Below, you can read about my experiences as they occur - well, there may be a slight delay...
The Mooney was created in the 1940's; and was developed as the Caddy of airplanes; both in style/luxury, and in performance.
The mooney, unlike many traditional production planes has superior performance and handling attributes. It is regarded as the creme de la creme for aviators.
Being a first time owner - I was excited to be owning one of the finest aircraft that (reasonable) money could buy.
It's plus' include retractable gear, adjustable pitch propeller, roomy interior - at least the front seats, (often times Leather Interior, sorry cows!), superior control and stability; and SPEED which leaves the Cessna's, Pipers, etc in the dust!
Now, I can fly...!
One of the greatest days of my life - the day I took ownership in my very own airplane. The trill cannot be described in words - - - The previous owner called final, as I listened over the local FBO's speaker. I said "that's my plane coming in" With a smile from ear to ear - I saw what was to become my very own plane. Being a VFR pilot with no experience in a complex/retractable gear plane - the only flights I could make was with the previous owner and then with my flight instructor. I was simply thrilled as I climbed into my new Mooney. It was so clean and slick looking. We started the engine and taxied for takeoff - on take off, the engine roared as we climbed. Outside of a commercial jet - this was the fastest I had ever gotten off the ground - and before I knew it - we were leveling off at 5000 ft. Thinking back to my cessna 172 days - 5000 ft takes about 10-15 minutes (ha ha - not any more)...The initial flight was completely pleasing - I was actually proud to hand over the check, and take ownership. From here - we parked in the T-hanger, and spent the next 30 hours babying the new baby. It's probably never sparkled so much.
Before I could fly the plane on my own, I had to get the insurance companies blessing for coverage: the insurance company's blessing of coverage was not coming easily; as weather in ATL is not always sunny & hot. We've been blessed with day after day of rain and low visibility; and the times when weather was good - I was working, or the instructor was with an IFR student - go figure...
By Thanksgiving - I was signed off w/ my complex endorsement and received the much awaited blessing to insure my baby! Now, I truly can fly - the first flight was to Athens, GA. By car, 1 hour - by plane - 12 minutes - Yee Haw!
By now, I am well adapted to the plane - it's truly a dream flying machine. We've put more hours on my logs in the last 1 month than in the previous 6 months renting... and cheaper overall. At Christmas, our flight plans led us to Memphis (actually Bolivar "International" :) to visit Wes' mom. From here, on to Chicago- for the first visit home, since moving to ATL in August. The trip included moderate VFR and a few times of "scud running" at 600 ft above ground. This altitude feels like your literally skimming the ground. Finally at a time when we could climb enroute thru a hole in the clouds, above the 6500 cloud tops, the sun was shinning and the sky was bluer than blue. A quick 3 hour flight to Rockford, IL, for fuel, then 1/2 hour to Kenosha, WI. Home again, home again I proudly announced to the control tower to taxi to my flight school where it all began. After parking, and calling our friends, who had no idea we'd be in Ktown. Go to the airport, there's a couple of cool guys there. Pick em up, and "we'll" see you in a bit... The flight home, was smooth sailing, and nothing but VFR conditions. Since we could go direct, it was 4.4 hours (tach time) from ENW to LZU (ATL) with a stop in LOU.