Buying Mooney, need Mooney hours. SoCal

[Parker_Woodruff]

Quote: jbs007

The plane is in Florida and I plan on stopping a lot of places to see people, so having a CFI come with me would be a little weird.

Immmelman, I'll PM you

Insurance aside, for my own comfort, I'd like to have some Mooney time prior to pick up.  I have a about 150 hrs complex but no Mooney.  I might also find a CFI out there to take a flight or two with before starting my journey.

Thanks everyone for the advice!

[TonyPynes]

When I bought my F last year every insurance company I talked to had slightly different reqs for dual and some had specific reqs for the CFI time in a Mooney. For me, none specified model. They just wanted a Mooney experienced CFI and for my time to be in a Mooney. I picked the insurance company with the lowest req hours and price so I could get it done quickly. The plane was in North East Texas. I was in NC.

I ended up needing 5 hours dual and so I arranged prior to going to have an instructor meet me there and fly for a couple of days. I only had a few days and had to be back at work. I was lucky and one was located on the field and had flown in the plane I bought. I also found 2 back up instructors nearby who would have flown to meet me there.  I then flew back cross country alone to finish my 5 hours solo required before I had passengers. Some insurance companies wanted 10 hours dual and 10 solo. Some didn't need it to be with a CFI, others did.

I had a blast. First Mooney I ever flew, went through PTS reqs just like an extended check ride and practiced maneuvers. At one point following the Red River to get a feel for control. This was in 100 degree Texas heat so we only flew an hour or two each time. I felt very comfortable in the plane afterward. Previously I had 15 hours complex in an Arrow.  What a different plane from the Arrow. When I took off for home several of the old timers at the field I had met came to send me on my way. Good experience.

The flight home was also fantastic and an adventure in itself. First time in MVFR-trust the instruments, first time to 11k, first time over the Smokies, first over 5 hour trip, first landing MY plane on home field and pulling it up to MY FBO and putting her away in MY hangar.

Sorry, I meant only to say to have an instructor there ready to get the hours done in your plane.  Got carried away.

 

[Newmooneyguy]

I have a 1966 m20e without all those mods and it's great. I'm sure the mods make it even greater. Enjoy.

[KSMooniac]

My insurance experience has varied over the years.... one company lumped all M20 time into one bucket, and another wanted M20J split from C, E, F, etc.  Make sure you and your agent/broker understand what you're getting up front.  Everything is negotiable, so if you don't like the terms then negotiate.

I also endorse getting an instructor to accompany you on the flight back as this will likely be a lot less expensive than renting a Mooney for dual instruction in your area, assuming you can even find one.  Second choice would be to have an instructor meet you at the airplane and do the transition before you launch on the return flight.  

[mooneygirl]

I think that Don Kaye would be my recommendation for the instruction.  http://donkaye.com/donkaye.com/Welcome.html  He is a Master CFI with more Mooney hours instructing than anyone I can think of.  If it were me, I would fly him out to your airplane and have him give you instruction all the way home. He is based in the Bay Area of California.

Insurance wise, our carrier AIG said an M20 is an M20,  so for me I didn't need any time in the long-body with the big engine, my E time was fine.  I did get training, which I very much appreciated.

There are several instructors in the LA/San Diego area.  But my vote would be for Don. This is what he does for a living.

[donkaye]

I'd recommend flying back with a CFI whether it is me or someone else and NOT stopping to visit.  When you're learning the airplane, learn the airplane.  There will be plenty of time to visit later.  A lot can be gleened from an experienced pilot that would never be had by flying back alone in an unfamiliar airplane, at least not at a reduced risk level afforded by traveling with an experienced pilot. I have done numerous cross crountry's in various models from the E to the Bravo and Acclaim, so if you want an exciting knowledge trip back give me a call.

Don Kaye

408-249-7626 Home 408-499-9910 Cell

[Ned Gravel]

My experience is Canadian, so it may not be all that applicable.

