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Proud new Mooney M20C owner

usafhaynes1
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usafhaynes1 Enthusiast

usafhaynes1

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I'd like to introduce myself as a proud new owner of a 1963 Mooney M20C that I recently purchased from a great seller in TX. 

 

I flew to TX, did the pre-inspection of the plane and all log books, took a test flight and had the owner do three landings to allow me to get a feel for the plane, then I jumped in the driver seat and did two excellent landings, even greased the 2nd one!  I owe all the reading I've done on this site to prepare me for the Johnson Bar, Manual flaps (love both of them over electric now) and approach pattern speeds.  I rounded out on final at 80 mph and the Mooney just sat down on the runway nicely, no floating. 

 

After the paperwork was complete, I jumped in and headed straight for MS to visit family and again, great landings.  Flights from MS to TN with a proud mother, from TN to MS with mother, sister and niece, then back to TN with sister and niece, then off to VA for its home airport.  All landings were great except for VA when the ATIS was down.  Luckily some g1000 Cessna's were in the pattern; unlucky, reported 18kt direct crosswinds.  My first landing I had to immediately reject due I had come in full flaps.  As I got back into the pattern, I remembered the reading material stating no flaps for high winds and on the 2nd attempt, I came in with no flaps, less power but did stall the airplane about 6' off the runway to make for a hard hit.  The plane did not bounce, just kept on rolling.  Lesson learned!!!

 

As far as performance, the engine was recently top overhauled so still running mineral oil for the break in.  Prop is brand new and the plane has the 201 windshield and flap gap seals.  This plane cruised at 145kts no wind and hit 170kts for about 10 minutes between TN and VA over the mountains.  This plane is fast!!! 

 

I'm happy to be a mooney owner and look forward to many cross country trips.  Now I just have to get the vor/ils repaired, get my ipad mini (great vfr gps!) mounted on the yoke (ordered the parts), fix a couple of minor issues and get the plane IFR certified!

 

John

 

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Hank Grand Master

Hank

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Sounds like you're having a good time! Welcome to the club, we know the best Mooney model. :D

 

Try a little slower on final--I generally aim to cross the numbers at 75 mph at gross, and 5 mph slower for eavery 300 lbs lighter. Gets me into my 3000' home field easily. Less flap whenever the wind is strong, Takeoff position works well too.

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usafhaynes1 Enthusiast

usafhaynes1

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I'll keep practicing for profiency.  I'm pulling final at 80mph and pull power when I see i'm going to reach the runway.  Twice I've heard the stall warning come on just as I feel the wheels touch down.  I'm always going to strive for that end state!

 

Now, if I can just figure out why I can't get the door key out on unlock.  Yes, I'm having to fly with the key in the door because it won't fully turn when I unlocked it!

HRM Grand Master

HRM

Posted
Posted

I'd like to introduce myself as a proud new owner of a 1963 Mooney M20C that I recently purchased from a great seller in TX. 

 

John

 

Congratulations and thank you very much for the notice! I was getting somewhat depressed about all of the VM's being parted out and it is really great to hear your story. You have bought a super aircraft that I am sure will give you great delight.

 

 

Harley
M20E Super 21 N5976Q @ KBPT
Mooneymite Grand Master

Mooneymite

Posted
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Congratulations.

The C is hard to beat in terms of bang for the buck.

Where in VA are you based? Do you have a hangar for your new baby?

usafhaynes1 Enthusiast

usafhaynes1

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I have my Mooney on the ramp at KCPK.  I'm going to buy a cover for the cockpit and the wings.

Right now I'm still breaking in the new engine with mineral oil and am looking for yoke grip updates with ptt. 

She has a few little quirks that I'm looking into so I can get her IFR certified.

Otherwise, she is stable, flies fast and is a thrill to fly!

Hank Grand Master

Hank

Posted
Posted

I have my Mooney on the ramp at KCPK.  I'm going to buy a cover for the cockpit and the wings.

