Is Flying REALLY Faster Than Driving? | Mooney M20C Vlog #18 | Turbulent Flight 

Hahaha, this is so good! Good work!

Jesus Christ don’t start with “my wife took off” I though she left you 😭😭😭

Hahaha…too funny!

​@@eyeyamjstn628even if she did leave him, with a plane you make time to reconcile

Such a good point, much less stress up at altitude vs. the freeway!

The equation is basically: Like to fly + can afford to >= (is greater than or equal to) literally every reason not to

Hahaha, this is so good! Great to have a math wiz watching!

It takes me 3 hours to get to my boat in Sausalito from Fresno, Ca UNLESS we hit traffic, then sometimes it takes 6 hours. I’m told it’s a one hour private flight. Sign me up!!!

Heck yea!!! Sounds perfect!

No doubt! That’s a huge win!!!

Damn. That's a major difference. I live out on the coast but spend a fair amount of time in Reno/Tahoe. Drive takes about 4.5hrs. would be nice to cut that down to an hour of flying!

It can be a huge win...but it doesn’t always work out perfectly.

@@MyTimeToFly it's Lake Tahoe... Even if the flight took 4hrs, it would still be a huge win!😂

Thanks Fredd! You're spot on there, my mid west (flatland) flying has instilled a bit of a bad habit there. Getting to some higher elevation flying is something I look forward to.

Humility isn’t always my strong suit! I guess you’ve got to celebrate the victories in life, even the small ones! Thanks for being here!

Love it man!!! We sure do look similar!

Haha, didn’t think of that...it would be perfect!

Right on man! Thanks for being here!

Sorry to hear that man. I’m not saying you could get you license, but I would recommend taking some lessons. It’s a pretty amazing experience by itself!

Where are located

Not sure if this is what you’re asking, but I’m located in West Michigan.

Did you fail your medical? If not try going for sport pilot unless it's really bad then probably a good idea to stay grounded.

Good option to consider. But like you mention, best to stay within your known limits!

Right on Mike, taking up passengers is one of the biggest joys an aviator can have. Enjoy your flight tomorrow, you’ll be giving rides before you know it!

It's a big responsibility, but one we should all be proud to take on.

I love it!

Yeah I hear that! I got stuck in the Florida Keys last week due to icing over WV. Poor me....or pour me another cold drink by the pool?

What the saying, make lemonade...then put some vodka in it!

the lady who ran our airport, "Time to spare? Go by air."

It seems that might be often true!

Very cool, that makes it a no brainer!

Thanks for watching out for my stupidity! I believe I tend to keep my hand on throttle typically, but clearly forgetting to enter the destination threw me for a loop on this flight. Won’t happen again!

My instructor used to whack my hand when it came off the throttle :)

Sounds like a good instructor!

Exactly what I thought when I watched it lol. It happens though, make small mistakes and video catches it for all to see!

I once promised to the community I wouldn’t edit out my mistakes. I still commit to that promise!

It’s certainly become easier with Uber and the like, but I do agree it can be a bit of a struggle.

Thank you kindly! Good luck on the training. Remember, there will be highs and lows, keep your eyes on the prize!

Oh man, he had a blast. It was a roller coaster kind of day out too, which made it that much more fun!

That seems like an amazing advantage!

Very cool. Don’t get too close, you might no be quite as jealous! Seriously, thanks for watching!!!

My pleasure!

That sounds like an awesome advantage in NC! Lake Michigan provides that type of obstacle for us here in Michigan!

Seems obvious to me! 🤣🤣🤣

No doubt, we are incredibly blessed to have the Great Lakes. Although I can say Michigan winters are starting to wear on me.

Right on man, thanks for being here.

Right on man, seems like a very nice airport. Glad you enjoyed!

I mentioned above he flew right over my grandfather's farm on the south edge of New Era.

It is certainly beautiful country!

I guess that’s some calculus we all have to personally perform. I have found trips where general aviation can’t be beat…but they aren’t abundant.

Hard to disagree there. This wasn't a long enough trip for the airplane to win, but get up toward a 3 hour drive and it starts to make more sense.

