New Airplane to ME, and it was a Heck of a Delivery!

[wood_fly]

Strap in.

I bring you a story of adventure, peril, and a bit of “there I was” with my recent purchase of M20J sn 24-1167, currently N1156P (Soon to be N707LT)

You saw it for sale here: A seldom used M20J of a few 1810 hours. 0 time OH engine and prop, new paint, engine mount, tires and tubes. Original interior an panel. Looking for a new home from Fl. And I bought. Sure, a few questions, but it is a good deal so yada, yada, she is mine.

Fast forward. We all have jobs. When do you have time? Not now, or now, but NOW!
Time to fetch the new find from FL to CA. Overnight, delayed flights, lost luggage, finally land Orlando. Rent car. Drive to Daytona (DAB). Meet airplane and confirm I have not been catfished – it exists and isn’t a fantasy (of 6 figures tossed for fan mail)

Wait for an hour for gas (because it is a training base for Embry-Riddle after all). Pay pre-purchase inspection bill (shout out to Daytona Air Service – great people), and become #12 in line for T/O.

A moment: ME: 13,000 hr pilot. Current 121 B737, 135 current G650/G4. But first time ALONE in an airplane in 3 decades. I taught in these airplanes: How hard  can it be? Well, my friends, neighbors and colleagues, your skills and patience will be tested. Especially in a new airplane over 2,400 nm cross county with the three time FLARE rule: one at 737 height, once at Gulfstream height, and once at “OMG this is LOW” height. After multiple landings, it wasn’t pretty, but no bent metal. I will be calling a local CFI.

Short story: DAB-HXD-TOI-MKO-ODO-E63-STS. 2400 nm, 2 days. 9 hours first day, 8 the second. REALLY comfortable factory seats (thank God). Super-grateful for iPad and Sentry+ And a great deal of super-IFR/VFR skills involved. Let me explain.

I used skyvector.com to choose the route. I chose cheap fuel spots. It was a fantasy because MA nature had other ideas.  Day 1 was just up to meet a friend in HXB and landing was embarrassing. But I didn’t hurt anyone or bend metal.

Day 2: Up at em and head West! But 400nm long line of TRW up the East Texas side through LA and AR. So I land short in TOI. Nice FBO, quick gas. New plan. UP North around the TRW and come back down towards Midland right? OK: lots of TRW, dip, dodge and weave at 8,000’ in the “not forecast East of the Texas Line”. Oh, but low clouds/vis underneath you for about 4 states. Thanks. Not ready to takle a non-turbo airplane over the Rockies/Sierras so Southern route is still the key.

The FlightAware forecast: LIES: 4+20 if dipping and weaving around the most hearty of cells who didn’t want to be found – but they were there (like Artesians for those of a certain age).

MKO: My first time self-fueling up in a while. I ran the truck in the old days: this self-service stuff is new, but I figured it out. Then, well, we are on the back side of the TRW, so let’s head for the original destination: ODO. Multiple overcasts, with MOA’s: NO, you can’t go right for weather but you can go as much LEFT as you want. Why would any military agency in their right mind want to fly in THIS? OK, you want it, you got it! I’ll go around and you in your T-38, F-16, F-18 can cry for help later. Actually feel sorry for the newbies trying to navigate this.

Why the Hell would anyone head to Midland in their right mind? Because dear friends, I go there A LOT. Well, to MAF. But now I’m in a light plane headed to ODO. There are MOA’s to avoid, overcast with some good thumpers I’m trying not to get underneath. It’s quite the show. And by landing, it’s 9 hours of flight. And the young line man looks at me on landing and asks, “Want a hangar?” Oh yeah, the MOTHER of all TRW has parked itself South of MDW tops +510 so Yes please! I just bought this pure-skinned angel and don't want her BEATEN TO DEATH BY HAIL PLEASE. (Heck, she make it this far)

This AM (4/24): I am up at 630, breakfast, UBER to airport, and there is my plane fueled and ready. Only real IFR to break through layer to E63: Gila bend. 3+45 I was there. Spoke to a really nice lady who was in her C-182RG just out foolin’ around for the day. You know what? It’s 623 nm to STS from here: I can do it.

Damn Skippy. Across the American Southwest. Great controllers through Joshua, LAX, Lemore, and OAK. 4+23, 40.2 gal 4+23 later landed in STS. I now have my commute vehicle. Needs some radios. But the mechanics, interior and exterior are fine. Good deal. Glad to be a part of the Mooney community and have a literal 2 day cross-country machine.

So friends and family of the Mooneyspace, I welcome you comments, contributions and patronage at my FBO's in OAK and STS. Dang: What a machine AL built!

 

[Danb]

Wow woodie what a first trip…welcome to the community 

D

[Hank]

Welcome back to the fold, @wood_fly!

Enjoy your new ride, find a good CFI and fly safe!

[varlajo]

9 hours ago, wood_fly said:

I welcome you comments, contributions and patronage at my FBO's in OAK and STS. Dang: What a machine AL built!

I am across the Bay at KSQL. Drop me a PM; happy to stop by to chat! 

[hubcap]

Welcome & Congrats on a great plane and a great trip!

[dkkim73]

*Great*  write-up! I love the practical weather stories here. Congrats and welcome. 

[bcg]

Congrats on the new airplane and welcome to the cult, I mean club.

While it's not a 737 or a Gulfstream, they make great personal airliners. I can almost always be at commercial with my C, when you figure in security, boarding, deplaning, delays, baggage claim, etc. I haven't flown commercial since I bought her 3 years ago and I've made some pretty good trips. Starting from Kerrville, I've gone to Phoenix, Ruidoso, Durango, Atlanta, Oshkosh, West Palm Beach, Key West, Detroit, Nashville and Knoxville. Regularly use it for trips to Corpus Christi and Dallas. You're going to really enjoy having her ready to go when you are.

Sent from my Pixel 9 Pro XL using Tapatalk

[Pinecone]

Great story.  But maybe you should have hooked up with a Mooney instructor FIRST and at least done a few landings.

 

[IvanP]

Thanks for sharing the story. Enjoy your new toy in good health. 

[Will.iam]

I’m surprised you got hull insurance without a checkout. I had 10k hours too but for full coverage insurance wanted 2 hours with a cfi. Luckily a neighbor of mine that is also an airline pilot had the qualifications and jumpseated out where i was waiting after my funds had cleared and the previous owner handed me the keys. And we combined the ferry flight home with the instruction so i had my 2 hours by the time we landed at our home field.