New Missile owner, hope to be around here a while

[MALIBU711]

So I have finally made the plunge.  I have been lurking on here for a couple years after being bitten by the bug, and finally found what I was looking for- an 81 Missile.  It will be delivered this weekend.

I still have a lot of time to go though, only have about 20 hours and still working on my private cert so far.  And all hours have been in a 172 so far, so I have much to learn and appreciate the knowledge here.  I have read a lot about the transition, and am looking forward to the challenge.

I am stoked at being a part of the community, and after speaking with several local enthusiasts, I made a great choice withe a mooney, even with low hours.

So anyway, just wanted to introduce myself instead of being a closet junkie, and hopefully will have some experiences of my own to add soon.

 

[AndyFromCB]

If you're flying a 172, learn how to land it by keeping about 60knots on final not the usual 70-75 that most CFIs like. It will go a long way towards learning how to land your mooney. Nice and slow on final.

[Txbyker]

Congrats Malibu!  Please post some pictures.

[rbridges]

congrats and welcome to the forum.  that's awesome that you're getting such a nice plane.  I'm sure you know, but be careful.  That is a lot of plane.

[panther1400]

Nice choice to start with, buy the right one (brand) right away instead of trading up to one later!

[MALIBU711]

Thanks for the tip, I will use it.

I will post pics as soon as its here this weekend.  I'm not going to be able to sleep all week I'm so excited.  I know it is a beast especially with me not having many hours, but I will take it nice it slow and train for as long as needed until I'm 100% comfortable with it.  Just looking at the numbers makes me drool!  We cruise at 90 or so in this 172 so I have no clue what kind of ride I am in for.

[rbridges]

your missile will be so much faster.  make sure you stay ahead of it.  My experience is limited, but I have learned that a mooney is a "by the numbers" plane.  Find out what they are for your plane, and stick with them.  

[DaV8or]

Quote: rbridges

your missile will be so much faster.  make sure you stay ahead of it.  My experience is limited, but I have learned that a mooney is a "by the numbers" plane.  Find out what they are for your plane, and stick with them.  

[scottfromiowa]

Goof for you Malibu.  The Missile would be my choice if funds allowed.  Seth (on this site) will be an EXCELLENT plane specific contact for you regarding initial questions.  He has a beautiful Missile too.  The council on this link is wise.  I believe I would be behind the Missile with my 500 Mooney hours...whole different animal regarding speed and weight...Have fun gaining proficiency.  I too wish to see many photos of your machine. 

[PilotDerek]

Congrats on your purchase and welcome to the site! I love pictures

[Seth]

Congratulations and welcome to MooneySpace.  We have three (now four) Missile owners on this forum and they have been a big resourse to me.  Only 47 or so J's were converted to Missiles and you do indeed have one of the hotrods of the fleet.  I sold my 1967 M20F last summer and at the same time purchased my 1983 Missile.  Speed control on approach is very important, as is proper rudder use.  The adverse yaw in the Missle is much more prominent than in the F.  You can dive a 172 and never get too fast (okay you can, but I'm making a point) with the Missile, if you go downhill she gets fast.  As a newer pilot, make sure you get a lot of time with a Mooney specific instructor.  The Missle is much heavier than the earlier Mooney Aircraft, and much heavier than a 172, but boy do those 300 HP translate the power to the pilot.  Remember, GO AROUND if it doesn't look right or if you're coming in too fast. 

Just over the weekend I was given a slam dunk apprach in Allentown, PA, and I couldn't get down quick enough and though I had a long runway, and could have salvaged the landing, I simply went around, and set up for a much better landing (they had me at 5000 feet 6 miles out!).  With the Missile, until you are comfortable and good at slow flight on approach, be ready to go around, it's a powerful plane and boy is the performance great.

Enjoy flying, enjoy finishing up your private, and then go ahead and get your instrument rating - with a Missile you're bound to hit weather during a cross country pretty quickly.  Looking forward to seeing pictures!

Take care,

-Seth

[DaV8or]

Quote: Seth

Just over the weekend I was given a slam dunk apprach in Allentown, PA, and I couldn't get down quick enough and though I had a long runway, and could have salvaged the landing, I simply went around, and set up for a much better landing (they had me at 5000 feet 6 miles out!).

[Seth]

Funny, my 1967 F had speed brakes.  The missile does not.  Doing so at this point would actually impact the long range tanks so I don't plan on adding them (it has long range tanks and I'd lose about 10 gallons, probably closer to 7 with the install).  The nice aspect is that the gear speed is 132 knots, so if need be I can slow it down, put the gear down, and that's a good speed brake.

ATC basically vectored me on a 360 about 10 miles out, I said I could slow down, but they asked me to maintain my speed (which was about 165 to 170 then) and then they had me start my decent.  I held level and had pulled power at that point in order to slow to 132 to get the gear down, and then I started downhill, but it was not going to happen in the space availalbe, so I switched to the tower and let them know I'd be going around.  I should have not asked if I should lower speed with ATC but just lowered the speed.  By asking ATC and ATC instructing me to keep my current speed, it botched up my arrival planning a bit. 

