Hello! Looking for the right Mooney for my mission

[bradp]

Hi all,

I just joined the forum today and posted a quick intro in that thread, but wanted to hound up some advice on searching out the right Mooney.  I'm really enjoying reading the old posts in the Vintage forum.  

My story:  I currently live in Charlottesville, VA (CHO) and I'm going to be moving to Boston (OWD) in a few months to start a new job.  My sig other just started school in Blacksburg, VA (BCB)  and will be in her program for the next 3 years.  So we're going to be further apart for the next little while.  That's cool by both of us - we've been doing long distance for a while now, and don't expect it to be too much different from what we're doing now.   

So our options for getting back and forth are:  a) Driving.  Nah.  Slogging 12 hours each way when pulling 70-80 hrs / wk at work ain't going to cut it.   Train - no service.  c) Commercial flights - an ok option for bad weather, but a small mortgage payment to fly to the nearest "spoke" airport (ROA) involving a connection at LGA, PHL or CLT-  that's going to make the trip 6-8 hours each way + the TSA security dance + delays.  Not sounding too, too attractive so far.

Option m): Mooney?  Seems like the best option so far in that there would be 1) flexibility, 2) relative economy, 3) speed, and 4) some equity resulting from what would otherwise go to Colgan/Piedmont as our travel fund.  Drawbacks are, of course, there too - most of my concern centers around winter weather flying in the northeast and mid-atlantic (maybe someday a FIKI Mooney), and the budget, of course.  For the bad weather weekends, trips will be handled by option C.  I'm at 150 TT (120 PIC) and the ink is six months dry on my instrument ticket.  I'm planning on building time, and continuing as much as practical with a long and slow road to commercial / CFI / ATP.  

What I'm looking for in a plane is something that will get me from OWD to BCB (520 nm) in a reasonable amount of time a few times a month, and is a rock-solid IFR platform.  I've had a great experience renting the local C172 so far, but 110kts would be pushing my brain to bladder ratio.  Renting / clubs are also out of the picture because of personal qualms about maintenance, availability of the plane, etc., for my purpose.  In the end the Mooney seems to be the best balance of performance, efficiency, economy and safety among production aircraft. ... But I guess I'm preaching to the choir. 

My first inkling was actually toward experimentals (friend has a Lancair 360 and a permanent "lancair grin", some pretty amazing avionics packages, the promise of 200 ktas).  I decided against the experimental path because of unknowns about the building process, neutral stability in some of the lancair's configurations, tremendously high insurance, the inability to do angel flights, and me not liking the idea that our c.g. would go to aft limits if we had 2 ppl in the plane wanted to bring the puppy along.  

So that's how I arrived at Option M.  In terms of pre-J models (budget), I think I'm focusing on M20Fs or M20E/Cs.  I think the E/C vs. F decision is likely going to come down to those extra 10gal in the F's tanks, as I don't have any really tall friends or family that would shy me away from an E or a C prima facie .  The other alternative would be an E with long range tanks - but those seem pretty few and far between on the market.  I've seen published ranges for the M20E in the neighborhood of 601 nm (http://www.pilotfriend.com/aircraft%20performance/Mooney/41.htm and trade-a-plane DB, assuming this figure excludes reserves), but that wouldn't leave much room for alternate selection or pilot comfort flying IFR trips without a fuel stop.  The M20F's published range is 734nm + reserves (http://www.pilotfriend.com/aircraft%20performance/Mooney/46.htm), which would fit for selection of a good alternate in most cases.  As I don't have a copy of an AFM / POH, do these numbers sound about right?

The other "must have" things I'm looking for are an A/P with alt hold.  A standard-T configuration panel would be very highly valued, as would manual gear and a low-mid time engine (would prefer to not have to do a major in the next 5-6 years).  An IFR certed GPS will also be a must (BCB has prevailing winds out of the NW, but the L

OC approach is for the SE runway), but is something that could be added on post-purchase.  

Am I on the right track in terms of the F vs. C/E decision?  Does anyone have experience with long range fuel tanks as an STC (if so, how $$ are they?).  

