Cockpit Organization - no room!

[M20E-1964]

I took delivery of my new Mooney M20E today!!!

The first thing I noticed is I dont know what to put anything. I have manual grear so the room between the seats is full, and there's no "pouch" on the co-pilots side.

I'm used to 172's where you have a storage pouch on each side and a large center console.

So where do you guys store charts, plates, pens, flashlights, etc? I have the one pilot side pouch that holds a checklist, and maybe a few pens.... that's it.

Any aftermarket storage ideas? Thoughts?

I suppose I could use the seat back pockets but would prefer something a bit easier. What about "mounting" a flashlight, etc? Any tips?

 

Thanks!

[Ned Gravel]

When I fly alone, it goes onto the passenger seat.  Lot fewer items now that I have an iPad which acts as my charts, plates and E6B. 

When my wife flys with me, it goes on the seat behind her.  I have a Brightline bag, but that gets pushed into the far back seat corner so I can place the CFS and other things between it and I.  The E model front seats are close enough to the back seats this is not an issue for me.

 

[David Mazer]

Pretty much the same idea for me in a K.  The trick is the electronic charts on a yoke mount so there isn't a lot to search for.  I also have a knee board for notes and a pilot side pocket for anything else essential.

[Lood]

Same here, except for the Ipad. I have side pockets both sides, use a knee board and do exactly the same with the Brightline.

[aerobat95]

Well congrats on your new airplane.  You need to upload some pics of your new bird.  For me when I wasnt using the Ipad I had my chart and approach plate on the glareshield....I don't use a kneeboard.  Sometimes if the other front seat is not occupied I'll throw the stuff there.  How much stuff are you flying with??  Maybe get something that you can put behind one of the seats....IDK.  Also down by my feet I have a couple of pockets and that is where I usually put my flashlight and checklist. 

[DaV8or]

I know it's sounding like a broken record, but I have an iPad on a kneeboard and Foreflight. Pretty much solves the problem. I carry a small flight bag and it has back up paper sectionals, airport guide, flashlight and fresh AA batteries. It sits on the co-pilot seat when I'm by myself and on the right rear seat if I have a passenger. In the last year or so, the flashlight and batteries are the only things I've reached for.

[aviatoreb]

Quote: gmcd

I took delivery of my new Mooney M20E today!!!

The first thing I noticed is I dont know what to put anything. I have manual grear so the room between the seats is full, and there's no "pouch" on the co-pilots side.

I'm used to 172's where you have a storage pouch on each side and a large center console.

So where do you guys store charts, plates, pens, flashlights, etc? I have the one pilot side pouch that holds a checklist, and maybe a few pens.... that's it.

Any aftermarket storage ideas? Thoughts?

I suppose I could use the seat back pockets but would prefer something a bit easier. What about "mounting" a flashlight, etc? Any tips?

 

Thanks!

[Steve65E-NC]

I used  corrugated political signs to tape (metal HVAC tape) up a multi-compartment box for charts and Plate Books, standing vertical, that goes in front of the pilot seat.  It stores about five plate books and probably twelve charts.  It has a recess for the seat angle control.    Makes it a little harder to reach the fuel choice knob.  I plan to make up one of the little "reachers" out of a short length of pvc pipes to store in the chart box.  The box  goes in front of the seat below my knees.  Sorry, I do not have a good photo.  If anyone is interested I will make several on next visit to field and post.

Steve 65E NC

[M20F]

Quote: Steve65E-NC

If anyone is interested I will make several on next visit to field and post.

Steve 65E NC

[jelswick]

I've moved to the iPad solution with iPhone backup for charts (dread ever trying to read the detail on an iPhone on approach plates, but will if needed and have tested it works).  Prior to having that though for charts, Sporty's (www.sportys.com) had a nice cheap plastic folding chart wallet that would hold 10 or so charts and I'd pre-plan my route on them paper-clipping it folded at places so that when I opened it up, the clips had the part I'd need first ready to just unfold and view, then remove clips as needed to unfold further during the trip.  If flying alone, the flight bag with everything else went in the co-pilot seat or floor in front of it.  If with family, it went in the backseat.  I keep flashlights, fire extinguisher, etc. in the pockets sewn in the back of the co-pilot's seat for easy access.

[jetdriven]

I fabricated and installed map pockets from leather for our J. The one on the left is ridiculously small but holds an iPhone, pens, notepad, checklist, and fuel selector stick.  The on one the right is iPad size and holds a good amount of stuff. Photos on request.

[eaglebkh]

My plane has a large enough side pouch on the pilot's side to hold the important VFR stuff: checklist, flashlight, handheld, sectionals, A/FD.  IFR stuff gets clipped to a standard clipboard and sits in my lap: approaches, en route charts, flight plan, pen.  On short final, I'll move the clipboard to the co-pilot seat (or hand it to the occupant) because some yoke and rudder movement is sacrificed when using a clipboard.

[AmigOne]

Year's ago I had a partner in a 201 who had a so-called Mooney bag about 11x16x4 which sat on the floor between the front of the seat and the back of the legs.  Actually very effective even in the days when we used to carry all that paper stuff.  Myself, although I also have the gear handle, I have built a kind of centerconsole which I move in place after raising the gear and when I reach cruising altitude.  The console has a compartment where I keep  some back up charts since I also use the IPad for everything.  I use this console only on long trips since allows me to rest my right arm very comfortably.  An added benefit is the fact that the console gives some support to the right leg which otherwise tends to slide of the seat and force the lower part of the leg on the wheel well plastic cover.  In the 201 this cover is square and I remember that it was really uncomfortable on long trips, in fact I used to place a small cushion between my leg and the plastic cover.     Picture below of the console.

[M20E-1964]

Wow, AmigOne, that's a really clean panel you have...

 

I wound up purchasing the RAM mount with the suction cup. First I took the suction cup off and used an existing screw on the right side pillar... seemed a but flimsy so I put the suction cup back on... it's mounted vertically so I can see the geo-referenced approach plates better.

Tomorrow is wash and wax day... I'll be taking plenty of pictures and uploading them soon.

[1964-M20E]

I agree there is little room.  I keep the items I need imedeatly on my lap board. Other items are in the back seat.  I rarely have more than one passenger and have never had 4 in the plane yet.  Also when I have someone with me they become my assistant.  I have the Ifly 720 with all the charts and plates and it is on the copilot yolk.

[aviatoreb]

Where can I get a pouch for my pilot side?  Or designs for a pouch?

[jetdriven]

Erik:  PM me.  I will share what I have. 

[David Mazer]

Quote: aviatoreb

Where can I get a pouch for my pilot side?  Or designs for a pouch?

[Mooneymite]

Quote: gmce.

........So where do you guys store charts, plates, pens, flashlights, etc? I have the one pilot side pouch that holds a checklist, and maybe a few pens.... that's it.

Any aftermarket storage ideas? Thoughts?

I suppose I could use the seat back pockets but would prefer something a bit easier. What about "mounting" a flashlight, etc? Any tips?

 

Thanks!

[Hank]

Quote: gmcd

I took delivery of my new Mooney M20E today!!!

So where do you guys store charts, plates, pens, flashlights, etc? I have the one pilot side pouch that holds a checklist, and maybe a few pens.... that's it.

I suppose I could use the seat back pockets but would prefer something a bit easier. What about "mounting" a flashlight, etc? Any tips?

Thanks!