@@MyTimeToFly I gave this more thought than I should have after I originally replied LoL, and yeah, I came up with a couple hundred miles being the tipping point as well. I’ve never owned a plane, but my wife has owned chickens. Don’t buy chickens if you want to save money on eggs (because you won’t), buy chickens because you enjoy having chickens. And don’t buy a plane because you want to save time (or money) on travel, buy a plane because you enjoy flying. Great video though, and thanks for taking a moment to respond!

Those are some amazing words, who knew a good comparison between airplanes and chickens could be made. I appreciate you Joe!

Sounds like a great option to me, there are so many cases like this nationwide!

Very very true, and there can be unexpected delays using either form of transportation.

I’ve always said that a 3 hour drive is when it starts making great sense to fly. But I’m going to put it to the test!

The long distances we have to drive out here on the Great Plains and the mountain West to get just about anywhere are surprising to folks living in the Midwest or overcrowded coastal regions. General Aviation makes so much more sense for us here.

That’s awesome, I certainly know having everything I need within 10 miles is not always the norm!

@@MyTimeToFly 3hrs for sure still makes sense. I regularly fly to a lake exactly 3.5 hrs driving from home. In the Mooney it’s 45 minutes. No brainer.

Most definitely! More time to enjoy that destination.

Agreed, until the drive gets so long that flying commercially takes over. I typically figure 1-3 hours = Drive 3 - 10 hours = Fly 10+ hours = Fly commercial (or fly yourself if you want the fun and don't mind spending a bit extra $$$)

I can't even imagine. I'd certainly like to experience it someday though!

Thanks so much, and that’s great you’re headed down the journey! You’re going to have a blast! Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything along the way!

I've been there, and I agree with you 100%. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Thank you sir! I always say the best way to learn, is to teach. That’s how I approach all of my flying.

No doubt, we are very fortunate!!!

I think that's a good thing? If my audio was poor on this video, you can believe it's improving on my new videos.

Thanks Brandon! I love West Michigan, but would really like to have more good days to fly, I hear Texas offers that!

@@MyTimeToFly not lately. It’s been thunderstorms for a month lol. And in the summer its over 100 degrees. So pick your poison lol

Maybe I’ll just find myself in the Carolinas. Unfortunately the places with the best flying weather typically cost way more $.

Thanks a bunch Mark, I glad you enjoyed it! Sounds like you’ve had some great experiences!

Congrats on starting your flying journey, you’re going to have an amazing time!

Thanks for the feedback. I will see what capabilities exist in my ending software.

Seems reasonable. No doubt there are tons of variables at play.

That’s awesome Mark! Did you go cross country, or local?

@@MyTimeToFly Just flew to a local airport to practice landings. Forgot to put my landing gear up when I departed in heavy traffic. Realized it when I was wondering why I was climbing out so slow :-)

I’ve done it...not for a long time, but it certainly can happen. Task saturation is a brutal thing!

Hahahah, we’ve got it easy. I hear the mountain flyers are the real aviators!

I grew up and learned to fly in Missouri, and definitely had to be good at sectional map reading compared to what you saw on the ground. Now in Northern California, mountains rule :-)

I never thought of it that way, very neat perspective!

I agree, the test could be refined!

Correct.

Next time...for sure!

This is the correct answer.

I agree. I will make a comparison like this happen soon!

Right on man, I appreciate you being here. Good luck in your training.

@@MyTimeToFly Thanks mate, had a horrible accident here yesterday tho not sure if i will be flying now on Tuesday . 2 planes collided on take off at Caboolture Airport where i fly from. 2 people passed was horrible.

That’s so sad. Accidents always give me pause for concern. Work hard to overcome this obstacle!

@@MyTimeToFly Yes mate wasn't anyone i knew which is a blessing all my condolences go to the families of those who passed. I just do not understand how it happened both pilots were very experienced. 1 of the aircraft involved was the Caboolture Glider Club Tow plane those pilots are some of the best i just dont get how it happened will have to wait for the report.

