Mooney versus Socata versus Beechcraft versus Cirrus

[carusoam]

Ice and snow, cloud line, no ice and snow... Very interesting picture EB.

Best regards,

-a-

[aviatoreb]

Ice and snow, cloud line, no ice and snow... Very interesting picture EB.

Best regards,

-a-

 

Thanks.  It is so serene and magical it reminds me of that day every time I look at it.  Also if you look closely you see many villages at several different altitudes from the valley floor and on up the sweeping hills and on the plateaus.

[benpilot]

 

I am encouraged at how many Mooney pilots really make use of their airplanes to do serious cross country flying! For me, I am a single guy so getting started with a 201 or 231/252 would be plenty of power in a budget that I can afford. See how I like flying it first and then if love it, thats the ticket. Can always upgrade later to an Ovation or Acclaim. I like the economic fuel usage for the performance ratio compared to other planes. Mooney is impressive offer close to turbine performance for half the cost!

[carusoam]

Single with excess cash and a desire to fly everywhere. I sense a turbo in your future...

If you stay single and have more excess cash gain experience in the K arena, and then move up to the Acclaim.

Just thinking out loud, how does it sound?

Best regards,

-a-

[benpilot]

 

@carusoam- agree, having a turbo would be useful especially since I'd like to fly places in the mountains for hiking and camping. So the 252 fits the bill. 

Plus I can do my instrument rating in the plane saving on rental costs and use it for commercial rating as well. If I spent ALL the cash on a more expensive Ovation or Acclaim there would be no cash left over for an airpark home which is my dream.

[Parker_Woodruff]

 

I am encouraged at how many Mooney pilots really make use of their airplanes to do serious cross country flying! For me, I am a single guy so getting started with a 201 or 231/252 would be plenty of power in a budget that I can afford. See how I like flying it first and then if love it, thats the ticket. Can always upgrade later to an Ovation or Acclaim. I like the economic fuel usage for the performance ratio compared to other planes. Mooney is impressive offer close to turbine performance for half the cost!

 

I've got a nice one for sale!

 

http://mooneyspace.com/topic/8835-for-sale-252-encore-conversion-in-annual-at-maxwell/

[Joe Zuffoletto]

The great thing about Mooneys is that there is great performance available at so many price points. As my income slowly advanced during my 28 years of flying I went from renting a J, to owning a K, and now I own a TN. I absolutely loved them all and I was able to afford each one at the time.

[benpilot]

 

@colojo, true thats what I like about Mooney. Wish they would start building new aircraft again to compete against Cirrus and Beechcraft.

[Jsavage3]

If you are getting 140 KTAS at 8.5 GPH in your C model, I would stick with what you have. My '78 J is only around 5 (or perhaps just a little more) knots faster LOP at that fuel flow. FWIW, my previous (admittedly highly speed modified PA28-180) would do 126 KTAS at 10 GPH. Not bad, I thought, for such a simple design.

Jim

 

My 86' J consistently does 158 ktas on 9.4-to-9.7 gph non-LOP, has nearly 1000# useful load and is a perfectly stable IFR platform.  I figure that the gallon or so per hour LOP might save me, it's not worth the airspeed penalty...IMHO!  I bought a Mooney to go fast and at less than 10 gph, well, I'll feed her that!  If I were feeding a big-bore 6 cylinder...that's different.  Although I have been ogling the K/Encore ships, I am quite in love with my beautiful J!  Skynewbie, just an opinion to consider...

[aaronk25]

My 86' J consistently does 158 ktas on 9.4-to-9.7 gph non-LOP, has nearly 1000# useful load and is a perfectly stable IFR platform. I figure that the gallon or so per hour LOP might save me, it's not worth the airspeed penalty...IMHO! I bought a Mooney to go fast and at less than 10 gph, well, I'll feed her that! If I were feeding a big-bore 6 cylinder...that's different. Although I have been ogling the K/Encore ships, I am quite in love with my beautiful J! Skynewbie, just an opinion to consider...

I can only get about 2 to maybe 3 more knots from going peak egt to 80-100rop. So I run at peak most times subject to keeping the heads under 380 degrees.

That fuel flow of 9.4-9.7gph is peak egt unless your above 8-9k, and then it can't be more than 50rop unless you above 12k or so.

[benpilot]

 

Great analysis and by now I've been able to fly a Mooney Rocket 231 and Mooney 201J. Also flew V35 Bonanza and Debonaire as well as Socata TB20 and Commander 112. I'm doing my checkride in couple weeks in a Piper Warrior that I've been training in so the single door is not an issue for me. Pax is me and 1-2 folks and maybe 100lbs of gear so most Mooney would be fine. My game plan is to get checked out in the club Mooney 20F after my PPL checkride is passed next month. That should give me a solid intro to the Mooney and help to make a more concrete decision.  Since I am short, if I end up getting a Mooney, the rudder pedal extensions are a must for me! The yoke comes right into my chest when I pull myself up close enough to the panel to be able to see the instruments! Having 4 inch rudder extension pedals would solve this issue for me to be at home in one.

[KSMooniac]

That is good to hear.  Just get a good experienced Mooney CFI for your transition to the M20F and you'll do fine.  I moved from a 172 into a '75 F in my college club and loved that plane.  Getting into my J 10 years later was very easy after getting a good transition from a husband & wife Mooney-owning team.  They have thousands of hours in Mooneys and taught me well.

[benpilot]

 

Thanks KSMooniac! I am sorry that I ruffled some feathers at first here and do like Mooneys as well as Bonanzas. Both great planes but for the money as a single guy, the efficiency is nice on the Mooneys. I think that my next step after having passed my checkride will be to do my complex/high performance in a Mooney with a qualified CFI with Mooney experience. That way after having some time in one, I can make the best logical step. It will also give me time to save up for a plane and maintenance cash reserves.

[KSMooniac]

After 5-10 hours in a Mooney you'll know whether you're gonna like one or not.  They all fly/handle/land about the same IMO, so getting time in an F will translate well to whatever you end up buying.  Certainly go flying in a Bonanza or two as well and then make a decision.  There isn't really a wrong answer.  Both are fine choices.  I firmly believe a Mooney will cost less to own and operate over time, but obviously the Bonanzas have their own positives and many people choose them.  I've got about 10 hours in a V-Tail and really liked it, but my mission couldn't be better suited to a 201 and I'm ecstatic to still have one after 6.5 years.  The only thing that would make it better is a turbo normalizer.

[Shadrach]

A lot of great info in this thread. Only thing I would add is that if you do go Bonanza shopping, skip the B36TC and look for an A36 that have been equipped with TAT turbo normalizing system. It will do everything a B36TC will do and more. It's a much better set up.

[benpilot]

Agree about skipping the B36TC model. I looked at Bonanzas but the ones under 200k are high time planes with ancient systems. A few have been updated but sell for almost a much as a Bravo or first generation Ovation!