I just wandered in. I have about 250 hours, 200 of that in Mooneys. Instrument rated as of last February. I fly a Mooney M20K 231/262, which is a 231 with a STC'd 252 engine (turbocharged TSIO-360-MB)and other various parts. I'm based in mid-Missouri, and the Mooney has taken me from Key West to Jackson Hole, Sante Fe, Denver, Indianapolis, and various other places. Generally have had a blast, carefully pushing my limits. I occasionally fly for work, but more often for fun.

I ended up here because on several occasions (probably 2x or 3x per year) I've found myself filling up the Mooney with 4 adults and bags and trying to cross the country. It can be done, at gross weight, with 3 hour hops (I burn 12 GPH going 175 kts), but it's not particularly comfortable as the pilot. I don't enjoy flying heavy and also low on fuel reserve. Some passengers also have issues with a 20lb baggage weight limit.

Naturally, I'm looking at the next step up, which would be an A36 or B36. It looks like you guys have a wealth of information here that will take me quite a while to process. I'm not even shopping yet, just kicking around the idea of a Bo or a Saratoga. In the meantime, if anybody has any Mooney questions, I'd be happy to chip in with my limited knowledge. Your board has a fantastic reputation on the internet (places like Mooneyspace.com where I normally lurk) and I look forward to participating.

Best regards.

Zane,

Welcome to BeechTalk. Toss in a couple pics of your plane...

Welcome, now where are the pictures?

Tim

Welcome!

Zane, welcome to BT!

Welcome Zane!

Welcome Zane.

What part if the world are you in ? I got a ride in a Mooney not to far back. Great planes , but too small for me.

We are you know, sort of brothers with our non standard tails. Or so my Mooney friend's wife says.

I'm based at H21, Camdenton, Missouri, at the Lake of the Ozarks. The Lake is highly under-rated as a fly-in vacation spot, by the way, in the summer. Anybody who wants to come visit, first round is on me. Google "party cove Lake of the Ozarks" to get an idea. Don't do it at work.

I love the Mooneys, including the backwards tail. It's always a conversation piece when other pilots wander by on the ramp. It is really an engineering marvel how the entire rear empennage tilts with the trim wheel, and how the flight controls are all push-rods instead of cables. (Insert joke here about me drinking the Mooney kool-aid. I probably have.)

I fit in them fine, at 6' 225lbs, although getting in through the tiny door takes some practice. Once you're in, you sit like a sports car down low with plenty of room to stretch out. I have seen a 6'5" pilot try to fit in a short-bodied Mooney, and while he fit, there was no way anybody was sitting behind him. I suspect he would have trouble in any GA plane, though, or in an airliner.

I apparently don't have a good pic of the K model Mooney handy, but here's one of our other plane, a M20C, that is about to be for sale, to tide you guys over.