Prayers for all involved

Yes, commercial does change the dynamic a bit, especially in the age of airport security and such!

I would ABSOLUTELY LOVE an engine monitor. It seems like such a powerful instrument.

@@MyTimeToFly that's what she said.

Hahaha, your gal must be wired a bit different than mine!

I’m pretty conservative, 135 knots / 10 gph. I usually go faster, with less fuel burn.

Very cool, that 4 hours includes a ferry too if I had to guess. No doubt the scenario you've presented is made for general aviation.

I haven’t had much issue with disconnecting, it seems to be working okay for me. I have an older iPad, so my bigger problem is the iPad freezing. Thanks for watching Yamil!

@@MyTimeToFly watching your video inspires me to go fly. I bought a warrior with a partner in July and just finished the interior so almost ready to fly but need a couple of hrs with an instructor on low wing as I have over 200hrs on a 172.

That’s fantastic man, and thanks for the kind words. It took me about 7-8 hours to transition to the low wing / complex Mooney, you’ll love the low wing. Where do you fly out of?

@@MyTimeToFly I have it out of Khwo in south Florida different flying than where you are.

For sure, you get to dodge rain storms…I get to fight snowflakes!

So cool, community is such a large part of what we do. Being part of a community is a necessity for human kind!

I have a feeling California traffic will justify the Mooney in a heart beat!

@@MyTimeToFly Yup. It does make night flying really easy, though. Just follow the tail lights. In Central Coast, CA we also have a Mooney Pilot - Jolie Lucas. She's heading to OshKosh, so look her up, if you're going. She'll be presenting as well.

Right on, I do believe I’ve seen her on the old FB. I will check her presentation out!

It’s an iPad mini (4th generation). I use FlyQ as my EFB. And I have a Dynon DRX adsb receiver.

That’s fantastic living that close to the airport!

It really depends on a lot of factors, but as a general rule, about 300 meters.

I’m a DC fan through and through. The DC One X are wonderful headsets. My passengers are stuck with H10-13.4’s for now! Glad you enjoyed the flight!

I love it, thanks for being here Jeremy!

I agree, 3 hours is a pretty good crossover

Thanks so much Kyle, I am based out of Sparta. Are you still in the area?

@@MyTimeToFly Nice! I've watched your Sling video before - I saw it take off from C04 and found out he's from Sparta - but took me until now to put 2 and 2 together. I'm unfortunately not in MI anymore - I just graduated MSU and moved out to Oregon. I'm missing the everyday bumpy summer Michigan flying already! ;)

Haha, I bet you are! I definitely want to get out west to do some flying!

@@MyTimeToFly Put Sedona AZ (KSEZ) on your bucket list. My parents and I did that trek last fall and it was very well worth it!!

Roger that

Thanks a perspective I hadn’t considered, thanks for sharing it. It is a bit of a shame. It will be interesting to see how this continues to evolve!

I remember the old days, where small cities had their own little regional airports. Airports that were fine with being what they were. Now small airports try hard to be bigger, thus getting more expensive. I just don't get it. We need more planes like the Charlie Mooneys and not more half-million dollar rides for the rich. I never understood why Mooney did not keep making a C model as an entry-level option.

Very good points, I am a huge advocate for entry level airplanes. They should sell something that doesn’t have a glass cockpit as well!

@@daszieher You couldn’t make the C for any less than Piper makes the Arrow. One problem is that every plane out the door has a big chunk of liability insurance cost to protect the various manufacturers. Solving the problem is also nearly impossible because getting changes in the regulation and legal issues is not something the voters care about. There are more people who hate little airplanes than want to fly.

@@MyTimeToFly I’m pretty sure it now costs more to put steam gauges in a plane than a minimal glass cockpit. Maybe if you went with the bare legal minimum it might save a little, but I don’t think many would buy that option given the price difference.

250 miles does seem reasonable, but miles to “make sense” could change drastically based on your geography. Think about flying over LA during rush hour!

Hahaha, must have been somebody’s kid making noise when he was on freq!

