I can still remember the first time I rode in an airplane, the year was 1947. I was five years old. A small grass strip in the southern hills of West Virginia called Pence Springs Airport was home to a piper cub that my Uncle Fred flew. I remember my dad giving me $3 and telling me to run over to the plane and give it to Uncle Fred for a plane ride. That event launched my life experiences in aviation. The part of the flight that I remember the most was how strange to see the stick between my legs moving all around by itself. Maybe I was so short that the control stick was all I could see.

I started working toward my private license in 1965 at Brown Field near San Diego. Between deployments to Vietnam with SEAL team One,
I finally earned my license in 1970. From 1970 to 1979 I rented numerous aircraft and finally purchased my own Piper Warrior in 1980. I put 800+ hours on my second plane, a Grumman Cheetah, before I became the proud co-owner of a 1962 C Model Mooney. I have found co-ownership with Keith Smothers to be a quite pleasant experience (especially on the wallet). If you are fortunate enough to get a partner that is compatible with your spending and flying style it is, in my opinion, the best way to own an aircraft.

The prior owner of N78982 made a variety of upgrades to the aircraft to the tune of over $120,000. (I have the receipts to prove it!). The aircraft has been completely rewired from the M20J spinner back. The dash is probably the most noticeable upgrade. Ramona Avionics @ KRNM did all of the avionics installation. Some of the major add-on items are as follows: S-Tec 55 auto-pilot with roll-steering capability, altitude select, P-100 digital tachometer, Shadin data processor, JP-EGT-700 Engine analyzer, KMA-24 audio electric panel, P.S. Engineering intercom, yoke mounted anywhere map, transmission playback on yoke (I never remember to use it), and wing tip strobes. The KLN90B GPS was recently replaced with a CNX80 GPS (what a dream to fly).

I am still getting used to having the roll steering that is coupled to the CNX80 take me around a holding pattern in the soup followed by an approach all happening hands off except for altitude and speed control. Speaking of speed control, the add-on mooney 100 series speed brakes are great for VOR approaches. At each step-down point, just hit the speed brakes and they act like an elevator button taking you down at 1000 fpm.

Other external modifications include a 201 windshield and enclosed nose cowling modifications. For those of you who fly IFR, I highly recommend the CNX80. Besides the WAAS capability, the CNX80 is designed for IFR flying. It is very user friendly, once learned (I am still learning). Overall, the aircraft is a pleasure to fly.

Anyone with questions regarding this aircraft, please feel free calling me at 760-765-1160 anytime.

Carl Swepston
March 2004