Great Adds that have improved your airplane.

[FlyingScot]

Just a fun topic – I’m always looking to add additional capability or features to my ovation. Is there anything that you have added or modified that you are particularly happy with that you feel has added value to your airplane or enjoyment when you use it? These could be upgrades to existing systems or additions.

I wasn’t really thinking about things like the 310 hp STC or replacing all the lights with LED bulbs  - what I was really trying to capture with the question are the smaller or maybe non-required things that increase your delight with your airplane. 

An example might be a landing height system or  a Surefly, or some panel gadget that wasn’t much on the surface, but that in practice you get particular enjoyment from. 

This may be a dumb question, but I really love my ovation and the way it flies and I’m always looking for ways small and large to improve it. 
 

Cheers - 

[MatthiasArnold]

LHS, SVT (f you have glass), ..

[NickG]

LHS, AOA, Inogen G5

[exM20K]

A dedicated, fused 24V outlet on the baggage bulkhead to power the Be-Kool air conditioner.

-dan

[Rick Junkin]

Cup holders on velcro

[NickG]

36 minutes ago, Rick Junkin said:

Cup holders on velcro

Now I‘M jealous. Point me in the right direction to get these!

[Rick Junkin]

1 hour ago, NickG said:

Now I‘M jealous. Point me in the right direction to get these!

Search for "folding drink holder" on Amazon and a bunch of different ones will come up. If you want this exact one, the only place I could find it (easily) was on Temu.com. Search there for "cup holders for vehicles".

[Jeff Uphoff]

On 3/29/2025 at 3:12 PM, FlyingScot said:

An example might be a landing height system or  a Surefly, or some panel gadget that wasn’t much on the surface, but that in practice you get particular enjoyment from. 

Replacing my cigarette-lighter plug with a dual-USB (A & C) charging port so I no longer have to worry about battery levels in my ForeFlight iPad & Sentry Plus on long trips.

(Battery-range anxiety isn't just for EV owners!)

--Up.

[LANCECASPER]

19 minutes ago, Jeff Uphoff said:

Replacing my cigarette-lighter plug with a dual-USB (A & C) charging port so I no longer have to worry about battery levels in my ForeFlight iPad & Sentry Plus on long trips.

(Battery-range anxiety isn't just for EV owners!)

--Up.

Personally I wouldn't do that. If I was going to add a USB port I would add it somewhere on else the panel. Just as soon as you eliminate the cigarette lighter receptacle you will need it for something - like an Inogen Portable Oxygen generator or something else.

In the meantime, the Anker USB outlets that you plug into the cigarette lighter work just fine and you leave the option of unplugging it and using the lighter receptacle if needed. I carry a splitter in my bag incase I need both. By the time my airplane was built they also put a lighter receptacle in the rear seat armrest behind the pilot. 

[dkkim73]

1 hour ago, LANCECASPER said:

In the meantime, the Anker USB outlets that you plug into the cigarette lighter work just fine

They make some nice tiny lower profile ones also these days that minimize potential snagging and interference with the co pilot yoke. 

Come to think of it, that's one of my nominations for a nice inexpensive addition! 

That left rear one is great for a Sentry or a bigger cabled adapter. Pro tip: replace the fuses in the bigger car units with one matched to the 's 12V converter's rating. 

[Jeff Uphoff]

2 hours ago, LANCECASPER said:

Personally I wouldn't do that. If I was going to add a USB port I would add it somewhere on else the panel. Just as soon as you eliminate the cigarette lighter receptacle you will need it for something - like an Inogen Portable Oxygen generator or something else.

In the meantime, the Anker USB outlets that you plug into the cigarette lighter work just fine and you leave the option of unplugging it and using the lighter receptacle if needed. I carry a splitter in my bag incase I need both. By the time my airplane was built they also put a lighter receptacle in the rear seat armrest behind the pilot. 

My cigarette-lighter plug circuit kept failing and so it didn't work anyway. Installing a panel dual-USB plug replaced that circuitry and gave me something useful.

--Up.

[aviatoreb]

3 hours ago, Jeff Uphoff said:

Replacing my cigarette-lighter plug with a dual-USB (A & C) charging port so I no longer have to worry about battery levels in my ForeFlight iPad & Sentry Plus on long trips.

(Battery-range anxiety isn't just for EV owners!)

--Up.

But if you do that - where will you put your cigar ashes???!!!

[Rick Junkin]

3 hours ago, LANCECASPER said:

you will need it for something - like an Inogen Portable Oxygen generator or something else.

DOH!!!

Exactly. I eliminated the cigar lighter receptacle and added dual USB ports to both sides of the panel. And then I got an Inogen G5. Fortunately I have a cigar lighter receptacle on the back wall of the baggage compartment so I can plug in there.

[dkkim73]

2 hours ago, dkkim73 said:

They make some nice tiny lower profile ones also these days that minimize potential snagging and interference with the co pilot yoke. 

Come to think of it, that's one of my nominations for a nice inexpensive addition! 

That left rear one is great for a Sentry or a bigger cabled adapter. Pro tip: replace the fuses in the bigger car units with one matched to the 's 12V converter's rating. 

Circling back to post a link to a specific model that worked well for me in the Acclaim (where the socket is pretty close to the co-pilot yoke in the in-out axis): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLYX8SHZ

Note that the power rating is higher than the converter (24->12V) circuit so YMMV but I only plug in maybe an iPad mini that's already charged.

[dkkim73]

40 minutes ago, aviatoreb said:

But if you do that - where will you put your cigar ashes???!!!

