Required Reading List for Pilot New to Mooneys?

[urbanti]

Pls post your recommendations for books & other articles you would recommend for a 700 hour Cessna driver looking to break into Mooney ownership and airmanship.

Books don't have to be in print, I'm happy to pursue older books online, etc.

thx in advance,

Tim

[urbanti]

I should have specified that I am most interested in vintage Mooneys.

Tim

[rainman]

Tim, When I was shopping for my Mooney a couple of years ago, I read two e-books that I got from a website called Mooneyland. The person who ran the site (Richard Zephro, "Zeff") passed away last year but others have taken on his mission. The first book was about buying an aircraft and how Mooney may fit your budget and mission. The second book was about "those Mooney aircraft" model by model, what to look for and expect. I found them very useful. PM me if I can help. Ray

[rainman]

Tim, I just checked the Mooneyland site and the e-books are there. The one called "buyers guide to small aircraft" is the one I referenced in my earlier post, as well as "those Mooney Aircraft". "Zef" wrote both books. Very informative. Ray

[Bob_Belville]

Larry A. Ball wrote "Those Remarkable Mooneys" copyright 1998.It's a nice reference, gloss paper with lots of pics, a coffee table book, but might not be as useful as a buyer guide to the pros and cons of C/E/F/J. There's a chronology in the back with production info on everything built from 1948 to 1997 with model number/name, serial #s, engine, features, and # built by year.  I do not know if it is still in print: Ball Publications, Indianapolis. 

[NotarPilot]

I can tell you what I did and that was hours upon hours of research on the internet.  I bought a few books about buying an airplane but nothing that was specific to Mooneys.  I didn't really consider the Mooney until I did more and more research online.  I originally was looking at a C182 or Piper Dakota.  But the Mooney beats them in so many aspects, hands down.  

[Z W]

In my opinion, the best reading is various threads on Mooneyspace.  It's all been discussed here, at length, by people with hundreds or thousands of hours of Mooney time and a serious love for Mooney aircraft.  I've looked for Mooney books in publication and really found almost none.  Those that have been written are out of print and hard to find.

 

Some good examples of threads to browse:

 

http://mooneyspace.com/topic/8971-4-bounced-landings-in-a-row/

 

http://mooneyspace.com/topic/8291-landings/

 

http://mooneyspace.com/topic/8340-crosswind/

 

http://mooneyspace.com/topic/8316-typical-m20c-speeds-tas/

 

http://mooneyspace.com/topic/5934-mooney-most-bang-for-your-buck/

 

Think of what you want to know, put it in the "search" box, and I guarantee you'll find your answers.  Welcome to the Mooney family.

[Bob_Belville]

MAPA still offers Gordon Baxter's classic "The Al Mooney Story" from 1985. www.mooneypilots.com/merchandise.htm#!/~/product/category=0&id=11936820

[Hank]

There's little better advice than what George had to say here:

 

http://mooneyspace.com/topic/8-prospective-vintage-mooney-buyers/?hl=%2Bbuying+%2Bvintage+%2Bmooney

 

If he is still monitoring the list from Japan, he may have more to say if you have more questions. [Hi, George!]

[chrisk]

I found the internet to be the best source for information.  This website in particular has been invaluable. Another initial useful source for me was http://www.ravenware.com/factand/nofic/mooneytrans.html

 

Also, each variety of Mooney has it quirks.

• My 231 is really easy to start hot or cold, but I do have to keep hitting the primer pump until it really gets going. 
• I flew an F for a while and you really had to follow the starting procedure.  
• And I have heard of some folks having troubles with hot starts on the J.

And for some opinions

• I prefer the manual landing gear.  It's not hard and it is bullet proof.  Unfortunately, it is only available on older planes.
• I think landing a Mooney is easier than landing a Cessna 172.    They are amazingly stable.  Just watch your speed.
• I prefer to land with 10 degrees of flaps (or no flaps), unless I have extra weight in the back.  With one passenger and full fuel, most are close to the forward CG.
• I spent 10 hours in a 20F with a very experienced Mooney instructor before I decided to buy a Mooney.  It was worth every penny.
• Finding a mechanic that knows Mooneys can be a challenge in certain parts of the country.  Most mechanics can work on the engine, but I would leave the type specific stuff experts. 
• You need to be careful with the nose gear on a Mooney.  The turning radius of the plane is rather large.  If someone attaches a tractor to the plane and trys to turn the plane to sharply, it can damage the nose truss.  Expensive on the older planes and really expensive on the long bodies.  --The problem here is ignorance, not a design problem.
• Mooneys have a wet wing, and eventually (30 years) the sealant breaks down and they will leak.  In general, a small leak (weep) is not an airworth issue, but an indication of an upcoming (and expensive) repair bill. 
• Speed breaks are over rated.  The landing gear is a very effective speed break.  --And yes, I have speed breaks on my plane, but rarely use them.  If your ahead of the plane and in good weather, they are a fun toy but not necessary.

