Aspiring pilot and future Mooney Owner

[smitty9006]

Looking for a Mooney owner and CFI in Tampa Bay willing to help. My intention was to buy a Mooney M20E and learn to fly but the reality is that insurance costs are prohibitive. Would anyone be willing to take on the challenge of teaching me to fly in their Mooney? Of course I would pay all expenses and I will help with maintenance, upkeep and shop/hangar chores. I am 49 years old and I have some training hours from many years ago plus recent study with AOPA and Sporty's courses. I have worked at the same company for 30 years, been married for 26 years and have two kids in college. Thoughts?

[N6843N]

Ashame that you are so far away from me. You sound like someone I am looking for as a partner in my "C". Keep in mind you will still have a very high insurance premium to start with. That should drop quickly as you gain experience. 

[MooneyMitch]

Hi Dan.

Great that you want to be a Mooney owner/pilot.  Best single engine airplane in the world.  I hope your search reveals someone that wants to share partnership with you.  Welcome to MooneySpace.  This is a great place for all things Mooney.

 

 

[smitty9006]

Thanks for the encouragement guys. Anyone going to Sun-N-Fun? I plan on going on Friday. What can I expect as far as Mooney's being there?

[Parker_Woodruff]

How much do they want for insurance?  Who quoted you?

[Jeff_S]

The SE Mooniacs group keeps talking about a fly-in to Sun 'n Fun but I haven't heard much about it lately. They just had one this last Saturday to Huntsville AL, but for various reasons I couldn't make that trip. However, I'm thinking of scooting down to Sun 'n Fun on Friday for a day trip. Not sure if Mooney will even have a booth there, but they will be listed in the Exhibitors section of the website if they will.

[smitty9006]

Parker, One quote was for 4,800 for the first year from Tom at AirPower. Tom is a great guy and was very positive and enthusiastic about helping out. I guess one way to look at it is 4,800 might be double the experienced rate but then I would be learning in my own Mooney right from the start. I could possibly roll the additional 2,400 into the finance, less down payment?  I am still waiting for another quote from a different company but they were not as sure that I could even get coverage for a Mooney. With that said, they were very helpful and pleasant. Someone who sells planes thought that it would be difficult for me to solo in my own Mooney due to insurance restrictions requiring me to fly with a CFI.

Jeff, thanks for the info on Sun N Fun. I hope to see some Mooneys and Mooney fans there.

[mooneygirl]

I pulled this information off the Mooney Ambassador schedule regarding Sun and Fun

 

Mooney Airplane Company will have a full complement of our sales team along with 2 Acclaims and an Ovation 3 Event location: Lakeland Linder Regional Airport  Start your aviation year at Sun 'n Fun, one of the world's premier events for recreational aviation enthusiasts. Mooney Aircraft Company will be on display.  Please stop by the Mooney Display to say hello! http://www.mooney.com 

 

The decision about whether Mooney Airplane Company will be at AirVenture [Oshkosh] will be made in late April.

 

 

[Immelman]

Quote: smitty9006

Parker, One quote was for 4,800 for the first year from Tom at AirPower. Tom is a great guy and was very positive and enthusiastic about helping out. I guess one way to look at it is 4,800 might be double the experienced rate but then I would be learning in my own Mooney right from the start.

[Qwalton]

My first years insurance with 150 total hours 0 complex and 0 in type is about $1500, I went through the aopa insurance agency. 

[Parker_Woodruff]

$4800 is really steep.

 

Are you a MAPA member? www.mooneypilots.org

 

Become a member then contact Falcon Insurance in Kerrville.  They should be able to get you a decent quote as they have a big pool of Mooney pilots.  You'll want to talk to Clint when you call them.

Toll Free: (800) 880-4545
Phone: (830) 257-1000
Fax: (830) 792-1144

[jmills]

Quote: Parker_Woodruff

Are you a MAPA member? www.mooneypilots.org

[skyking]

Hi and welcome to the world of Mooneys.

I too have to agree that the insurance quote you recieved is high. I know a chap that also had only a couple of hundred hours and "0" on type and after the madatory 10 hours with an instructor recieved 60K hull moving or stationary and 2 mill liability for $2500 a year Canadian.

I would also agree about thinking twice in learning to land in a Mooney. Not enough can be said about having everything just right ( speed, altitude etc) as you dont want to be porposing thes things. The gear just wont take a lot of hard hits.

Dont get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with learing to fly in one, just maybe do some 172 time to get the landing practice in.

 

Good luck and welcome to the site

[flight2000]

Just my opinion, but if you learn in a Cessna 1X2, your skills are going to still be off going to a Mooney and the resulting issues will still be there.  I'd maybe recommend a low wing aircraft to learn in (thinking Pipers) if you decide to forgoe the Mooney route at first.  $4800 might not be all that far off for a zero time student.  A local FBO here rents a Mooney M20E for training.  I'll have to ask him if it's only for advanced ratings or if the insurance will allow him to give instruction to a primary student.

Brian

[Immelman]

Better yet -- learn in a taildragger. It will put you way ahead in terms of mastering takeoffs and landings than learning in a typical cessna or piper trainer. If I had more money I'd have my mooney and a citabria or decathlon right along side it. I really enjoy my airplane but do miss flying those...

[mooneygirl]

I had six hours in a Mooney when I purchased my E model, and perhaps 150 total time.  My insurance has been between $1200-1400 with great coverage and a $100 deductible.  Become a member of MAPA and AOPA, then get a good deal.  I transitioned from a Warrior to the Mooney with no problems.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[smitty9006]

I just spoke to Falcon and they have written policies for student pilots but not many. Even with joining MAPA it would still be about double the experienced rate. I think the best thing for me to do is learn in a Piper or Cessna, then buy my Mooney. I wouldn't want to damage a plan learning to land and it would be more economical. With that said, I appreciate everyones participation in this thread. MooneySpace is fantastic and so are the people in the Mooney community. Thanks.

[KSMooniac]

I think renting for your PPL is probably the best course of action with today's insurance market.  It sounds like it would be close to even, financially speaking, with no risk of damaging your potential Mooney.  You will still need a good/experienced Mooney CFI for a transition down the road, but you can combine that with some Instrument training too.  FYI, I've seen fixed-gear trainers with a fake gear switch, just to get students in the habit of lowering the gear, even if it is a ruse in a 152 or 172!  You might put one in whatever plane you learn in just to get in the habit.    (just taped/velcroed to the panel)

 

Good luck!

[fantom]

Quote: KSMooniac

.....FYI, I've seen fixed-gear trainers with a fake gear switch, just to get students in the habit of lowering the gear, even if it is a ruse in a 152 or 172!  You might put one in whatever plane you learn in just to get in the habit.    (just taped/velcroed to the panel)

 

[MikeinFL]

Dan,

I PM'd a reply to your question on the Florida site.

I got my Mooney with only 80 hours with zero retract time.  At a $70k hull value the insurance was $2,200 the first year and it has kept dropping steadily, now with IFR and 500hrs retract it's down to $1,200.

I would get you PPL in a 172 then jump into a Mooney ASAP.

 

Mike

[Scott Aviation]

Quote: Immelman

Better yet -- learn in a taildragger. It will put you way ahead in terms of mastering takeoffs and landings than learning in a typical cessna or piper trainer. If I had more money I'd have my mooney and a citabria or decathlon right along side it. I really enjoy my airplane but do miss flying those...