Ride along in Charleston SC area?

[Losbright1]

I am a fairly low-time pilot (+300TT) and just got my complex endorsement awhile back. I would really like to get in a Mooney to see how it 'feels'. I am a larger guy, 6'-0" tall and about 210# and I have heard people say it is not a comfortable plane, but I have seen many larger people that own them. I would like to get a ride in one if anyone is willing. I am located in the Charleston SC area and currently fly out of KMKS in Berkeley County. I am quite close to CHS, JZI, LRO, DYB, RBW also. All within 45 minute drive. If anyone out there is just flying around and does not mind some extra weight, I would love to tag along and hear about your plane. I am usually free Friday afternoon and weekends, but I can make most times work with notice. Let me know if you are interested..I don't mind listening to you talk about your plane for hours. I know most cannot resist that.

[Ricky_231]

I am a fairly low-time pilot (+300TT) and just got my complex endorsement awhile back. I would really like to get in a Mooney to see how it 'feels'. I am a larger guy, 6'-0" tall and about 210# and I have heard people say it is not a comfortable plane, but I have seen many larger people that own them. I would like to get a ride in one if anyone is willing. I am located in the Charleston SC area and currently fly out of KMKS in Berkeley County. I am quite close to CHS, JZI, LRO, DYB, RBW also. All within 45 minute drive. If anyone out there is just flying around and does not mind some extra weight, I would love to tag along and hear about your plane. I am usually free Friday afternoon and weekends, but I can make most times work with notice. Let me know if you are interested..I don't mind listening to you talk about your plane for hours. I know most cannot resist that.

I’m currently on a trip abroad but I’d be happy to take you up in the eagle when I’m back in about 2 weeks. I’m out of LRO.


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[Losbright1]

53 minutes ago, Ricky_231 said:

I’m currently on a trip abroad but I’d be happy to take you up in the eagle when I’m back in about 2 weeks. I’m out of LRO.
 

That would be great. Thanks.

[Losbright1]

Was finally able to hook up with member Ricky_231 and get a tag along in his M20S Eagle last week. What a great plane and a good day for flying. He showed me around the plane and answered any questions I had. We went for a flight and the "S" did in fact climb like an eagle. I am used to little Cessnas, so the climb at 1800+ fpm  that never seemed to drop was amazing. We cruised out over the coast for a bit and talked about planes. What could be better than that?

Thanks so much for your time Ricardo. It was an enjoyable flight.

[Hank]

3 minutes ago, Losbright1 said:

Was finally able to hook up with member Ricky_231 and get a tag along in his M20S Eagle last week. ... Thanks so much for your time Ricardo. It was an enjoyable flight.

So, how well did you fit? The front seats of all Mooneys are the same, except the panel of so.e long bodies is extra tall, and vintage Mooney seats have no vertical adjustment. 

[Losbright1]

The seating position was not at all what I was expecting. I have heard "it sits like a corvette"..etc. but, I did not find the position to be all that different from an Arrow..I didn't really mess with the seating position much so I am sure I could have gotten it more "locked in" to my liking. I think it had vertical articulation, but I didn't mess with it. Ricardo is probably an inch or so taller than I and he had room above his head, so I am sure it is workable. That is the part I should have adjusted, because it was a bit tight through head and shoulder area...again, that was my fault for not playing with the adjustment more. The panel is kinda tall, but I didn't find that to be a problem once you level out at cruise and it did not seem an issue during landing flare either. The sloped windscreen and tall panel does make for a smaller view than a Cessna for sure, but again I didn't see where that was really an issue. I have heard where they are "hard to slow down" and you need to be on speeds for a decent landing, etc. Did not notice that either, although I was not the one landing it so maybe he just made it look easy. Lol. The speed brakes do make it slow and descend quite well if you find yourself in need of that.

[midlifeflyer]

Seating position is variable. What you like may be different than what I like. And the view from 6' will be different than the view from 5'5". I fly a friend's ovation. He like being low; I like being high. I can't believe he like his position and he can't believe I like mine.

We could be talking about cars  

[Hank]

38 minutes ago, midlifeflyer said:

Seating position is variable. What you like may be different than what I like. And the view from 6' will be different than the view from 5'5". I fly a friend's ovation. He like being low; I like being high. I can't believe he like his position and he can't believe I like mine.

We could be talking about cars  

I keep the seat in my Altima all the way down; my wife raises it to see over the steering wheel. Just rented a Ford Escape, couldn't get the seat low enough that my knees were bent less than 90°, like I was sitting at the kitchen table--hated it! The seat in my truck goes lower than this! (Honda Ridgeline)

The seats in my C only adjust fore and aft, and have almost a whole inch of wasted vertical space under them--just perfect! Plenty of room to wear any hat I like and still not hit the ceiling in turbulence. 

[Ricky_231]

6 hours ago, Losbright1 said:

Was finally able to hook up with member Ricky_231 and get a tag along in his M20S Eagle last week. What a great plane and a good day for flying. He showed me around the plane and answered any questions I had. We went for a flight and the "S" did in fact climb like an eagle. I am used to little Cessnas, so the climb at 1800+ fpm  that never seemed to drop was amazing. We cruised out over the coast for a bit and talked about planes. What could be better than that?

Thanks so much for your time Ricardo. It was an enjoyable flight.

Anytime. It was really a great day to fly. I hope you find yourself in your own mooney soon! These planes are incredible machines