You are spot on. From where I live, my sister’s house in Minnesota is a 12 hour drive, but by plane it’s only about 2 1/2

Sounds spot on to me! Clearly, it is aircraft dependent as well. It might always be hard to justify flying a C150 to save time.

@@MyTimeToFly Absolutely. The area makes a difference too. It takes alot longer to drive around in WV then it does to fly almost irregardless of aircraft type.

Very good point!

Haha, yea…it must be the beards!

Absolutely, the stress reduction can be amazing! I want to find more opportunities to fly for my work.

I think you meant “...about 2 hours [flying].”

@@stephenyoungblood3683 I just fly really low so it is like driving when I buzz the semis.

Hahaha

Spot on man! I guess I’d call it “dead aim”!

We sure do, and you hit the nail on the head! A 150, 172, Cherokee, etc...they make it a bit more challenging to justify!

If there is one thing I’m not, it’s a bandwagon guy. The DC One X’s are phenomenal!

Dang you made me feel like a chump. I bought my BOSE when they came out. I love my headset.

Haha, nothing against Bose, they are great too!

Well the DC X is basically their competitor to Bose. They're good at being copycats ;)

Truth, the time spent on the ground can be substantial…but definitely not worth shortcutting.

I did a little flying down in Florida, it's definitely busy. It makes my rural flying look like a cakewalk. My advice, go have a discovery flight (your first lesson). There is no commitment, just a bunch of fun. You'll learn quickly if you have the bug or not!

Thanks for the concern Tim, it almost certainly will be!

Amen to that!

If everything lines up, it can be a sweet advantage to fly. There are certainly many variables though!

Many do, mine has a very basic one that doesn’t work! I would love a new GFC500, but it’s hard to justify the cost.

I have never flown a helicopter. Honestly, they are crazy expensive to fly / own. I don't see it happening anytime soon.

It is a very valid point. Ground transportation is what makes me think 3 hour + car trips are the threshold to make sense. But who needs to make sense these days anyway?

Haha, I hate that habit...and see it ever time I make a video. Just one more thing to try and quit!

@@MyTimeToFly Me, too. I guess it is just one of those self-soothing habits.

Agreed!

Ha, seems to be the new normal! Sadly, my buddy Greg here has since chopped his off!!!

Appreciate it!!!

Not one time! If you have a concern, just tell the instructor. Pick the right day, and stay close to the airport. I myself have struggled with it from time to time, but never got sick. Heat and stress can add to the feeling, so pick a cool day and keep it relaxed! You’ll do great, and won’t regret it...that I promise!

@@MyTimeToFly Thanks for the encouraging words and advice. I can't wait to get in the air and test out my motion sickness threshold. Unfortunately I get sick fairly easy and that will pretty much determine if I am able to pursue the hobby further. I'll drop back into one of your comment sections and give you an update on how it goes. Wish me luck!

Awesome man, I look forward to the update!

Go in the morning. Calmer air. Less turbulent. My instructor has gotten sick but that's when we are doing pretty "violent" maneuvers for commercial exam.

Good words of wisdom!

This is very true, distance and the geography can have a profound impact!

Of course, it’s a much faster airplane (I’m assuming you meant a Piper M350)

@@MyTimeToFly yes a typo

Roger that

There’s certainly much to consider, it’s definitely not an easy answer.

Sounds good to me. And with that 182 you can get in and out of nearly every little grass strip around! Getting you very close to your destination!

Yikes! That’s incredible!!! Are there any savings in tolls along the way?

@@MyTimeToFly Nope , they get you at every bridge,here is why flight favors driving

Makes sense!

Your thoughts seem spot on to me! Thanks for watching.

I want to get back to the air, because hitting up my relatives is three to four hours by car, each way. With stops for food and rest, that's about five hours. It makes for a tight weekend trip, and I'm beat by the end of it. Flying would be a lot faster, even with all the airspace handoffs; otherwise, the flight plan would be a bit circuitous.

Most definitely! Sounds like a great mission for general aviation!!!