The Missile woudl indeed be an aircraft that bennefits from speed brakes, but this is the second instance in now over 115 flying hours in the Missile that I could have really used them.  Good suggesetion though.

-Seth

[bnicolette]

Congratulations Malibu!!  What an awesome capable piece of machinery.  It will definitely be a handful for a little while so please don't just use the "run of the mill" instructor that is just building time.  Seek out a true professional that will show you the ropes with that airplane from experience.

Seth were you still blazing along at 180 knots when you were 5000' 6 miles out?   (shame shame)   

Mailibu that is one of the things that you will have to take into consideration that you haven't had to do with a 172.  The speed envelope is a WHOLE lot bigger in the Mooney and you will have to think WAY ahead.

Be careful and have a great time!!!

[rbridges]

Quote: Bnicolette

  

Mailibu that is one of the things that you will have to take into consideration that you haven't had to do with a 172.  The speed envelope is a WHOLE lot bigger in the Mooney and you will have to think WAY ahead.

Be careful and have a great time!!!

[Hank]

Quote: rbridges

When I transitioned to a mooney from the 172 and Cherokee, I actually had to start checking my speed before adding flaps.  

[MALIBU711]

Thanks for all the tips.  I'm sure I will be loaded with questions as I get more time in it.  I have been sufring around here for some time and absorbed a lot, but applying it in real life I know will take a lot of time and practice.  The approach speeds I know will be the most difficult.  It will be here Thursday, and I can't wait.  I probably won't sleep at all for the next couple days I'm so stoked about it.  I will definately throw out some pics Thursday evening.  The one on my AV is one of it in the hangar now after annual where it sits.

[rainman]

Malibu, congratulations on your purchase!! Wow a missile, fantastic.  I had a great transition instructor, Bob Cabe, here in San Antonio and I definately concur with prior posts that you need to find someone to transition you with very specific Mooney expertise. I was/am a low time pilot when I transitioned to my 231 but kept focused on learning, not just the minimum hours the insurance company required.  One year after getting my Mooney, I completed my IFR.  Enjoy flying that Missile.  I can't wait to see the photos. Ray

[aviatoreb]

Quote: MALIBU711

Thanks for all the tips.  I'm sure I will be loaded with questions as I get more time in it.  I have been sufring around here for some time and absorbed a lot, but applying it in real life I know will take a lot of time and practice.  The approach speeds I know will be the most difficult.  It will be here Thursday, and I can't wait.  I probably won't sleep at all for the next couple days I'm so stoked about it.  I will definately throw out some pics Thursday evening.  The one on my AV is one of it in the hangar now after annual where it sits.

[rainman]

Eric, I'm not sure if Malibu will check out that video, But I will, thanks for the input.  Ray 

[aviatoreb]

Quote: rainman

Eric, I'm not sure if Malibu will check out that video, But I will, thanks for the input.  Ray 

[74657]

My CFII once told me that the 2 most important things in INSTRUMENT flying are THE NEXT 2 THINGS.  I think this is not only valid in IMC but also to truthful for any VFR flying.  It may not seem like that much more to manage a HP plane with retractable gear and a constant speed prop but it's very similar to being a parent.  Having 1 kid is like having a perfect house plant and having 2 is like running a classroom.  The workload increases exponentially.  Work hard and enjoy it. 

Come up with your own set of Magic Numbers but what works for me is this 90/80/70 on Downwind, base  and final.  Once I am at threshold I pull the power back the rest of the way and let the plane fly itself to the ground.  I remember how many trips around the pattern it took me to learn how to SLOW DOWN.  One thing I really learned while doing my IR training was how much easier flying a plane becomes when you use NUMBERS.  We spent 2 hours of time in the air making a "Chart" for proper MP/RPM settings.  We wrote them on a 4X6 card that is now plastered on my dash.  PM me your email and I will share that Missile Specific info with you.  It cost me $100 in instructor time and 150 in fuel, it's free to you!!

Keep the nose up as long as you can.  There is more weight over the nose and it will want to slam down everytime if you don't hold enough backpressure on the yoke!

Congrats on the purchase of your Missile.  You're going to love it.

Last piece of advice, don't worry about how many hours it takes you to be "legal" in the plane.  Being legal is one thing, being safe is another.  It took me quite a while to feel comfortable in 888DF after having my license and flying regularly in my Grumman Tiger for 3 years.  If all of your time is in a C172 and your're still a student you're in for a real surprise!  Take your time.  Be safe. 

Brandon

[rbridges]

Quote: 74657

I might be replying before re-reading everything but I thought I read somewhere on the 1st page about flying final @ 60 kts. in your Missile.  DON'T do that!!!

 

[butchgilbert]

Speed is important, but situational awareness is much more important IMHO.

If you have a good autopilot, use it, and I mean use it now. Get the airplane on autopilot as soon as practical and then you're whole scan opens up.  Altitude, heading, airspeed and engine management all become easier to fly when the autopilot is on, if you are comfortable enough with the autopilot and navigation system.

Once the autopilot is on, then communications, weather avoidance, airspace recognition and overall enjoyment go up exponentially.  Learn to fly the autopilot, keep you speed within a few knots of target, and have fun, or you're not doing right.

Butch