Transitioning to a Mooney 201J.......
 

I will be transitioning to a Mooney 201J almost immediately after I get my PPL. It's a family plane and has been offered for the purpose of building time. I know it has a bit of a reputaion for being "slick." I was wondering if anybody could offer some advice as to how I can prepare for the transition from a 172, to the Mooney. I have a healthy respect for this undertaking, I just want to make sure I'm prepared. Any advice you might be able to offer would be greatly appreciated!!!

lucky dog..

Tell me about it!!

Mooneys have a tendency of being landed flat. Mainly because of the fact that they sit so low to the ground that the nose is actually higher than the mains. The deck angle on the newer ones is about 7 degrees nose up.

Make sure to be dilligent planning your descents, especially if the plane has a two-blade prop.

i think the fact that you are on here opening a thread admitting that you are about to venture into uncharted territory and would like some advice says you can handle the transition. the main thing with jumping from a 172 to a high performance plane is to respect the extra oomph that you will now have. like someone else said planning your descents is key too. Realistically though theres not a lot too it, just make sure you stay ahead of the plane, the faster it goes the easier it is to let it get ahead of you, like traffic pattern ops.

After flying the M20J getting back into the 172 will feel liek a toy plane and much easier to handle.

Be careful with power-on stalls as the nose breaks pretty hard.

Things will feel cramped inside especially if someones next to you.

The M20J is more stable and much easier to fly in comparison. It has a heavier feel.

The wings are laminar flow which makes them more aerodynamically clean and very efficient at cruise speeds. Descent and speed reductions will take some planning in comparison to the 172.

Flaps are kind of funny too. They are used for every T/O and have no degree detents. Its basically infinately adjustable to either end of the stops.

The plane lands a litle flat too. You'll fly it right on to the ground.

Do you have yuor compllex endorsement yet? you'll need that in order to act as PIC.

What does the two bladed prop have to do with it??? Are we talking about P-Factor?? If so, could you please explain your comment?? I don't understand.:confused:

No, I don't have a complex endorsement, but I have a few Multi-Turbine non-retract hours under my belt. Good fun it was! I live for the start-ups!!!

The additional blade causes a lot more drag. There is much more frontal area when you reduce power and get a low pitch/high RPM position than there would be with just two blades. You also have the additional drag that is a byproduct of the thrust being produced (remember, a prop is just an airfoil generating lift that's being used in a different direction). I haven't flown a newer mooney with a three blade prop but the few hours I have in an M20 showed me that it's very slippery. You really, really have to be ahead of that aircraft.

While we're not talking about a mooney, I've flown a 172RG in each configuration and the 3 blades were immediately apparent when doing power off 180 landings. The 3 bladed aircraft fell out of the sky.

The best thing that I could say, is to get as much instruction in it as it takes to really feel comfortable. Going from a private checkride to that plane will be interesting, to say the least.