First Flight in a Mooney!!!

[Pinecone]

I would add get instruction from a TURBO Mooney specific instructor.

And Number 3 is VERY important.

[PBones]

Good idea PC that number 3!!!

I have already formulated a plan:

GUMPS, Passenger briefing to shout GEAR DOWN when mentioning we are landing!!, BIG placard on dash that says: "RUNWAY AHEAD, NEED WHEELS"!!

Dash plaque that says; "Wheels down cheaper than New Mooney!" or "No belly flopping!"

In all seriousness, yes the instructors plane is also an M20K turbo, but we will be flying in my M20K after it gets its annual and I get my PPL in the Piper. He is 100% aircraft business and trains folks in all types of high performance craft. I will not fly the machine alone unless he says I am proficient. Thanks PC 

 

[hubcap]

2 hours ago, PBones said:

Good idea PC that number 3!!!

I have already formulated a plan:

GUMPS, Passenger briefing to shout GEAR DOWN when mentioning we are landing!!, BIG placard on dash that says: "RUNWAY AHEAD, NEED WHEELS"!!

Dash plaque that says; "Wheels down cheaper than New Mooney!" or "No belly flopping!"

In all seriousness, yes the instructors plane is also an M20K turbo, but we will be flying in my M20K after it gets its annual and I get my PPL in the Piper. He is 100% aircraft business and trains folks in all types of high performance craft. I will not fly the machine alone unless he says I am proficient. Thanks PC 

 

@Pinecone makes a good point about TURBO instruction being a must. 

Is your plane a 231 or a 252? There is a significant difference in the engine management of the 2 different models.

[PBones]

2 minutes ago, hubcap said:

@Pinecone makes a good point about TURBO instruction being a must. 

Is your plane a 231 or a 252? There is a significant difference in the engine management of the 2 different models.

It is a 1979 231 that does not have the automatic waste gate, my instructors 231 plane has the Merlyn waste gate. I am contemplating that upgrade, but have to spend this years budget on modern Avionics/Engine monitor, new covers since I cannot get a hangar and a major annual. Fortunately most everything under the cowl is rebuilt or new, inside is in great shape and I am just finishing up the alt/transponder certification (needed to install an aftermarket encoder). The overall pre buy was excellent but found I need a rebuilt front strut that was dented from towing, new pucks since they were older, some under dash vac hoses and probably a master cylinder/caliper rebuild which I want with modern fluids. Auto pilot was acting up a bit, could have been from sitting, hopefully just a minor repair.

It had a lot of upgrades and maintenance done to it, very well kept by the prior owner with intense documentation and pride.

It flew great for the ferry ride, I cant be happier joining this community!

[Hank]

3 hours ago, PBones said:

Good idea PC that number 3!!!

I have already formulated a plan:

GUMPS, Passenger briefing to shout GEAR DOWN when mentioning we are landing!!, BIG placard on dash that says: "RUNWAY AHEAD, NEED WHEELS"!!

Dash plaque that says; "Wheels down cheaper than New Mooney!" or "No belly flopping!"

In all seriousness, yes the instructors plane is also an M20K turbo, but we will be flying in my M20K after it gets its annual and I get my PPL in the Piper. He is 100% aircraft business and trains folks in all types of high performance craft. I will not fly the machine alone unless he says I am proficient. Thanks PC 

You just need good procedures.

This is what I do when flying VFR:

• Slow down inside Vfe arc, lower Takeoff Flaps before pattern entry.
• Enter downwind leg, slow to pattern speed (1000 agl); for me, this is 90.
• Abeam intended point of landing, lower gear and retard throttle to initiate descent.
• Turn base, monitor airspeed and altitude. (Base turn ~700 agl)
• Turn final, I aim to roll wings level at 85. (Turn Final ~500 agl). Adjust throttle, flaps, ailerons, rudder and trim to hit your intended point of landing.
• I slow for across-the-fence speed of 75 - 5 for every 300 lb below gross I am--verify this for your K.

