Frank's Mooney Experimental: Progress as of 2-10-2008

Frank purchased this one of a kind Mooney experimental aircraft and hired Bud to get it flying with an LSJ Ecotec Supercharged engine and our Geared Drives PSRU. Rumor is that this airplane was built by the Mooney brothers in the sixties, originally to be marketed to the US Air Force as a trainer. The military did not end up choosing it, so it made it's way from one owner to another. When Frank purchased the aircraft, it was powered by a turbine engine that we were told had flown one time and then was parked in the hanger not to fly again.   
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This turbine had only been flown once so Bud chose to bring it to the shop on a trailer...	One day and three mechanics later it is ready to bring to the shop.
Layers of lovely brown paint were stripped by anyone Bud could convince it was easy, even wife, Diane...	She was delighted to report the stripping job as complete until she found that there was still a large wing with brown paint still to strip...AARRGGGHHH!
2.0L Supercharged Ecotec Chevrolet engine, 205 HP and we like it. No loss of HP with altitude with a supercharger.	Ecotec engine from the bell housing end. This view shows the adapter plate that is required to add the Geared Drives PSRU.
Pre-fitting the engine in preparation for building the engine mounts.	Yes, it will fit in this airplane without strange deformations of the cowling...you'll see.
This is the turbine engine as it appeared in the aircraft when we began the project.	All aluminum aircraft with lovely construction. Mooney qualities throughout.
This aircraft is equipped with retractable landing gear, which required extensive repairs to make operate properly.	Gear down and working just fine.
Ecotec 2.0 L LSJ with Supercharger, engine weighs in around 300#.	LSJ with Geared Drives PSRU in engine mount.
Creative way to build a mold...	The profile for the supercharger side is coming along well.
Progress as of 2-10-2008: Wiring harness is being built, ECM is programmed and ready-more progress to come soon!	Larry helps Pete as they work on the profile for the mold of the cowling.