I am now free to move about the planet!!!

[HRM]

...well, I guess it is hardly free, but who cares! 

I finally finished the 10 hour dual sentence that Avemco gave me and also got the sign-off on my complex endorsement.

I flew solo from San Antonio back to Beaumont--did God make this airplane? I think if he was going to make one, this would be it. Sorry, I guess I am just a bit light headed. It was so absolutely wonderful to finally be solo PIC--not that I don't value instructors.

This morning we went up to Kerrville to do landings and I think my plane realized she was home, it was hard to slow her down! Of course, might have been the cool sunny weather 

Mooney's hard to land?--nonsense if you know how. The value of a Mooney instructor (no, not just a CFI/I that can bestow complex ratings and has flown low-wings) is priceless.

...high (natural) as kite right now, need to slow down...

[flight2000]

Congrats and I know what you mean.  The day my bird landed was an awesome day (5 DEC), but the next day with the Mooney instructor to get my 1 hour checkout required by the insurance was a dream. My sentance wasn't as bad since I have my multi-engine and IR ratings.

Only days I haven't flown since then are bad weather days that keep everyone grounded (except those with FIKI capabilities).  Only downside is she'll be out of commission for about 7 weeks getting a new paint job and a complete panel facelift.  Oh well, she'll be just about perfect after that.

Brian

[HRM]

Quote: flight2000

Congrats and I know what you mean.  The day my bird landed was an awesome day (5 DEC), but the next day with the Mooney instructor to get my 1 hour checkout required by the insurance was a dream. My sentance wasn't as bad since I have my multi-engine and IR ratings.

Only days I haven't flown since then are bad weather days that keep everyone grounded (except those with FIKI capabilities).  Only downside is she'll be out of commission for about 7 weeks getting a new paint job and a complete panel facelift.  Oh well, she'll be just about perfect after that.

Brian

[mooneygirl]

Many congratulations on your airplane, the love of flying, and the appreciation for the Mooney Airplane.  Your passion and the combination of a wonderful airplane should add up to many many hours of Mooney fun.

Our airplanes are the best in the world, and in my opinion some of the safest as well.  Fly her by the numbers and you will rarely be let down. I had 50 hours or so when I got my Mooney, now have 450-500.  Enjoy enjoy enjoy.

 

 

[jlunseth]

Went through the same thing earlier this year.  The revelation is how much less there is to do in the cockpit, and how much easier it is to fly the plane, with no CFI on board.  Something wrong with that.

[flight2000]

Quote: jlunseth

Went through the same thing earlier this year.  The revelation is how much less there is to do in the cockpit, and how much easier it is to fly the plane, with no CFI on board.  Something wrong with that.

[HRM]

Quote: jlunseth

Went through the same thing earlier this year.  The revelation is how much less there is to do in the cockpit, and how much easier it is to fly the plane, with no CFI on board.  Something wrong with that.

[jlunseth]

My comment was not a criticism, it was a, I hope, good natured shot at CFI's and their double I brothers.  I know what they are up to, they want to make sure the student can manage the airplane regardless of the level of distraction.  But man!  Sometimes it is layered on thick.  So a couple of weeks ago my CFII and I are shooting NDB approaches to two airports that are only two miles apart, we have my old CFI in the back seat observing, and in the middle of the first approach to a good sized downtown airport, trying to manage the approach with a stiff crosswind, he asks what I would do if the engine went out (we have not done that lesson yet, so I had to make something up).  We finish that approach and then get vectored to the second one  that is less than five minutes away.  I guess I handled it.  It was probably a good night. 

I am grateful for every heckling I have gotten during all the instruction.  Not long after I got my PPL, I was able to successfully navigate a NORAD approach to a Class D on light gun signals during an airshow (with a squadron of Thunderbolts and assorted other aircraft on the ground watching my every move), an alternator out, and assorted other minor emergencies without a pause, well not enough of a pause that you would know.  So I guess it all did some good.

But it sure is more relaxing not to be peppered with questions and distractions every time there is a quiet moment in the aircraft, or a not so quiet moment, or an absolutely stupid crazy moment.  I find myself cruising at 17,500 with the autopilot flying the plane, breathing 02 from a perfectly functioning system, watching the ground slide by underneath, wondering what all the fuss was about, its so easy. 

[LuvFlying]

HRM: I with you brother! 

Getting my new (to me) Mooney last Thursday, my dual time has come in drips.  I have a "10 hr of dual" leash I'm dealing with.  At least today I got my complex endorsement!!  I've got 4 more hours of dual before I'm set free to solo. 10 hrs of that and then I can carry pax. -what'll that take.. a day or two? :-))

I agree that these are fantastic planes. I've gone from a 1960's VW Bug to a modern sports car.  It's wonderful.. to have everything work, to have the plane go where I want it, and behave as expected.

All but one of my landings have been really good... today's was one of those "am I on the ground?" kind. Do the numbers and it all works out nicely.  I can just imagine how well landings are going to be in a couple hundred hours!!

 

[Cruiser]

have you got any crosswind yet? I watched a Mooney land in some stiff, gusty winds at my local airport. He was on the ground when suddenly the right wing (upwind side) popped back up in the air. I thought he was going to drag the left wingtip on the pavement, but he got it back down with no apparent damage except maybe to his ego.

[LuvFlying]

Quote: Cruiser

have you got any crosswind yet? I watched a Mooney land in some stiff, gusty winds at my local airport. He was on the ground when suddenly the right wing (upwind side) popped back up in the air. I thought he was going to drag the left wingtip on the pavement, but he got it back down with no apparent damage except maybe to his ego.

[HRM]

Quote: jlunseth

But it sure is more relaxing not to be peppered with questions and distractions every time there is a quiet moment in the aircraft, or a not so quiet moment, or an absolutely stupid crazy moment.  I find myself cruising at 17,500 with the autopilot flying the plane, breathing 02 from a perfectly functioning system, watching the ground slide by underneath, wondering what all the fuss was about, its so easy. 

[HRM]

Quote: Cruiser

have you got any crosswind yet? I watched a Mooney land in some stiff, gusty winds at my local airport. He was on the ground when suddenly the right wing (upwind side) popped back up in the air. I thought he was going to drag the left wingtip on the pavement, but he got it back down with no apparent damage except maybe to his ego.

[231Pilot]

I did some of my instrument training with George Jones in Beaumont several years ago.  He was good with Mooneys, but had me drop the gear way too early in the approach.  Other than that, he was a great instructor to work with.  I don't know if he is still around there, but I think his company was Magnum.  We worked out of KBMT in the summer of 2002.  I was flying a 1967 M20C.