On 15 Aug 2004 11:08:58 -0700, (Robert M. Gary) wrote:

I don't think that is true. On the M20E you simply have the single
plate gear door attached to the gear itself. On the J-K's you have
another gear door extension that further reduces the distance from
bottom of tire to gear door. I would say any grass longer than 1"
would tear up the gear door. I have seen J model owners remove that
extra door and achieve the clearance of an E model Mooney.
I've landed my Moony on the beach in Mexico and gravel in Canada but
would never consider landing it on grass. I have hundreds of grass
landings in other planes, but wouldn't consider doing it in my Mooney.

You may be correct about the gear doors, although there are speed mods that
put the extra door on the earlier models. I have the older donuts (still)
so thought my prop clearance (9") was a bit less than the K's.

In any event, I,too, would not land the Mooney on long grass, but I've been
into Katama, Gaddabout Gaddis, Lubec and Basin Harbor a number of times as
well as other fields. But as I said, I do call before hand to ensure the
field is in good shape.

I'm interested in your landing on gravel and beach experiences. We've got
a temporary gravel taxiway in place here in EPM (while the main taxiway is
being reconstructed), and I've been unwilling to even taxi on it for fear
of picking up the stones with the prop. Could you tell me more about those
surfaces you've been on?


--ron