing.

That’s positive.  Surely it has a metal empennage… ?

[Sabremech]

33 minutes ago, 47U said:

That’s positive.  Surely it has a metal empennage… ?

Yes it does. As soon as I get more photo storage, I’ll post some more pictures (donation sent to Craig) This is incredible to see such an early Mooney M20 after all the newer ones I’ve worked on. The history of the build is neat to see first hand.

David

[Sabremech]

Today I received the paperwork that officially gives me ownership! Time  to bring it back to life. 
 

[Fly Boomer]

1 hour ago, Sabremech said:

Today I received the paperwork that officially gives me ownership! Time  to bring it back to life. 

She's a beauty!  Does the hangar come with the airplane?

[Sabremech]

25 minutes ago, Fly Boomer said:

She's a beauty!  Does the hangar come with the airplane?

Hangar is in Gary Indiana. Airplane is now in Waukegan IL. 

[Sabremech]

Here’s a few photos of the process to move this old Mooney. 

[Coachella Bravo]

This is heart warming to see this story begin.  Please keep the photos of progress coming.