After 6 years of Mooney ownership I'm doing my first owner assisted annual. Most of my previous annuals have been done by factory service centers. I'm quite a good wrench around cars so this experience is mostly about me learning the standards & practices of aircraft work. I'm amazed by a couple...

Looking for thoughts out there... If I have an IFR-certified GPS (terminal, not just enroute), is there any reason to keep a DME or ADF in the panel? (Other than being able to listen to am radio or tracking "non-offical" navaids - e.g., am radio stations!) TIA, - Don History does not long...

Well I have only been an airplane owner for a few months but so far owning is more expensive than renting. I must say that the convenience of having your own airplane to go to when ever you want is worth a few bucks. Has anyone found owning more expensive than renting? :-) Jon...

Yesterday I noticed that we had pumped more than 5000 gallons of mogas through the Mighty Grape. This represents something like 60 complete fills (our plane has four gas tanks, totaling 84 gallons), and around 350 hours of flight time over the last 2.5 years. (See:...

Has any got any experience with taking a cat in an airplane. Do they freak out from the loud noise. Do they have problems with the change in altitude?

(Jay Honeck wrote) snipped stuff And our rec.aviation get-together was a rousing success, I'm hoping snagged the beer before some EAA lineguy did... :) Random thoughts, because I'm tired - haven't unpacked yet... I did find the "abandoned" beer cooler - thank you Jay. And please thank

This time of year here in the Northeast US I always preheat my Bonanza's IO520 engine with a Tanis heater and an insulated cowling/prop cover as it sits in an unheated t-hangar. The result is that the oil temperature at startup is around 105 degrees F, even if the outside air temperature is as low...

Aviators, My wife and I flew to Williamsburg (JGG) in our 177RG on Sat. and stayed until Sunday. On base at Williamsburg I noticed that the airspeed was really high. I raised the nose and pulled some power. I had 20 degrees of flaps in and that is what I usually land with. On final the...

Me: 7x hour recently licenced PP-SEL. Plane: '79 C152 being sold by my FBO for $19,200. TT is around 8000 (I think), SMOH is 2050. Annual just done. This looks like an Ok deal to me when comparing to like models, but the clincher is that they are throwing in one year of hangering as well. That...

In rec.aviation.owning R. David Steele /omega wrote: What has happened to the development of the diesel aircraft engines? As far as I have seen, only Diamond has a production aircraft with diesel engines (they flew one across the Atlantic, with 5.76 gph). See...

Flyers, First, as a reminder, some may recall that I had unwittingly landed one day in Williamsburg, VA without the flaps. I didn't notice they had not deployed until my next pre-flight when I found them INOP. They I remembered out fast I came over the fence and controlling the airspeed was...

ARRRRGHH! Just took possession of a '67 172 on Monday. Aside from work obligations and IFR weather in the DFW area the past week, I was really really really looking forward to this morning (Sat) to take my first flight alone in the new bird. Going over the logs once again last night (about the...

I had an interesting experience the other day. To some degree I was testing the theory that a local Class-C facility would invariably vector VFR aircraft outside the lateral boundaries of their airspace. I've seen this at a few different airports where I transition through with flight...

http://www.thegaryhouse.com/aircraftdamage/ I was down in a remote area of Mexico this last weekend and a truck backed into my aileron. I was lucky that the driver had a sat phone and I was able to call an A&P to come down to Mexico and swap it for me. However, all the local pilots, and the A&P...

I am getting close to this event. I was wondering how those that have already retired keep an airplane. I am fortunate that I have a moderately priced hangar, reasonable (this is relative) fuel for my area, and perform owner assisted annuals. But, I am concerned on keeping the flying going and...

Well, Fat Albert still sits on jacks at Steve's shop... Not much happening... The vaunted new engine hoses have yet to arrive despite being paid for in advance... The #1 radio was sent out to the radio shop - the King KI-214 VOR heading had suddenly gone off about 12 degrees - though the ILS...

Hello, I am seriously considering the purchase of an airplane and would like to ask the group for potential dos and don'ts. I would so appreciate any guidance, advice, or practical tips other pilots in this newsgroup could offer. Also, to ask about any financial considerations that my not be...

Folks, I am a first-time aircraft buyer. I have a general idea of the type of aircraft I want, but am having trouble narrowing the list down. Here is my general list of wants/needs: 1. Fast: 160 kts 2. Price range: $75K-$120K 3. Four Seater 4. Range: 800nm 5. Useful Payload (with full fuel); ...

Hi, Just returned from Oshkosh home to Pierre SD. I filled up at Dodge Center MN this AM and not being familiar with the self serve gas fillup, I did not hang up the pump handle properly. Somebody after me continued pumping another $150 on my credit card ($200 instead of about $50). My...

A terrible tragedy happened yesterday here at my home airport and I can't get it off my mind as to "why" it happened. 3 people lost their life yesterday. The pilot was a very dear and wonderful person, 72 years young and a pilot of 24 years. "Jean" Bible was never IFR rated and only flew 30...