Also I am not near as beat up physically after couple hrs of flying as I am after 6hrs of driving and its simply no stress when compared to the idiots driving on the road not paying attention or the 2 truck drivers driving side by side for 5-10 miles down I-10 trying to pass one another, I have never felt like my plane needed rocket launchers but every car should come factory equipped with some I can Guarantee you that

Haha, I love it! Good points Allen

You have to love the efficiency of a Mooney!!!

the view would be worth the 20 extra

Most definitely

You're talking a commercial flight, right? I'm guessing it would be a solid 2 day trip in a general aviation airplane.

The pilot here...it was really just a VFR flight, and I did check weather at the destination. With that said, I should have been more prepared!

Neither of us are military (if that’s what your asking). I have a crazy amount of respect for those that defend our country! My best friend is 15 years in the Marine Corp, the amount of sacrifice I’ve seen him and his brothers endure is unbelievable!

Those seem like some solid standards!

Depends how many ppl are with you. I can take hundreds of lbs of bags on the back seats and cargo area in my Mooney. A large bag typically weighs only 40 lbs.

Very true! Baggage really doesn’t weigh too much!

Everything we do has a level of risk, that's no different in flying. A majority of the risk can be avoided through proper planning and diligence. In 2020 the pilot institute proclaimed the 69.1% of fatal crashes were from pilot error! Here is a quote from their article. "the majority of general aviation accidents are due to entirely preventable causes. From stall/spin incidents to VFR-into-IMC and fuel mismanagement, adhering to rules and regulations is a surefire way to prevent yourself from becoming a statistic." My opinion, you could make a great team with your wife! If you talk her into it, you better tell me how you made it happen as I haven't cracked that code!!!

There are many airports where “crew” or “courtesy” cars are available. This certainly helps make it more practical.

Huh?

Thank you kindly, so great to reach people on the other side of the globe!

Thanks for pointing this out, I just re-read the poh. “As soon as the airplane is airborne and under good control, retract the flaps”. Thanks for helping me get better!

@@MyTimeToFly Remember flaps lower stall speed and create drag. When retracting gear, rotate hand 180 deg to left so thumb is down when you grab bar. Retract in one sweeping motion without changing grip and slam bar down into latch. I flew our 1962 M20C from St Louis to S. Jersey in1963 in 6 hrs at 11,500, 140 mph tas, 18" MAP, 1800 RPM, 120 mph IAS, no wind. Had 12 of the 48 gal. left. Changed tanks every hour, ran one dry purposely. Watch the fuel pressure and when it wiggles, switch tanks and turn pump on. It usually doesn't quit but no big deal if it does. Tell a passenger to watch the fuel pressure to keep you from crashing. Their eyes will never leave the gauge. I'm 84 and long retired from an airline.

Thanks again Lee! Sounds like you’ve got the experience I strive for! Are you still flying in general aviation?

@@MyTimeToFly No, I went into sailboat cruising in a 41 ' Morgan Out Island in FL and The Bahamas. Sold that 12 years ago. When our club bought the Mooney, all of us almost lost it on takeoff due to oversteer when checking out. The dealer in Lancaster, PA put a small shim washer under the nut of the nose wheel doughnut to move center of wheel slightly aft. Instant success. If you move it too far aft it can shimmy. True for all nose wheels.

The gear "Johnson Bar" should require considerable effort to get it in the downlock. If it doesn't, linkages may be worn or out of rig exposing a possible nose gear collapse on rough ground. I believe you can operate the 0 360 significantly"over square" ( + 5" ?). You might consider just reducing RPM to 2500 for climb and leaving throttle full. The carburetor enrichment valve my provide cooler cylinder head temps than 25"/ 2500 rpm. Climb is significantly improved so MP drops more quickly anyway. We did that in a Twin Commanche with I0-320s by coming back to 2400 rpm. They stayed there until landing greatly reducing workload. There was a limit of about +5" on the I0 320 engine graph but I don't see any on the 0 360 one. There has never been an aircraft to match the M20C.

Right! I didn’t realize how much we looked alike until I started editing!