Wagon Queen Family Truckster

[ResumeNormalSpeed83]

Good morning everyone. I've been on here for almost a year, reading up on various topics weekly. I am looking to purchase my first airplane in the next 12-18 months. I've been casually researching a few different airframes, but have definitely been interested in Mooneys. My primary mission will be excursions with my family to/from Arkansas from central Texas. My main concern is trying to fit everyone. The group comprises of myself, wife, 2 year old daughter, and the kicker, an 85 lb Golden Retriever. Is a J model a good option for this? I've specifically considered years 82+ so that I can fold down the back seat to accommodate the dog.

I figured I'd reach out to the brain-trust here and see what your opinions were of this setup. Has anyone crammed a similar group into these aircraft before that can comment?

Thanks in advance for any and all comments and suggestions!

[RoundTwo]

6 minutes ago, ResumeNormalSpeed83 said:

Good morning everyone. I've been on here for almost a year, reading up on various topics weekly. I am looking to purchase my first airplane in the next 12-18 months. I've been casually researching a few different airframes, but have definitely been interested in Mooneys. My primary mission will be excursions with my family to/from Arkansas from central Texas. My main concern is trying to fit everyone. The group comprises of myself, wife, 2 year old daughter, and the kicker, an 85 lb Golden Retriever. Is a J model a good option for this? I've specifically considered years 82+ so that I can fold down the back seat to accommodate the dog.

I figured I'd reach out to the brain-trust here and see what your opinions were of this setup. Has anyone crammed a similar group into these aircraft before that can comment?

Thanks in advance for any and all comments and suggestions!

Turbo regularly flies in our J. We started out just giving him the rear seat and he seemed ok. We now fold down the rear seats so he has more room. Unfortunately, he no longer curls up to sleep and flies the entire trip in “sphinx mode”, head up an alert (not relaxed). I don’t know if that has anything to do with his arrangement or not. I’m going to do some more testing to find out.

[Echo]

Beautiful dog Chuck.  A later model J where you can remove one of the rear seats to create an area for dog to lie down seems possible.  I have had dogs on a bed above baggage in baggage area too (Short body Mooney), but I didn't also have a small child back there as well.  My dogs are both 50lbs.

[Shadrach]

2 hours ago, Echo said:

Beautiful dog Chuck.  A later model J where you can remove one of the rear seats to create an area for dog to lie down seems possible.  I have had dogs on a bed above baggage in baggage area too (Short body Mooney), but I didn't also have a small child back there as well.  My dogs are both 50lbs.

Does your E have split seat backs? I thought they started in 1965 and then went away around 1970 before being reintroduced in the 201.

[kortopates]

I have the perfect folding seats that allow folding one down at a time if I wanted too but never considered that. I've had two different labs, 75-80 lbs, that I was always more worried about shifting the CG back further in flight that I've always secured my dogs harness to the seat belt to ensure the dog stayed on the back seat. These days I fly with a Terrier that is small enough I don't think I would be any issue but just the same I am more comfortable if I don't have a distraction from the dog moving in the back seat. 

Personally I think its more comfortable for the dogs on the rear seat cushion than it would be on the carpet on top of the folded seat or further back. I'd think less vibration. Regardless I'd am more comfortable up front if I don't have a bigger dog moving around affecting trim in flight. I'd have to start blaming my furry family member for deviating from my assigned altitude by 20'  But that might be just me.

@RoundTwo replace the missing plastic cover on the baggage door. Some day if you travel with lots of gear back there piled up with the mechanism exposed it could allow the door to open in flight. That's one of the theories of what happened to the Mooney that had the baggage door open in cruise that tore off and got stuck in on the elevator. The part is only about $10 from plane plastics and will keep it protected from any interference with cargo back there. 

[RoundTwo]

5 hours ago, kortopates said:

I have the perfect folding seats that allow folding one down at a time if I wanted too but never considered that. I've had two different labs, 75-80 lbs, that I was always more worried about shifting the CG back further in flight that I've always secured my dogs harness to the seat belt to ensure the dog stayed on the back seat. These days I fly with a Terrier that is small enough I don't think I would be any issue but just the same I am more comfortable if I don't have a distraction from the dog moving in the back seat. 

Personally I think its more comfortable for the dogs on the rear seat cushion than it would be on the carpet on top of the folded seat or further back. I'd think less vibration. Regardless I'd am more comfortable up front if I don't have a bigger dog moving around affecting trim in flight. I'd have to start blaming my furry family member for deviating from my assigned altitude by 20'  But that might be just me.

@RoundTwo replace the missing plastic cover on the baggage door. Some day if you travel with lots of gear back there piled up with the mechanism exposed it could allow the door to open in flight. That's one of the theories of what happened to the Mooney that had the baggage door open in cruise that tore off and got stuck in on the elevator. The part is only about $10 from plane plastics and will keep it protected from any interference with cargo back there. 

I do notice that with Turbo in the back seats, my GFC pitch oscillations are a bit worse.

[Echo]

8 hours ago, Shadrach said:

Does your E have split seat backs? I thought they started in 1965 and then went away around 1970 before being reintroduced in the 201.

No t doesn't.  I would build up bags and old dog would lie on top in baggage.  Young dog in collapseable mesh "crate" on back seat.

[LANCECASPER]

23 hours ago, RoundTwo said:

I do notice that with Turbo in the back seats, my GFC pitch oscillations are a bit worse.

If it was Yaw oscillations it might just be his tail wagging.

[ResumeNormalSpeed83]

Thanks everyone for your input!