On Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:00:48 -0800 (PST), Tina
wrote:

swinging the J bar is a distraction, especially if you're also
transitioning between the marginal VFR during the take off run to
instruments.

I doubt there has been an accident caused by a pilot following either
one, but I was a lot more comfortable getting established on
instruments in the climb before swinging the Joe bar, instead of
during the acceleration to climb speed.


I did my primary instrument training in a Mooney with the J-Bar, while also
transitioning to the Mooney from flying non-retractable Pipers and Cessnas.
If your Mooney has a JBar, you will find that, with practice and
experience, retraction will become a non-event.

Until then, do whatever you find comfortable.

However, the recommended (by the MAPASF courses) normal IFR climb speed is
faster than the speed at which you can easily retract the gear with the
JBar. So if you are getting established in the climb at, let us say
105KIAS or so, it will be more difficult to retract the gear as you are
accelerating through Vx.
--ron