[Seth]

Tim-

 

Good chatting with you last night.  Here are the four links I described when talking with you - the reviews that are availalbe online and worth the read - they help highlight the differnces between the C, E, F, and J model.  These are some of the best reviews I've found on the vintage Mooney Aircraft.

 

http://www.mooneypilots.com/mapalog/M20C%20Evaluation/M20C_Evaluation_Report.html

 

http://www.mooneypilots.com/mapalog/m20e.html

 

http://www.mooneypilots.com/mapalog/M20F%20Evaluation/M20F_Evaluation_Report.html

 

http://www.mooneypilots.com/mapalog/M20J%20Evaluation/M20J_evaluation_report.html

 

Also, here is the website for Tim Lundquist:  Strategic Aircraft:  www.stategicaircraft.com 612-220-3963

 

He may have an airplane or two not yet listed, or a seller that hasn't quite made the decision lined up and waiting for you in your model and price range.  If not, he's in touch with Bruce Jager on a daily basis who used to own/run the Wilamar MSC (Mooney Service Center) in Minnesota and is a well known Mooney Guru. 

 

And Tim - thrilled you've been bitten by the Mooney bug.

 

-Seth

[DrBill]

Here's a few links that I referred to before buying:

http://www.mooneypilots.com/mapalog/m20e.html

 

http://www.mooneypilots.com/mapalog/HOT%20STARTS.htm

 

 

http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/1995/October/1/Mooney-Safety-Review

 

http://www.pilotfriend.com/aircraft%20performance/Mooney/31.htm

 

I also found some magazine reviews of various M20 airplanes that I got an archive issue like AOPA and FLYING .

 

I also agree with CHRISK on all items.  I got bladders 18 mos after purchase.

 

I routinely get 20mpg in my Mooney on long trips at 140kts !

 

BILL

[midlifeflyer]

I'm new to Mooney's also. A big help to me was reading the MAPA Pilot Proficiency Program Training Manual. I think someone has publicly posted the 2004 edition online, so just Google the title.

[Bob_Belville]

Good advise from several folks... speed brakes can be more helpful than Chris' comment might imply, depending upon model. Where I'm based in Western NC getting down IFR from the west is a challenge with MEA at 9000 within 15-20 nm of airport. My E has a max gear speed of 120 MPH (flaps are 100 MPH) not much help. And in an older Mooney you're cruising in the yellow so there's a limit to how much faster you can go in descent. I don't use the speed brakes all that often but when I do I really appreciate having them.

[Seth]

Of course here's the evaluation for Parker's plane

 

http://www.mooneypilots.com/mapalog/M20K252_evaluation_report.htm

 

and he turned his into the 220 HP Encore with a gross weight increase.  Whoever buys that is going to get a wonderful airplane.

 

http://mooneyspace.com/topic/8835-for-sale-252-encore-conversion-in-annual-at-maxwell/page-2

 

 

http://www.controlle...TSE/1276039.htm

 

 

-Seth

[John Pleisse]

I have said it before and it is not popular, but in terms of piloting skills and transition to a high performance plane, Eckelbar's "Flying the Beech Bonanza" is the best book. This not popular to say on this site. I have flown 10 models of Bonanzas and I still like my Mooney 201 better. Performance, handling and precision configurations are almost identical between a Mooney 201 and an F33A (the Bo is faster because of a larger, gas guzzlin power plant and only by 15 KIAS). Just about everything you read would apply almost identically to any Mooney.

 

There is not a better book to help with transition to complex/high performance.There is not a better plane than a Mooney.

[chrisk]

Good advise from several folks... speed brakes can be more helpful than Chris' comment might imply, depending upon model. Where I'm based in Western NC getting down IFR from the west is a challenge with MEA at 9000 within 15-20 nm of airport. My E has a max gear speed of 120 MPH (flaps are 100 MPH) not much help. And in an older Mooney you're cruising in the yellow so there's a limit to how much faster you can go in descent. I don't use the speed brakes all that often but when I do I really appreciate having them.

Great point.  I forgot about the Vno being low on some of the models.   For the K, Vno is 175kts and Vle is 135kts, and oddly a max retract speed of 107Kts.  I can see how you might want speed breaks for with the max gear speed on early Mooneys. 

[John Pleisse]

Also, there is a Mooney PPC in Atlantic City in September. 3rd weekend I think. Call MAPA. You would walk out with several 3 ring binders that have everything you'll ever need. Its a weekend and $800 well spent.

[rainman]

Tim, I don't know where you are located, but there are several Mooney Service Centers around the country, and also several Mooney specialist brokers around the country. Here in Texas we have Dugosh and Don Maxwell MSCs plus others and All American Aircraft as brokers. Fine the one near you and I think you'll find them very helpful. Hope we haven't overwhelmed you. Ray

[Seth]

TIm is located in the Washington DC area and from our talks it sounds as though he's been in touch with at least one MSC.  Glad to see he has been bitten by the Mooney Bug!

 

-Seth