AndreiC Posted September 20 Report Posted September 20 Just in terms of funny comparisons. At some point I was talking to a friend from Germany who flies gliders, and the first thing he asked was what was the glide ratio of the Cherokee I owned at the time. When I told him his reaction was “what are you flying, an upright piano?” 1 5
Freddb34 Posted Saturday at 01:19 AM Author Report Posted Saturday at 01:19 AM On 9/18/2025 at 3:51 PM, Hank said: The first time I took a Piper pilot to ride, we were on final over the trees about 1/4 mile from the displaced threshold and I pulled the throttle to idle. His head spun toward me, then looked back out front. As I taxied clear of the runway (3000' long minus abiut 10% for the displacement, only one exit 2000' from that end), he looked at me wide-eyed and said, if I'd pulled the throttle in my Cherokee when you did, I'd have gone down in the trees. But in your plane, nothing happened! You're gonna like your new Mooney! It's the same as mine, but you have 20 more hp. I know I am. I'm so excited to get out of a trainer and into my "forever" plane.
Flyler Posted Saturday at 02:20 AM Report Posted Saturday at 02:20 AM Have you gotten over your Mooney Night Sweats yet? Try to sleep but as soon as your eyelids close they snap back open as your brain exclaims "Mooney!"
cliffy Posted Sunday at 04:13 AM Report Posted Sunday at 04:13 AM Glide ratio? You haven't lived until you have done a flaps 40, gear down, idle decent in a Boeing 727-200 It is spectacular!! :-)
N201MKTurbo Posted Sunday at 04:44 PM Report Posted Sunday at 04:44 PM 12 hours ago, cliffy said: Glide ratio? You haven't lived until you have done a flaps 40, gear down, idle decent in a Boeing 727-200 It is spectacular!! :-) I’ve always heard the 727 was a fun plane to fly. It is pretty much a 737 with another engine thrown in for good measure. When I first started flying Mooneys, I was based at an old private airport (01V) that was the retired airline pilots lounge. The couch in the office always had a few. One old guy told a story about him being on a check ride with the feds in a 727. The FAA guy asked him to do a steep turn in some flap, slat, speed brake configuration. The fed expected him to say that was a bad idea. He knew what it would do, so he did it and snap rolled the plane. He said he looked over at the FAA man and said “Is that what you were looking for” 2
Joshua Blackh4t Posted Sunday at 09:31 PM Report Posted Sunday at 09:31 PM Congrats, you're going to love it. My theory on landing a Mooney is that you have to treat every landing like a difficult landing and then they'll be easy. So, not a formula and numbers and gentle flare like a cessna/piper because that will let you down. First you have an airspeed/descent problem with wanting to descend and not being able to slow down enough for gear and flaps. Also, no one who flies a Mooney wants to spend much time at 105kts for gear. So first descend early, fast and flat, then level out to slow down, wheels down at 2:30 minutes from touchdown, keep slowing, full flap about 1 minute away. Then pretend its a nasty gusty day and fly in with control feel, lots of little adding power and taking it back out, be prepared for the flare to last a comparative looooonnnggg time. Once it settles NO BRAKES until flaps up. Then as much as you want. Have fun. Oh, and practice this phrase "don't slam the door. PLEASE don't slam the door, please don't touch the door....... dammit I TOLD you not to slam the door" Especially when taking Cessna pilots for a fly 1
hammdo Posted Sunday at 09:41 PM Report Posted Sunday at 09:41 PM Jacobson flare has helped me a lot on landings along with the LHS (landing height system)… https://www.jacobsonflare.com/ -Don
cliffy Posted Monday at 12:25 AM Report Posted Monday at 12:25 AM I guess I'm not following the problem correctly- Can't get down to pattern speed for gear and flaps? How about just pulling the power off? Its always worked for me from Boeings to small GAs. 1
Joshua Blackh4t Posted Monday at 12:54 AM Report Posted Monday at 12:54 AM 28 minutes ago, cliffy said: I guess I'm not following the problem correctly- Can't get down to pattern speed for gear and flaps? How about just pulling the power off? Its always worked for me from Boeings to small GAs. That works. Depends if believe in shock cooling or not. Also, then you have the gear warning being annoying and freaking out your passengers
47U Posted Monday at 02:10 AM Report Posted Monday at 02:10 AM 4 hours ago, Joshua Blackh4t said: Once it settles NO BRAKES until flaps up. Then as much as you want. ^^^^ This. No personal experience, but I witnessed the unfortunate outcome with a G model driver. We missed our planned lunch at Nancy’s, instead occupied getting his tire and tube fixed up. And it was 105 degrees on the ramp that day. 1
cliffy Posted Monday at 03:25 AM Report Posted Monday at 03:25 AM 2 hours ago, Joshua Blackh4t said: That works. Depends if believe in shock cooling or not. Also, then you have the gear warning being annoying and freaking out your passengers If one gradually lowers the power in the decent (as I've done in many many airplanes) you get to a point entering the pattern where you are actually at that power point (just above the horn) slowing down to gear and flap speed. A gradual reduction in power negates the shock cooling concern. Never had to pull it into the gear horn with proper power management. As I said, just pull the power off in a PLANNED decent and one has no problem being at gear speed. Also, not being able to slow down when on final only requires - again- just pulling the power off to be at proper 1.3 speed. No excuse for high speed on final if configured and stable on the approach. Planning ahead gives a proper stable approach and landing. 1
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