Anyone recognize this bird, N5813F?

[Joe Zuffoletto]

This is me at Bader Field in Atlantic City, NJ, on May 9th, 1987. I was a senior at Princeton and this plane was in our flying club. I was the only member checked out in Mooneys so I had her to myself my entire senior year. Anyone here on MooneySpace own this bird? She was a beauty and hooked me on Mooneys forever.

 

[John Pleisse]

1985 MOONEY M20J

Fixed wing single engine

(4 seats / 1 engine) KOENIGSKNECHT STEVEN J

TROUT CREEK, MI

(Individual) Standard/Normal 24-1563

[carusoam]

Colojo,

Did you do flight training at 39N (Princeton, Nj)?

Best regards,

-a-

[Joe Zuffoletto]

Colojo,

Did you do flight training at 39N (Princeton, Nj)?

Best regards,

-a-

 

No, I got my PPL at San Diego Montgomery (KMYF) in 1985. While at Princeton I flew out of Trenton-Robbinsville (N87), which is where the Princeton Flying Club kept their aircraft.

[carusoam]

N87 is the home of our NJ MSC...

Best regards,

-a-

[flyboy0681]

No, I got my PPL at San Diego Montgomery (KMYF) in 1985. While at Princeton I flew out of Trenton-Robbinsville (N87), which is where the Princeton Flying Club kept their aircraft.

 

I used to fly into N87 for dinner during the early 80's. At that time there was a country club near the field which let fliers dine in the restaurant. I had a few memorable meals there.

[Cris]

Well the plane as well as Bader Field are long gone but the control tower in your picture is now part of the Naval Air Museum located at Cape May Co. airport NJ. Just a little bit of trivia.

[Joe Zuffoletto]

New Jersey and its neighbors were great places to fly. Although I'm a Westerner at heart, I very much enjoyed the two years I flew back East. Thanks to you all for your comments.

 

Here's what I look like today. Still love Mooneys!

 

[KSMooniac]

I sure hated that paint scheme when Mooney/BMW unveiled it, but it has grown on me since then.  Blue & Silver is especially stunning!  Can you share some interior pics too please?

 

Disclosure:  I'm a big BMW fan (cars and motorcycles) and I didn't like several of the modern designs over the last 5-8 years, but they too grew on me.  I think their design staff has a real talent for getting out ahead of what is popular and really setting the bar high.

[M016576]

I sure hated that paint scheme when Mooney/BMW unveiled it, but it has grown on me since then.  Blue & Silver is especially stunning!  Can you share some interior pics too please?

 

Disclosure:  I'm a big BMW fan (cars and motorcycles) and I didn't like several of the modern designs over the last 5-8 years, but they too grew on me.  I think their design staff has a real talent for getting out ahead of what is popular and really setting the bar high.

The "mustache" on the E90's and 6 series was particularly disturbing to me. Still is. I like the E92's look, but the newer BMW's with the Distinct line where the hood opens is particularly bothersome to me. Can't please everyone, I suppose!

That's a pretty Acclaim, though. I haven't seen that paint job before: it's nice!

[Joe Zuffoletto]

I'm going to bed now, have to get up early tomorrow for a flight to Cabo. I appreciate your comments... go to www.zuffoletto.com for more pix of the plane, including a couple interior pix.

[teethdoc]

I'm going to bed now, have to get up early tomorrow for a flight to Cabo. I appreciate your comments... go to www.zuffoletto.com for more pix of the plane, including a couple interior pix.

Making good time:  http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N3833T

[carusoam]

That flight looks easy, desirable, fun, etc....

I checked the flight, while at 9,000' and 100mi from the end. 192kts while flying SW...

Best regards,

-a-

[flyboy0681]

That flight looks easy, desirable, fun, etc....

 

 

Wonder if one of the controllers along the way is Jose Jimenez.  

[Joe Zuffoletto]

That flight looks easy, desirable, fun, etc....

I checked the flight, while at 9,000' and 100mi from the end. 192kts while flying SW...

Best regards,

-a-

 

Hello from Cabo, everyone! First time I've been able to get online since arriving here the other day.

 

Did FlightAware show my progress on the leg from El Paso to Cabo? I wasn't sure if that leg would show, even though I was on an IFR flight plan.

 

Lucked out with favorable winds, clear skies and a smooth ride the entire way. Hopefully the in-flight video camera worked and I'll be able to post some vids when I get back.

[carusoam]

Both flight segments were displayed in full.

I was trying to sell the idea to my wife. It's a long term project of mine...

The over water portion of the flight was not as much an issue as the over a foreign country part was.

Thanks for sharing,

-a-

[kortopates]

Actually the ELP-MMSL segment only shows the filed route. You'd have to be controlled IFR and in radar contact (above 19.5 in northern mexico) for it to show - but I have yet to see flightaware show a radar tract in Mexico, so I think its more an issue of the radar not being available from an internet feed.

Anthony, you ought to work harder on your wife. if she likes to travel,  the "foreign country part" is part fo the adventure and you already have one fine travelling plane, your Mooney. Take advantage of while you can!  

[carusoam]

Thanks Paul, it's been a long decade or so going from first flight in a C152 to traveling to Disney world with kids...

Our first flight she told me to stop looking at the other planes entering the traffic area and pay attention to what I was doing... (thanks Honey. She has always been smarter than me and prettier too)

I think another trip to Disney followed by some nearby islands, like JetDriven accomplished...

I have some other imediate challenges to overcome first. Everything takes longer than expected. Plan on continuous improvement.

As far as flightaware is concerned...the dashed line showed the filed route until, Overlaid with the solid line "as flown"? As Joe was in flight. I don't know what followed over time.

Best regards,

-a-

[kortopates]

Anthony, the islands sound like a great idea. Are you sure your wife isn't interested in becoming a pilot? I got mine to do a pinch hitters class and she was instantly proclaimed she could get her license. Now its been probably a bit more than 10 years ago since she got her ppl, followed by her Instrument and then fully checked out in our 252 and I have never been back into the left seat. God forbid if I change her seat height! But I really have no problem flying left seat, even have dual brakes. I am just happy she's grown to love flying and travelling in our Mooney - I consider myself very lucky despite even if every other leg is hers!

 

Very Interesting if you saw the solid line track on flight aware while Joe was flying in to MMSD. Flightaware only shows the actual track of the first 10 minutes now (while still tracked by ABQ) but since they are always adding new areas (such as Australia not long ago), I looked at some current flights in progress and only saw the "estimated" or extrapolated location of  planes enroute for 3 or 4 I looked at hoping to see more. Mexico just seems very far behind the technology curve - don't even think they have a single GPS approach procedure.

[carusoam]

Paul,

I haven't missed an opportunity to ask her in the last 15 years including at least once last week. Somewhere out there is a person that will be inspirational towards this goal. But it hasen't been me.

She has gone as far as completing a pinch hitters course in our old M20C. She has become comfortable in our flights. Just no interest.

No explanation either, she probably doesn't know why, or she's just not saying...

Best regards,

-a-