Rainy boring day in Georgia After 23 years of flying, 18 now with two Mooney's I may have had the most fun flying year so far. I love my Mooney for traveling, works great for breakfasts etc. but I wouldn't call it a toy. I have had the Just Superstol (toy) just over a year now. I've put 158 hours on him and went from picking it up solo in Colorado and flying back to Georgia with only eight hours dual tailwheel to exploring some weird little strips and nice little pastures begging to be an airstrip. A number of camping trips under my belt to landing in a pasture and hiking to a waterfall. I am certainly still learning and exploring the different ways it can be flown. I started down this road by looking for something like a C-120 or 140, maybe a Champ. Not sure how I ended up with a big tire stol airplane but I am glad I did. With the big tires and shocks I haven't been able to have a hard landing, even when coming down so steep that my stomach does a loop at 10' and closing fast (engine out practice and/or shock abuse ) One day, I'll get to play out west again but with some experience under my belt.
I have learned that 80mph can be excruciatingly slow especially when in a hurry, I have learned not to put myself into the position that I am in a hurry. I replaced the airspeed with a G5 so I now have attitude (just in case) and a true altimeter. I just acquired a transponder from a local BT friend that I need to get installed.
My wife appropriately named him Golden Boy. You have to be a Seinfeld fan to understand that one
She hasn't flown in Golden Boy yet and may not ever. The husband wife negotiation to purchase was:
"I think I want this airplane"
"Do I have to ride in it ? "
"No"
"Fine, go get it"

Easy enough but I miss sharing the adventures with her. But to her they would not be adventures LOL

If you too are bored today here are a few videos:

There have only been two airplanes into this strip on Lookout Mtn. so far. The landing approach is on top of the Mtn with the trees at the brow. Really no go around due to a little power line crossing, rising ground and the trees. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS7gyo9pNoY

This one is another brow strip also on Lookout Mtn near Chattanooga. This approach comes right over the brow. Hard to tell in the video but you can barely see the rocks at the top of the brow. I have landed both directions. The Bose ANR's are not letting me hear the "pull up" that Foreflight is singing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W_fDF6Wv0g

Lazy early morning pass over a local lake: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BF2kDLK7h0

Enjoyable post Tony

Agreed! Great story.

highlanders are amazing machines

do you ever fold the wings on yours ? If so, how long does that take to put it to bed wings-folded ?

I enjoyed the videos. I could see fish jumping on your low pass over the lake.

Everytime !
But recently the Mooney was in the shop for a prop and for those 3-4 weeks I sure did enjoy it being ready to go. An item I need to post up in another thread for thoughts, I am looking at building a lift out of either a 2 post car lift or a "walkie" stand behind hyster. I am leaning toward the walkie, 4000lb capacity. Either way I would build a 3 point cradle. I know you can buy aircraft lifts but they are in the $14,000 range. A 7,000lb 2 post is $1,700 and a used hyster is $3,000
Because of thinking about a lift I have done some recent stop watch timing. The problem with spending $$$ for a lift is that I can have it out ready to fly in 12 minutes and wings folded and in the hanger in 6 minutes. All solo, faster with help. Does not include fueling, sumping or checking oil, only items extra due to folding the wings. If using a lift it will take still take 6 minutes to move the Mooney out, get the Superstol in or out and the Mooney back in.
Not a lot of time savings but:
1. With the wings folded the fuel in each tank must be 1/2 or less. It will run out the vented caps. Could relocate the caps, aluminum tanks. Would be nice to not worry OR FORGET having too much fuel.
2. Never worry about cables not being placed correctly, wing pins etc. My time out does include preflight of these items.

I have blue painters tape on the floor. Roll the front left tire in that taped box and swing the tail in. I don't even have to look because if the Mooney is where it should be and the tire is in the tape area nothing will make contact.

the size of those tires next to the mooney, cracks me up

A guy on my airport that has an office facing the runway says it looks like a cartoon airplane taking off

How heavy is the tail to lift?

Just asking as you could place it on a nifty stand that’s secure, or have a setup to lift it from ceiling, to help with your fuel venting issue.

Murray

#keeper!

Love this.

excellent. thanks for the vids. what engine does that have in it? my rans s6 has the rotax 100hp and i love it.

I have weighed everything except the tail “with” the wings folded. Wings out the tail weighs 165lbs and wings folded does add quite a bit. Total dry weight is 800.

Nice! The landing gear hydraulic struts makes these land great with the big tundra tires. Takes a lot of bounce out.

A well designed machine.