First Flight in a Mooney!!!

[PBones]

I am a new member here, hello to all and thanks for all of the great information on these planes.

I am working on my PPL and just had my first chance to fly a Mooney M20K, WOW

I have been training in a Warrior for about 40 hours and had the opportunity to purchase a low frame and motor M20k, it fly's but it needs a complete thorough annual (its on my mechanics schedule).

A friend and Mooney CFI has the same plane and he let me take a lesson in his bird, Whoa what a difference as all of you already know. The plane does exactly what you ask and the performance is sharp. We did a steep 360 turn at around 60 degrees, holy cow is that what Gs feel like!

I am totally psyched to begin training in my Mooney to gain the hours I need for high performance. I will tune in here regularly to enhance my ownership of the Mooney. 

THANKS ALL! 

Edited Friday at 02:25 AM by PBones

[Schllc]

Congrats!  Beautiful looking bird!

[Hank]

Congratulations! I test-flew my Mooney at the XC stage of PPL training, and bought it right after my checkride. The important thing right now is to not let it distract you, and concentrate on learning and finishing your certificate.

Then when you are done, start flying your Mooney with a Mooney-proficient CFI, andnstay in student mode for a while longer. You will need a Complex Endorsement and a High Performance Endorsement, then some additional time learning the basics of flying the Mooney properly, learning the appropriate power settings and expected performance, and with your turbo, something about highnaltitude flight. And the XCs in your Mooney will be more like your Student Long XC.

Have fun, study hard and fly safe!

[Flyler]

Yep, what Hank said.  I know it's hard to do but the PPL experience, especially the end stage with your check ride coming up... It's just so great. Have to put the Mooney on pause until you get your ticket.  Best feeling ever.

I'm still freshly minted, did about 100 hours in the Warrior before flying an m20F for the first time.  My reaction was the same as yours.  The Mooney just does what you tell it to do, as long as you give her what she needs (air speed, fuel, a kiss on the nose cone).

I have been flying a Warrior and Archer lately while waiting for the Mooney to get out of the shop and they just feel so mushy and delayed.  Have to start preparing for your landing flare as soon as you take off

[Paul Thomas]

What a great first airplane. Congratulations!

[TheAv8r]

59 minutes ago, Hank said:

Congratulations! I test-flew my Mooney at the XC stage of PPL training, and bought it right after my checkride. The important thing right now is to not let it distract you, and concentrate on learning and finishing your certificate.

Then when you are done, start flying your Mooney with a Mooney-proficient CFI, andnstay in student mode for a while longer. You will need a Complex Endorsement and a High Performance Endorsement, then some additional time learning the basics of flying the Mooney properly, learning the appropriate power settings and expected performance, and with your turbo, something about highnaltitude flight. And the XCs in your Mooney will be more like your Student Long XC.

Have fun, study hard and fly safe!

This is great advice!! Mooneys are precision airplanes and they respect precision flying, in exchange, you'll have a very capable rocket ship that handles like a sports car. As a CFI who does Mooney transition training, that learning curve feels a little tough in the beginning for new private pilots, but once you start it starts to click, you can't wipe the grin off your face  . It'll feel like drinking from the fire hose again, but take your time with your CFI and enjoy the ride. 

[PBones]

Thank you all for the kind words and advice, much appreciated. Am happy to join the M club!

I strive to learn from all angles and to advance to 110% proficient in everything I do , then hopefully I become 99%!!!

I will be taking 40 hours of training, after my PPL, with a Mooney certified CFI at the airport that I keep the plane. This is required by  the insurance company, as you all know, but I will most likely keep flying with the CFI, since he is a neighbor and his work in aviation takes him all over the place. I will be more than happy to taxi him around to build Mooney hours and keep the training going. 

[Paul Thomas]

1 hour ago, PBones said:

Thank you all for the kind words and advice, much appreciated. Am happy to join the M club!

I strive to learn from all angles and to advance to 110% proficient in everything I do , then hopefully I become 99%!!!

I will be taking 40 hours of training, after my PPL, with a Mooney certified CFI at the airport that I keep the plane. This is required by  the insurance company, as you all know, but I will most likely keep flying with the CFI, since he is a neighbor and his work in aviation takes him all over the place. I will be more than happy to taxi him around to build Mooney hours and keep the training going. 

That 40 hours training goes a long way toward an instrument rating...

[Flyler]

Do yourself a favor - once you get your ticket in that Warrior, fly a couple solo xc trips in it.  Get familiar with being the true PIC.  Maybe take a passenger up a few times.  Flying alone is a huge part of the learning process and you should mix it in with your continued training.

[Hank]

1 minute ago, Paul Thomas said:

That 40 hours training goes a long way toward an instrument rating...

As a brand new pilot, I'd suggest spending a year learning abiut flying, learning thenairplane, how it handles, what power settings to use and what to expect at given MP & RPMs. THEN segue into Instruments. 

[IvanP]

Welcome aboard! May you enjoy the new plane and your Mooney ownership for many years in good health. 

[Schllc]

1 hour ago, PBones said:

Thank you all for the kind words and advice, much appreciated. Am happy to join the M club!

I strive to learn from all angles and to advance to 110% proficient in everything I do , then hopefully I become 99%!!!

I will be taking 40 hours of training, after my PPL, with a Mooney certified CFI at the airport that I keep the plane. This is required by  the insurance company, as you all know, but I will most likely keep flying with the CFI, since he is a neighbor and his work in aviation takes him all over the place. I will be more than happy to taxi him around to build Mooney hours and keep the training going. 

Better yet, go directly into your IFR while you have the grasp of information and the momentum.  nothing better than training for hard IFR in the plane you will be flying.

All of that dual you are planning for could apply directly to your IFR requirements.

[PBones]

I know I have to do some hours in the Mooney under IFR and also with my regular training. I have to see what it takes to do the full blown certification and check ride. You are probably right, if I want to fly high, I should have the sheepskin.

[kris_adams]

welcome and look forward to hearing more of your story.  Where are you based?

[Yetti]

I was going to say don't do it.   Too late.  just break out the credit card.   You can't fly your 401K

[dkkim73]

2 hours ago, Flyler said:

Do yourself a favor - once you get your ticket in that Warrior, fly a couple solo xc trips in it. 

Great point. First, it's a satisfaction you will have earned, and you should be pretty comfortable in that plane. Second, it will begin the eye-opening practical process of aeronautical decision-making. 

[dkkim73]

5 hours ago, PBones said:

just had my first chance to fly a Mooney M20K, WOW

It's like the Warrior. 

 

[MooneyMitch]

Incredibly exciting for you !  Enjoy every aspect.

[PBones]

1 hour ago, kris_adams said:

welcome and look forward to hearing more of your story.  Where are you based?

I am training in NJ but will be relocating to VA when I am 100% retired

I did not know what a Mooney was until about 6 months ago when I saw them at the airport I train at. My instructor filled me in on them as well as other Pilots at the airport.

I did not have the time to train since I ran my own business for 32 years and have a disabled son (Autism) who needed care. My son transitioned to a group home last year and is doing well there, so that freed up time for my wife and myself to explore our interests.

Took a intro flight in a 172 with my wife and we loved it. I am a car guy/mechanic and restored a bunch of AMC cars, so Airplanes looked like a nice upgrade to spruce up and run!