I had 160 hours when I bought my E model.  16 of them were in an Arrow (that never survived a ground loop while I was PIC) and 8 were in another E model from about 9 years previous.  The insurance company said 10 hours and I never winced.  The ground loop incident was something I had to get over and this requirement was way less than the 25 hours I expected.

The aircraft was still coming out of its post-purchase work where the pre-purchase airworthiness work paid by the seller and my extras had been done (at Tri City MSC in Waterloo, Ontario).  So I picked a local flight school in Waterloo and flew out their to get down to business.  Took two days and we followed their regimen of things to check off.  All told, it took 10.3 hours.

I flew it home on the third day.  300 nm cross country.  Overtop of Oshawa, ATC warned me of traffic, "....9 o'clock, closing...... Aw never mind.  He won't catch you at that speed..."

That was 500 hours ago.

Enjoy your E model.

[jbs007]

To be honest, I am less concerned about the insurance, and more concerned about actually getting Mooney flight time.  If there is anyone in San Diego here, could I join you on a $100 hamburger run or something?  I'll pay for flight time as applicable and I will take any flight time I can get. 

Thanks!

[jetdriven]

Quote: donkaye

I'd recommend flying back with a CFI whether it is me or someone else and NOT stopping to visit.  When you're learning the airplane, learn the airplane.  There will be plenty of time to visit later.  A lot can be gleened from an experienced pilot that would never be had by flying back alone in an unfamiliar airplane, at least not at a reduced risk level afforded by traveling with an experienced pilot. I have done numerous cross crountry's in various models from the E to the Bravo and Acclaim, so if you want an exciting knowledge trip back give me a call.

Don Kaye

408-249-7626 Home 408-499-9910 Cell

[fantom]

Quote: jbs007

The plane is in Florida and I plan on stopping a lot of places to see people, so having a CFI come with me would be a little weird.

Insurance aside, for my own comfort, I'd like to have some Mooney time prior to pick up.  I have a about 150 hrs complex but no Mooney.  I might also find a CFI out there to take a flight or two with before starting my journey.

Thanks everyone for the advice!

[TonyPynes]

Wow. I thought I was pretty conservative in my flying until I heard the wisdom in the posts above.  I have low minimums for wind, cloud cover, turbulence, etc. I cancel often due to weather of if I just don't feel right or if my work out was strenuous that morning I will ask if I am apt to be too tired later on for flying.

But I felt very comfortable flying from Texas to NC alone. Not CA to FL but I assume the advice would still stand.  I did arrange for CFis to be available if I did not feel comfortable at any point, including the instructor who checked me out and instructors in NC who were ready to fly to meet me along the way if needed.

My newbie experience to date with only 150 hours PIC total and 50 in a Mooney was that that initial flight in my M20F with only 100 hours, 15 complex was a comfortable flight with a well planned cross country and alternative plans as needed.

Maybe I am not as conservative as I thought. 

 

[Parker_Woodruff]

Austin,

I don't think the intent of the posts is to say the OP can't make a cross country flight. It just seems like he's trying to rush a process that shouldn't be rushed. 

[TonyPynes]

Quote: Parker_Woodruff

Austin,

I don't think the intent of the posts is to say the OP can't make a cross country flight. It just seems like he's trying to rush a process that shouldn't be rushed. 

[thinwing]

i used Chuck Mcgill,based at Montgomery in San Diego for Mooney transition training.I needed 2 hours required by insurance co before solo in a new to me m20m.I than proceeded to depart ifr from Dallas Texas to Sac Calif.It was not a relaxing trip,the unfamilar avionics ,handling,weather issues etc,I would have welcomed an experienced cfi to come along!...I say this even though I am and was an experienced multiengine instrument pilot with  4600 hrs at the time I bought the m20m.Be safe....kpc

[kortopates]

I am a CFI in San Diego and know of a M20J you could get some dual time in at MYF. If interested, PM me.

[PilotDerek]

Jared,

Sent you a PM.