Gust Lock / Control Lock Recommendation

[SkyBound]

What type of Gust Lock or Control Lock would you recommend?

 

Thanks.

 

--Alex

[jetdriven]

This kind. It cost 3$.

 

 

[DonMuncy]

Alex,

It won't work on your C, but you may be interested in the gust lock I designed and built for my K. You can see it in my gallery. I have other photos if you have any interest.

[SkyBound]

Thanks for the quick replies.  I am looking for something for my K model.

 

--Alex

[201er]

This kind. It cost 3$.

Byron, you don't have me fooled! I don't think that is an STC/PMA approved gust lock! That strap should have cost you $300 if it were!

[jetdriven]

Sure it is PMA.  Pilot made appliance.

[201er]

I think it's hilarious that you got it in red and marked it "removed before flight." I think if someone managed to miss that, they should just give up breathing.

[sleepingsquirrel]

Mine cost about three dollars . Bungee cord with hooks wrapped around each inside yoke and under panel to tubing.

[harrispa]

I use a gustlock III which came with the plane when I bought it.  It works great but pricey.

www.gustlock.com

 

Paul

[FloridaMan]

I don't have a picture, but a bungee cord between the seat slide lever across the corners of the yoke and back to the other seat is what I use. The surfaces need some travel in them. 

[scottfromiowa]

+1 on bungee between yokes. No need on elevator (heavy) only ailerons.

[ToddDPT]

I use a gustlock III which came with the plane when I bought it.  It works great but pricey.

www.gustlock.com

 

Paul

 

+1 on the gustlock III

[DaV8or]

I'm using two motorcycle tie down straps. One goes on like Byron and others between the two yokes and the other goes from the pilot's yoke to the tubular frame down by the rudder peddles. The second one is kind of a pain to get on, but it does keep the elevator from bouncing up and down in the wind and it keeps it in the down position. Cheap and effective, but a bit of a pain to install the second strap. My plane spends 90+ percent of the time in a hangar, so I rarely have to use the straps.

[N201MKTurbo]

Mooney didn't supply one because thay didn't think it needed one. I've never used one and naver had any dammage because of it. My plane has seen plenty of weather sitting on the ground. Including being torm loose from chains traveling 200 yards across the ramp and hitting a king air during a T storm in Tucson. The only dammage was a small dent in the elevator where it hit the king air's propeller. I didn't see any of this, when I got back to the airport the plane was back in its parking spot looking just fine, but all the ramp rats were all excited telling me about how they watched it make its journey across the ramp after unbebding the hooks on both chains. They did show me the chains. Damn strong airplane!

[jetdriven]

I don't think it needs one either. But in strong winds the ailerons can continuously bang loudly against the travel stops and its annoying.

[SkyBound]

Thank you all for the comments and feedback.  Very helpful!

 

--Alex

[RJBrown]

Was the AD on the aileron Control links from 1998 to address cracking ostensibly caused by the wind.

[N201MKTurbo]

Good question, After all the abuse I give my planes, mine looked like brand new when I sent them off to Laser to have the gussets welded in.

[FloridaMan]

Was the AD on the aileron Control links from 1998 to address cracking ostensibly caused by the wind.

 

My understanding was it had to do with high time Mooneys operated by a flight school where they were teaching the students to bang the controls to max deflection during preflight. 

[Piloto]

I just drop the front seat back forward and insert the headrest in between the yoke arms. It works very well with only the passenger seat forward. It also keep the seat out of the sun.

José

[aviatoreb]

I just drop the front seat back forward and insert the headrest in between the yoke arms. It works very well with only the passenger seat forward. It also keep the seat out of the sun.

José

 

That's genius!

[takair]

Any body use the seat belts? I move the seats forward and run the lap belt through the inboard corner of the on-side yoke. If done to each yoke it holds the ailerons and elevator. Cheap and always available. Not sure it will work with every configuration.

[The-sky-captain]

Any body use the seat belts? I move the seats forward and run the lap belt through the inboard corner of the on-side yoke. If done to each yoke it holds the ailerons and elevator. Cheap and always available. Not sure it will work with every configuration.

+1 here

[Hank]

Put me in the bungee cord camp. Normally I just bungee the yokes together; if weather is moving in, I'll add a bungee from the copilot yoke to the seat-sliding bar. When tornadoes were forecast at SNF, I used two bungees for each, in case I either needed more strength or if one broke. No problem when the tornado passed less than one-half mile away, from directly behind.