Right now I'm still breaking in the new engine with mineral oil and am looking for yoke grip updates with ptt. 

She has a few little quirks that I'm looking into so I can get her IFR certified.

Otherwise, she is stable, flies fast and is a thrill to fly!

 

I highly recommend Plane Cover in Salisbury, MD. This is what mine looks like traveling; it's the first one. Right behind me is another Mooney with a Bruce's cover. Mine is nice and tight, the other one has elastic around the bottom and will flap in the wind.

 

Both companies are reported to have excellent customer service.

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usafhaynes1 Enthusiast

usafhaynes1

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I did purchase a plane cover today and am considering options for wing (mostly fuel tank) covers.

 

I'm sure this might spark controversy but I'll throw it out there anyway (dangle the hook!).  I finished my pilot's license in Dec 2012 and went straight into IFR training in Jan 2013.  Yup.  I got complex certified on 30 Mar 2013 and two weeks later, at 68 hours of flying time, I bought a Mooney and after 2 greased landings (yes, i was nervous as hell until that first touchdown) I was on my way across country, flying this amazing aircraft home.  I flew for a total of 14.3 hours over the weekend to arrive at KCPK with 83 hours under my belt, and absolute passion for the planes' capabilities and a better understanding of my piloting skills.  I landed at KCPK under 18kt direct cross winds and had to reject the first landing becuase I had put in full flaps.  I never hesitated to take off when I realized I was being pushed off the runway.  For the second landing, all the hours of reading about flying a mooney kicked in and I came in no flaps, though she did stall 6' off the runway and set down hard enough to rattle my cage (humility as a pilot is an important attribute in my mind).

 

I accredit my landings, flying and understanding of the mooney's capabilities to about 30 hours online, reading every aspect of managing the aircraft on pre-flight, climb, cruise, descent (500 fpm to keep from shock cooling aircraft) and landing (BCGUMPS for me!).  I also have a full flight simulator at home with 3 screens and complete complex flight controls where I spent no less than 10 hours practicing takeoff and landing at every airport I would hit on my cross country.

 

I absolutey believe all the preparation and planning provided me the ability to safely aviate, navigate and communicate!

 

Now...to get my CFI to sit in for some night landings!!!

Hank Grand Master

Hank

Posted
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Haynes--

 

My only concern with your story is the very limited checkout/transition training. I bought my C-model with 62 hours, and insurance required 15 hours dual with 5 hours IMC before I flew her solo.

 

A great way to learn your plane is to visit new and different airports, and it sounds like you are well on your way to that. It's a great plane for Instrument training, too, and will easily cross multiple weather systems when traveling [even on single legs].

 

You're in the Chesapeake that I would prefer to be in, instead of this tiny [~1500 people] "village" on the Ohio River. Eat some fresh flounder for me . . . . .

usafhaynes1 Enthusiast

usafhaynes1

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I appreciate your concern.

 

I tried to fly a bit today but after takeoff, I saw a wall of rain inbound, hit the downwind and landed.  Turns out my landing light switch broke, so...along with an oil change tomorrow, the mechanic is going to fix the light switch!

 

I did not finance this plane and have requested insurance quotes.  I'll keep on flying with that slightly nervous twitch, finish my IFR training and get my CFI to sit safety while I practice IFR in my new plane (once i get the vor/ils fixed and the plane IFR cert signed off!)

 

I'm not concerned about transition training as my current CFI had absolutely zero issues with my plan to go pick my mooney after signing me off on complex aircraft and my display of knowledge about the pattern work in a mooney.  It all showed clear this past weekend when I landed at 4 different airports crossing from TX to VA through MS and TN.

 

Also, took my dog on today's flight.  I did not notice him finding mud prior to telling him to get into the airplane.  I know have muddy paw prints on the right wing as well as muddy back seat.  Insert anguishing laughter here.

usafhaynes1 Enthusiast

usafhaynes1

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The landing light switch is fine.  Why do I know this?  I had maintenance check it out and oh...uh...well...I did my first night landing at XLL last night; was an experience.

