IS THERE AN EASIER WAY?

[DAVIDWH]

New to the M-20R:

 

On the 172, just kill power abeam the #'s and wheel it on down. On the Viking, 16" on downwind and forget about MP until crossing the #'s.

 

On the M-20R I find that I am a throttle fiddler and twiddler between 15" on downwind to 14" on base to 13" on final et.

 

I realize these are just guideposts, but is there a, SEMI ALMOST, set it and forget it manifold pressure for landing the Ovation?

 

Looking for a little experience here.

 

Thanks

 

[PMcClure]

For me, the recipe is: abeam the numbers, gear down, 13"mp, 1st flaps, 500 fpm decent, full flaps on base, reduce throttle to maintain 13", turn to final, pitch for 85 knots, throttle to meet glideslope (usually no adjustment). Kill throttle over the fence and head for the numbers, shooting for 75knots at the threshold. Works for me most of the time (my field is 500' above sea level). The Mooney is far cleaner than the 172 so you need to make sure you have your speeds right. I shoot for 120 on downwind, 100 in base and 85 on final. 

[Z W]

I don't think so.  In the Mooney you must get your speed right, which is not true in the 172.  To keep your speed within 5 knots of your target, while hitting your target altitudes, requires throttle movement, at least for me.  Mine varies between 17 and 13 " on most landings, adjusted slowly one way or the other.

 

As far as I can tell this is true of all the Mooneys.  Staying ahead of the plane requires constant small adjustments of both throttle and pitch.

[aaronk25]

When a plane is as slippery as a mooney you can't drive it like a bulldozer and jest set the power and leave it. Small adjustments. The adjustments may need to be larger when dirty.

[Txbyker]

I recently transitioned from the M20J to the M20R. Formula similar to PMcClure. Key to get approach speed set on final with proper pitch usually 13" gear and flaps. Adjustments are slight else you will vary too much. Change MP and give it a few seconds, same with pitch. 70 by flare and throttle all the way out. Not just pulling it but twisting it to the stops. Not twisting leaves enough prop to keep it floating. Bounce the nose gear just go around.

Russ

[mooneygirl]

I do 100 downwind, 90 on base, 80 on long final and 75 short final.  You have to be in charge of the airplane or it will be in charge of you.  We certainly see our share of floating Mooneys at Ambassador events.  I always remember how fast I am going when I rotate, because she loves slow flight.  If you are much above that speed you are going to slam it into the runway or fly, in slow flight all the way down the runway.

[AndyFromCB]

For me, the recipe is: abeam the numbers, gear down, 13"mp, 1st flaps, 500 fpm decent, full flaps on base, reduce throttle to maintain 13", turn to final, pitch for 85 knots, throttle to meet glideslope (usually no adjustment). Kill throttle over the fence and head for the numbers, shooting for 75knots at the threshold. Works for me most of the time (my field is 500' above sea level). The Mooney is far cleaner than the 172 so you need to make sure you have your speeds right. I shoot for 120 on downwind, 100 in base and 85 on final. 

 

I would not recommend killing the throttle over the fence at high density altitude and/or high wind conditions. It will drop like a brick. 85knots is way too fast, at least in my bird unless it's very windy. I find 70 to 75knots to be a better number with two twists of throttle over the numbers and then final pull back in flare.

 

But here is what I do. Join the pattern at 17 to 20" (depending on weight), abeam I drop the gear and all my flaps, usually at about 100knots. Then I fly like that until I turn final, the bird will slowly get down to about 90 on the turn to final. Then I establish glide slope and slowly turn the throttle out until about 75knots over the numbers where I turn out one or two more twists, carrying about 14 to 15 inches until right over the runway where I begin my round out, then and only then do I pull the throttle all the way back. Works like a charm every time, always less than 2000 feet used up.

 

Option B, which I use whenever there is no passengers in the aircraft is to simply pull the throttle all the way back abeam and fly all of way down power off. Works like a charm too, aiming for 75knots on final unless at my home airport where we have a nice "dip" at about 200 feet AGL because we are on top of a hill. There I keep about 85knots, the "dip" will slow me down.

[PMcClure]

I agree that I enter the pattern at 17" and carry some power to just above the pavement in wind and 85knots will use more runway than 75kts on final. 

[carusoam]

You all might reference the rpm that you are using during this exercise. As some M20Rs have 2700 and others have 2500 rpm at their disposal...

Now, I'm more interested in the results....

Best regards,

-a-

[PMcClure]

2500 rpm for my O2. 

[jetdriven]

On my J anyways, the prop is on the low pitch stop below 90 knots and I just use 1700-1900 RPM as a power setting, kinda like a 172.  Manifold pressure doesnt show much direct correlation to power at those low settings.  I never look at it anyways, its always full throttle, unless landing.

[M016576]

I (my century 41 auto pilot) flew a GPS approach into my home field today. It's a 10,000' runway, the hangars are all the way at the far end. Rather than land long and blow off the approach, I elected to fly the approach until the flare and hold the aircraft in ground effect until I needed to slow down for the turn off to the hangars. I can safely say that at 4100' msl, on a 93 degree F day, 15" of mp will hold a J model in ground effect at ~70 kias for over 6000'. I know it's not exactly what you were looking for, but might be a good data point.

[AndyFromCB]

I (my century 41 auto pilot) flew a GPS approach into my home field today. It's a 10,000' runway, the hangars are all the way at the far end. Rather than land long and blow off the approach, I elected to fly the approach until the flare and hold the aircraft in ground effect until I needed to slow down for the turn off to the hangars. I can safely say that at 4100' msl, on a 93 degree F day, 15" of mp will hold a J model in ground effect at ~70 kias for over 6000'. I know it's not exactly what you were looking for, but might be a good data point.

Same with my Bravo, I can fly 3 feet over the ground till the cows come home if there is any throttle left in flare.

[jetdriven]

15", 2100 RPM, and 4 GPH will fly a M20J in level flight until the fuel runs out.

[Rich]

David, I agree with the throttle twiddlers. I land on a 1,950' strip over trees so I land slow (short final at 70 max.). Because our M20R is ~600 lbs. heavier than a 201 and with far heavier wing loading than a 172, they tend to carry further but also tend to drop faster than many lighter planes- ie. an object in motion tends to stay in motion especially with heavy wing loadings..Changes in wind direction, speed and thermals have significant effects esp. if you're slow.. If you can be sloppy (l o n g runways) it isn't so important as you can carry 75+ Kt over the fence and then chop power to land wherever it lands.

If you have a limited landing zone, start with ~14" on final and see if the runway threshhold is rising or sinking and act accordingly.I'd practice several of these on very still mornings or late afternoons and vary m.p. and see what your plane does.