I purchased 9473V, a 1970 M-20-E Chaparral in the fall of 1994. This is my second Mooney aircraft to own, I  bought a 1967 C model in 1971 and flew it for about three years. I reluctantly sold it because my work schedule and growing family needs required most all of my time and left very little time for flying, so I parted with the little speedster I loved so much and quit flying for about 10 years.

I started flying again in 1986 when I bought a partnership in a cherokee 180 and flew it until 1994. I had been looking for a Mooney for some time when I found 9473V, it seemed to be in good shape with a low time 200 hp Lycoming engine and had several speed mods with late model radios and was IFR equipped. After some friendly haggling and a pre-buy inspection I bought the plane and have enjoyed it very much.

After flying 73V for a while and found that it was performing very well I decided to have  Don Maxwell  in Gladewater, Texas to install a 201 cowling to go along with the 201 windshield I had installed a year earlier. Next I wanted to upgrade the paint colors with a custom design, the paint scheme was designed by a company in Dallas, and was painted in Mena, Arkansas.

Next I had "Aircraft Interiors of Memphis LLC" to completely removed the old interior and reinstalled an all leather interior including two-tone leather side panels with burlwood trim over new soundproofing and waterproof insulation. Topping this off with new matching carpet and redesigned seats to look like Jaguar XK8 seats with the high backs, it  made a terrific looking interior.

Next came the instrument panel to be upgraded, I started by removing the old p-c wing leveler and installing an S-TEC 50 auto-pilot with altitude hold coupled to a new IFR approach approved Apollo G-X 60 with moving map and GPSS steering and com., all controlled with a new PSI audio panel with marker beacon lights.

After all this I now have an IFR ship that is very reliable and almost like new and am very proud of it, it is hangered at Olive Branch MS., Airport (OLV) just across the state line from Memphis. I have enjoyed upgrading 73V very much and get a lot of compliments on it, It won the best of show award at the San Antonio Siesta "mapa" convention in 2000. I get a lot of question's about how much it cost to do all the upgrades. I'll say this, It was worth every dime it cost. But it sure wasn't cheap.