 

This post is for those who may think I have too few hours to fly a Mooney as well as those low time pilots who are thinking about purchasing a Mooney as a first plane.

 

I am insured.  The insurance company waived all instructor time; even with only 83 hours.  Falcon insurance made the case that I had my ppl at 40 hours part 61, was 90% complete with part 141 IFR training and had 14 hours cross country with 9 landings in the Mooney.  Insurance company had no issue after that.  Also, my CFI had no issues with me jumping in a Mooney with zero time after I informed him of about 30 hours reading posts and about 10 hours sim on my pc with full complex controls.

 

I've read several posts about porpoising and don't understand it.  Even if I float I simply have the plane trimmed up for level flight and keep enough back pressure to allow the plane to land.  I've never forced the plane nose down on landing.  80% of my landings are with the stall warning sounding just as I feel the main gear touching down.  I attribute this to reading, training and piloting skills.  I've already rejected 3 landings because I didn't feel safe.  

 

I had my first night landing this morning.  I'm current for pax until the end of the month and did a quick flight from jdl to xxl (20 minutes!) with a date.  Yes, NY was great!  I had to reject the landing twice.  1st, I couldn't get runway lights to activate due I hadn't switched over to local frequency (newb mistake).  2nd pass, high headwinds gave me problems with losing altitude.  I was 200 feet over the runway at the numbers.  I instantly rejected the landing and went around for #3.  3rd attempt, I came in a bit lower, chocked power quicker, watched my indicated and still floated halfway down the runway (damn headwinds!).  3100' runway and I touched down past midpoint but the headwinds stopped me in about 800'.  I just let the plane float, saw airspeed drop, realized I was going to set down with room to spare and kept the nose just above level.  She sat down nicely at night with 14kt headwinds and 8 kt crosswinds.  I don't recall touchdown airspeed, though I never heard the stall warning.

 

I may be a low time pilot with 90 hours now, but I still verbally say BCGUMPS (boost, carb, cowel, gas, undercarriage, mixture, prop, seatblets/lights) at the numbers and ensure that the hair on the back of my neck is standing on every landing.  

 

My friend who has 1600 VFR hours refuses to fly at night and thinks I'm absolutely insane for flying at night.  I attribute my confidence in that most of my IFR training was done from Jan-Mar at night after work hours.  I realize that landing at night is a bit different but I trust my instruments and didn't feel uneazy (just those damn headwinds!).  His concern is losing an engine at night and not having a visual of where to land.  My counter was IFR flights operate the same way if they are in clouds.  He rejected my argument.  Oh well.  Then again, I'm almost done with IFR training and he is just beginning.

 

I always welcome comments, opinions and advice.  I've a devout passion to flying and wish I could do it full time (lottery?)

 

Lastly, I bought the iPad mini with gps chip.  I mounted it with the ram yoke mount and used it as primary means of gps navigation.  Foreflight rocks the casbah!

Here is a quick grainy video

 

Enjoy the skies!

usafhaynes1 Enthusiast

usafhaynes1

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RAM Cradle for 7 inch iPad Mini from mypilotstore.com

 

 

RAM Mount with Yoke Clamp and Round Base RAM-B-121-202U from amazon.

 

I bought a charging cable from best buy, ran behind the j-bar so I get power to charge the mini during flight.  

 

I use foreflight for navigation.

 

I mounted the yoke clamp on top of the yoke and flipped the ram mount upside down to the clip part is at the bottom.  This allows the mini to sit lower and not impede any instruments.  I plug in the power from the top which also keeps from hitting my legs.  Looks a little odd but has no clearance issues.

 

I also use myflightbook (detects when you take off even if running in the background) and spin a wind for quick crosswind reference.  All great tools for flight.

 

Hope that helps.

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