So, I don’t know how to put it without this becoming a bloated post…
The reason for posting is that I have the opportunity to buy a share in 2 different aircrafts :
Both aircrafts are IFR flown and have similar values (maybe a little less for the PA28) so it makes the PA 28 financially more interessant.
(Note : for the PA 28 I know that the engine was OH/replaced because DAC LUX forbids to go more than 50% beyond TBO (calendar or otherwise) and I suspect it is the same for the Mooney)
My sights were initially set on a sole ownership of an M20K 252 (my preferred choice so far), but that pill may still be a little too big to swallow and in ELLX it seems impossible to get a hangar which makes me very reluctant as well
Other possible options could be to:
I am a bit reluctant to go to the shares because I am afraid to regret it afterwards (not having waited to be able to buy my own “dream” 252) as these are not really liquid assets…
I would also be content with a share in the M20M but I think it is not likely to happen.
I did not research these aircraft too much yet, but I know 2 things:
Let’s say I go with the shares, what would you choose ?
Should I do a pre-buy as if buying solely ?
Thanks !
Nope, it’s bloated…
On the Turbo Arrow, check what aftermarket mods it has. Wastegate, intercooler and speedkits transform the aircraft.
Generally speaking, the Mooney will always be 10-15 knots faster for the same fuel flow, but the Arrow will be a bit more comfortable and less expensive to buy.
If you can, fly them both and see what you like more.
having flown 15 hrs on Arrow IV and 20 hrs on M20R I would personally pick up M20 – more fun to fly, feeling is great . It´s more demanding, you need think ahead more than other airplanes, especially not to arrive on final with 10+ kts. Some people will tell you Mooney is too small – not sure about that. Once you fold yourself into pilot seat, it´s absolutely ok – but M20R is the extra long body inherited from the Porsche modification. Do you plan to carry folks in the rear bench?
I intend to fly it with my family to go places and maybe tour a bit in Europe
So there will be a 4 y.o. in the back seat.
@boscomantico : can these also be made on EASA-reg ? I’m not sure it has any…
Do you think I should/could do a prebuy ?
It all depends what sort of places you want go to. The Mooney is less tolerant of uneven grass / turf due to landing gear design – it tends to bounce and any bouncing should be checked / met with a go-around very quickly, because the prop is closer to the ground than the Piper. Having said that I’m based on a 600m grass strip (with trees at one end, bubble hangars at the other and a perpendicular taxiway at both ends), so fly it by the book and it works.
You should check whether it has the -MB engine with the auto wastegate fitted. These have done away with the heat problem. Ceiling…. I wouldn’t necessarily take a kid to oxygen altitudes unless someone watches constantly that s/he doesn’t remove the oxygen cannula…
Also keep in mind that with part M Light – if it comes through as advertised – you can stick your finger up at TBOs.
You’ll probably have found this via Google M20K 231 flight review you can also ad an intercooler and aut. wastegate to the LB engine (as is standard with the MB engine of the 252). I love flying the Mooney (M20K 252), it is comfortable with my 2 meters length. When flying with the kids it does get a tad cramped, but still OK, maybe the Arrow wil do a better job space-wise. I guess that parts for the Arrow will be more easy to find then parts for the Mooney. Sometimes I had the Mooney sitting in the hangar while we were searching for a part. Last time it was an induction tube that needed replacing.
I’m with @Shorrick_Mk2 on the gear and prop clearance, some airfields I just won’t go to.
Shorrick_Mk2 wrote:
Also keep in mind that with part M Light – if it comes through as advertised – you can stick your finger up at TBOs.
I hope you are right…
Because for now there is this in Luxembourg
http://www.dac.public.lu/documentation/nav/Airworthiness-Notice-2014-01.pdf
No TBO extension, and calendar extensions possible if respecting some rule but limited to 50%
Shorrick_Mk2 wrote:
It all depends what sort of places you want go to.
family friends scattered around France + northern Italy +UK and mostly IFR once I get my ticket, so few grass surfaces probably
Shorrick_Mk2 wrote:
You should check whether it has the -MB engine with the auto wastegate fitted
I have a fair amount of time in the PA28RT-201T. I loved that airplane. It flies to FL200 and even higher at a very decent TAS (160 kts IIRC) which is nice to get above weather or high terrain (like the Rocky Mountains in my case)
Need to watch temperatures like milk on the stove. You should have a good engine monitor. The 2 rear cylinders (out of 6) have a tendency to crack. It was very sensitive in the pitch axis. Really needed to fly it with only two fingers. It also needed to be leaned prior to landing at high elevation airports, otherwise the engine would stop on the runway.
Sorry yes – LB engine.