Instrument procedures are different, your CFII will show you this. I use 90 knots once established and approachingthe Final Approach Fix, with appropriate power settings and speed and Takeoff Flaps. When the glideslope is 1-1/2 dots high, I only drop the gear to initiate descent, which will follow the glideslope pretty well. Once I break out, it's a VFR landing without the rectangular pattern.

During IFR training, establishing procedures and knowing what to expect is part of tptpyour training and learning experience. Read books, talk to other Moony pilots, discuss with your CFII, and fly some to see how it all works. Come to The Moony Summit next month and meet a bunch of fellow Mooniacs!

Once you are flying your Mooney well, attend a MAPA PPP, it's amazing how much I learned in one weekend just over a month after I finished training and began flying my Mooney by myself! 

Have fun, stay in learning mode when you switch to your Mooney, and fly safe!

[hubcap]

On 8/21/2025 at 2:40 PM, PBones said:

It is a 1979 231 that does not have the automatic waste gate, my instructors 231 plane has the Merlyn waste gate. I am contemplating that upgrade, but have to spend this years budget on modern Avionics/Engine monitor, new covers since I cannot get a hangar and a major annual. Fortunately most everything under the cowl is rebuilt or new, inside is in great shape and I am just finishing up the alt/transponder certification (needed to install an aftermarket encoder). The overall pre buy was excellent but found I need a rebuilt front strut that was dented from towing, new pucks since they were older, some under dash vac hoses and probably a master cylinder/caliper rebuild which I want with modern fluids. Auto pilot was acting up a bit, could have been from sitting, hopefully just a minor repair.

It had a lot of upgrades and maintenance done to it, very well kept by the prior owner with intense documentation and pride.

It flew great for the ferry ride, I cant be happier joining this community!

Myrtle is a 1982 model. When I purchased her 5 years ago she was equipped like yours with the fixed waste gate and no intercooler. Since I purchased her, I added the Merlyn Black Magic and a TurboPlus intercooler. These two enhancements are very useful and worthwhile in my opinion. The Merlyn takes care of the bootstrapping issue but you will still need to monitor and adjust the manifold pressure during climbs and descents.

I fly pretty conservative numbers in order to take care my engine. I always fly LOP which still gets me 170 KTAS at 17,000’ while burning 10.2 GPH of fuel.  
 

Learn to fly the numbers for your airplane and it will make life much easier, especially flying IFR. The easiest way to learn to fly the numbers is to attend a MAPA class. 

[Pinecone]

On 8/21/2025 at 5:06 PM, Hank said:

You just need good procedures.

This is what I do when flying VFR:

• Slow down inside Vfe arc, lower Takeoff Flaps before pattern entry.
• Enter downwind leg, slow to pattern speed (1000 agl); for me, this is 90.
• Abeam intended point of landing, lower gear and retard throttle to initiate descent.
• Turn base, monitor airspeed and altitude. (Base turn ~700 agl)
• Turn final, I aim to roll wings level at 85. (Turn Final ~500 agl). Adjust throttle, flaps, ailerons, rudder and trim to hit your intended point of landing.
• I slow for across-the-fence speed of 75 - 5 for every 300 lb below gross I am--verify this for your K.

I am in the camp of gear before flaps always.  That way you have the least drag that might be a clue on final.

I may put down the gear on the 45 to downwind if I am trying to fit into training traffic.  Otherwise, it is mid field downwind.

FYI Ks have higher gear speeds than your C, so that makes a difference also.

[Hank]

22 minutes ago, Pinecone said:

I am in the camp of gear before flaps always.

FYI Ks have higher gear speeds than your C, so that makes a difference also.

Whatever works for you.

But for me, dropping gear initiates descent whether VFR or IFR. Checking the floor indicator on final will save me if I somehow forget.

[midlifeflyer]

44 minutes ago, Pinecone said:

I am in the camp of gear before flaps always. 

I am in the camp of, choose a gear operating SOP and stick with it. Always.