I have to admit that someday it might be nice to fly and enjoy a cigar in the Mooney. I think I would really feel as if I have "arrived" at that point.

Probably asking for it right now, though, esp. flying usually with oxygen.

[Ragsf15e]

7 hours ago, LANCECASPER said:

Personally I wouldn't do that. If I was going to add a USB port I would add it somewhere on else the panel. Just as soon as you eliminate the cigarette lighter receptacle you will need it for something - like an Inogen Portable Oxygen generator or something else.

In the meantime, the Anker USB outlets that you plug into the cigarette lighter work just fine and you leave the option of unplugging it and using the lighter receptacle if needed. I carry a splitter in my bag incase I need both. By the time my airplane was built they also put a lighter receptacle in the rear seat armrest behind the pilot. 

Depending on the cigar lighter wiring, it may not work for an inogen g5.  Apparently the ones in the back have a bigger circuit breaker, but my g5 paperwork showed something like ~10amps at 12v continuous operation.  I plugged it into my 5amp cigar lighter and the circuit breaker worked as advertised.  I’m sure you can wire an 18amp outlet like cars have these days, but it might take some work to get the wiring right.

[KSMooniac]

Alpha Systems Eagle AOA kit is a great addition

[Pinecone]

On 4/1/2025 at 7:56 AM, LANCECASPER said:

Personally I wouldn't do that. If I was going to add a USB port I would add it somewhere on else the panel. Just as soon as you eliminate the cigarette lighter receptacle you will need it for something - like an Inogen Portable Oxygen generator or something else.

In the meantime, the Anker USB outlets that you plug into the cigarette lighter work just fine and you leave the option of unplugging it and using the lighter receptacle if needed. I carry a splitter in my bag incase I need both. By the time my airplane was built they also put a lighter receptacle in the rear seat armrest behind the pilot. 

Agreed.   I put in a USB outlet on each side of the panel but kept the cigarette lighter on the right side.

I also added a cigarette outlet in the back seat on the left sidewall.  I use this for the Inogen.

[Ed de C.]

I purchased my 2008 O3 nearly 2 years ago and did a few things useful to note.  

First, I cleaned it thoroughly, inside and out.  I had the pre-buy inspection guys go around the entire exterior with touch up paint which improved the look significantly.  Probably pushed off the need for a fresh paint job by 5 years.  I had a guy put a ceramic coating on it for 1 AMU, but can't say if that was smart or not.

I had a couple of new bottom seat cushions made (pilot and copilot) by Hector down in Texas.  People here know him and that was a satisfying experience.  I also had him make up new floor mats front and back to replace the worn-out ones.  I went with chocolate brown with Mooney logos to replace the beige ones.  I went around the interior with leather dye to clean up sidewall and seat scratches.  Passenger confidence goes up a lot if they see a nice-looking airplane.

LED landing and taxi light replacements (WAT Prometheus G3) were a nice add.  Others have noted that replacement is a pain with bloody knuckles a good possibility. 

An addition that I love Every.Single.Time. is the LHS (Landing height system).  It sounds cooler to call it a "Laser Altimeter".  It was one of my cheaper visits to the shop (maybe 5 hours of install time).  There are good threads here on the system.

I love my SwitchOn cellular switch to remotely turn on the engine pre-heater and Tanis cabin heater 5 hours before I arrive at the hangar (Michigan winter cold).  

I'm happy with my Foreflight/Sentry/Jeppesen chart setup on the iPad mini.  I have Garmin flight charts on the G1000, but never use it (backup).  I'm not super-thrilled with mounting the iPad on the yoke (have to look over it to see the landing gear switch and TKS display), but I haven't found a better place.  I tried the left side window by the A-pillar, but that blocked the master warning light and switches.  

I have a couple cheap stick-on sunshades (the kind that adhere to the window via static electricity).  In the northern climes it seems the sun is always low and in your eyes.  Apparently the nice $500 Rosen sun visors don't fit late model Ovations.  

What I would not do again:

I switched from factory fuel senders to CIES digital when one of the factory sensors acted up.  That was an $8k goof (reasonable cost for the 4 sendors but enormous install headaches and 2 bites at the calibration apple).  They are within 2 gallons accurate now (compared to the totalizer and wing indicators) but I was getting at least that with the factory senders.  

Best, Ed.

[Fritz1]

Anderson plug on left side of baggage compartment hard wired to #1 battery with fuse to run B-cool icebox, that thing is awesome, pre-cool in hangar, keep running while pushing airplane out, get into cool airplane, start engine on #2 battery, keep running B-cool during taxi and climb, runs about 1h when filled large ice blocks, turn back on for landing and taxi

[exM20K]

3 hours ago, Fritz1 said:

Anderson plug on left side of baggage compartment hard wired to #1 battery with fuse to run B-cool icebox, that thing is awesome, pre-cool in hangar, keep running while pushing airplane out, get into cool airplane, start engine on #2 battery, keep running B-cool during taxi and climb, runs about 1h when filled large ice blocks, turn back on for landing and taxi

Same (see post #3 in this thread). I am, however, careful to select battery #1 when I'm running the B-Kool.  I experienced a somewhat depleted #1 battery when on #2 for a long trip. Coincidence? not sure, but the fan does draw some power...

Regarding block ice, I found that the 20# blocks were knocking the bilge pump off the bottom.  Some genius on another forum suggested a piece of plexi cut to fit the shape of the cooler bottom and with a cutout the size of the bilge pump and some drain holes.  I'll try to get on this before it gets too hot this Spring.

-dan