Thanks for any help or advice you folks could offer.  I'm looking forward to learning as much as I can about these very cool planes. 

Thanks and take care,

Brad

 

[testwest]

DId you look at this one?

http://www.klrdmd.com/N9303M.html

Now, the web page sheet is accurate on this one as far as the one piece windshield, but the Vref on the link says "201 windshield" which this one does not have..it has a one-piece old style windshield. I made that mistake buying my first F model and paid too much. Subtract $3000 off the Vref, you have $53,680.

Looks like very good bones on this E model. Most of these never make it to the trade sheets before they are snapped up.

Long range tanks here http://www.monroyaero.com/mooney.html $3k for the kit, 60 labor hours.

Cowl closure kit from ARI will decrease drag, you can look at a real 201 windshield next winter......

 

[GeorgePerry]

Quote: bradp

Hi all,

I just joined the forum today and posted a quick intro in that thread, but wanted to hound up some advice on searching out the right Mooney.  I'm really enjoying reading the old posts in the Vintage forum.  

What I'm looking for in a plane is something that will get me from OWD to BCB (520 nm) in a reasonable amount of time a few times a month, and is a rock-solid IFR platform.

So that's how I arrived at Option M.  In terms of pre-J models (budget), I think I'm focusing on M20Fs or M20E/Cs.  I think the E/C vs. F decision is likely going to come down to those extra 10gal in the F's tanks, 

The other "must have" things I'm looking for are an A/P with alt hold.  A standard-T configuration panel would be very highly valued, as would manual gear and a low-mid time engine (would prefer to not have to do a major in the next 5-6 years).  An IFR certed GPS will also be a must (BCB has prevailing winds out of the NW, but the L

OC approach is for the SE runway), but is something that could be added on post-purchase.  

Am I on the right track in terms of the F vs. C/E decision?  Does anyone have experience with long range fuel tanks as an STC (if so, how $$ are they?).  

Thanks for any help or advice you folks could offer.  I'm looking forward to learning as much as I can about these very cool planes. 

Thanks and take care,

Brad

 

[Mooney65E]

Brad,

The route you're planning OWD to BCB is only 520NM. I'd have no problem flying this route non stop in an E model with standard 52 gal tanks. I've got family in WI and typically fly LWS to GRB(1215nm) using either BIS(670nm) or with favorable winds FAR(830nm) as my fuel stop. The 200 hp E models will travel @145+ kts burning just over 8 gph. If I wanted long range capabilities in a plane it must have a digital fuel flow monitor and a lil' John.

[Ned Gravel]

Quote: bradp

Hi all,

I just joined the forum today and posted a quick intro in that thread, but wanted to hound up some advice on searching out the right Mooney.  I'm really enjoying reading the old posts in the Vintage forum.  

....

[Piloto]

My son was at the ROTC program at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg 15 years go. We used to fly about 4 hours in a 1982 M20J to KBCB from KFXE about every two months. We found it to be very practical an even cost effective. KBCB has nice facilities, car rental (Enterprise) and fuel on site. Because college kids and moms carry a lot of stuff I would recommend  an M20J or later model with folding back seats. If the weather gets too close you can land at Roanoke which also has nice facilities. I never had to cancel a flight.

José

     

[fantom]

Welcome again, Brad. You've done a good deal of research already.

Long range tanks aren't needed for your profile on any of the models discussed. Buy the newest, best equipped plane you can afford, while keeping at least a 15% reserve for first year surprises, even after a good PPI. You will not be sorry if you can swing an M20J, I assure you.

Best of luck on your quest.

 

[KLRDMD]

Quote: testwest

DId you look at this one?

http://www.klrdmd.com/N9303M.html

Now, the web page sheet is accurate on this one as far as the one piece windshield, but the Vref on the link says "201 windshield" which this one does not have..it has a one-piece old style windshield. I made that mistake buying my first F model and paid too much. Subtract $3000 off the Vref, you have $53,680.

Looks like very good bones on this E model. Most of these never make it to the trade sheets before they are snapped up.

[JBrown]

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