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The Mooney M20 is a family of piston-powered, four-seat, propeller-driven,
general aviation General aviation (GA) is defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as all civil aviation aircraft operations except for commercial air transport or aerial work, which is defined as specialized aviation services for other ...
aircraft An aircraft ( aircraft) is a vehicle that is able to flight, fly by gaining support from the Atmosphere of Earth, air. It counters the force of gravity by using either Buoyancy, static lift or the Lift (force), dynamic lift of an airfoil, or, i ...
, all featuring low wings and
tricycle gear Tricycle gear is a type of aircraft undercarriage, or ''landing gear'', that is arranged in a tricycle fashion. The tricycle arrangement has one or more nose wheels in a single front undercarriage and two or more main wheels slightly aft of th ...
, manufactured by the
Mooney International Corporation The Mooney International Corporation (formerly Mooney Aviation Company, Inc. and the Mooney Aircraft Company) is an American aircraft manufacturer based in Kerrville, Texas, United States. It manufactures single-engined piston-powered general ...
.Munson, Kenneth & Michael Taylor: ''Jane's Pocket Book of light Aircraft'', page 143. Janes Publishing, 1982. Montgomery, M.R & Gerald Foster: ''A Field Guide to Airplanes, Second Edition'', page 38-39. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1992. Plane and Pilot: ''1978 Aircraft Directory'', pages 54–55. Werner & Werner Corp, Santa Monica CA, 1977. The M20 was the 20th design from Al Mooney, and his most successful. The series has been produced in many variations over the last 60 years, from the wooden-wing M20 and M20A models of 1955, to the M20V Acclaim Ultra that debuted in 2016. More than 11,000 aircraft in total have been produced across three production runs, with the most recent concluding in 2019. In November 2008, the company announced that it was halting all production as a result of the
late-2000s recession The Great Recession was a period of market decline in economies around the world that occurred from late 2007 to mid-2009.
, but would still provide parts and support for the existing fleet. With the injection of Chinese capital after the company's purchase, production of the M20 resumed in February 2014. Since then, the company has released two more M20 models.


Development

Al Mooney had been developing preliminary designs for the four-seater M20 for some time, while the single-seat M-18 Mite was in production in the late 1940s and early 1950s. When in early 1953 the company moved from
Wichita, Kansas Wichita ( ) is the List of cities in Kansas, most populous city in the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Sedgwick County, Kansas, Sedgwick County. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population of the city was 397, ...
, to
Kerrville, Texas Kerrville is a city in Texas, and the county seat of Kerr County, Texas, United States. The population of Kerrville was 24,278 at the 2020 census. Kerrville is named after James Kerr, a major in the Texas Revolution, and friend of settler-fo ...
, and when it became clear that the Mite was nearing the end of its production, development of the M20 accelerated. The first M20 flight took place on September 3, 1953, and it was certified on August 24, 1955. During 1955, the company sold 10 of the M20 airplanes. Due to start-up costs, they lost about $3000 on each airplane. In 1956, they delivered 51 airplanes, and in 1957 the total was 105. The airplane gained attention because it was able to achieve speeds up to with a Lycoming O-320 engine. The combination of speed and efficiency was noteworthy. In 1958 the M20A joined the lineup with a larger Lycoming O-360-A1A engine, and by 1959, this was the only model offered, with a total sales that year of 231 units. This was the first year the company made a profit. The M20A continued production into 1960, when 166 were delivered. These were the last of the Mooneys to have wooden structures in the wings and tail. Early in the model's history, several incidents of wooden tails breaking up in flight occurred due to water damage and the resulting rot. Consequently, most tails have now been replaced with all-metal copies, as required by Mooney Service Bulletin M20-170A and the FAA Airworthiness Directive 86-19-10. Without the possibility of metal fatigue, the wooden wing has an indefinite life expectancy and is considered by some pilots to provide a smoother ride in turbulence.


1960s

In January 1960, the Mooney company convinced Ralph Harmon to leave
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in
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, and take over management of the engineering efforts. He insisted on replacing the wood in the M20 with aluminum, and the all-metal M20B was completed by the end of 1960, less than a year after his arrival. In 1961, the company sold 222 M20B airplanes. The following year, the M20C was introduced and 336 were sold that year. Also known as the Mark 21 and later the Ranger, the M20C had several improvements over the M20B, including greater deflection on control surfaces, reduced cowl flap openings for better engine cooling, improved exhaust scavenging with a Hanlon and Wilson exhaust system, new battery access door, more powerful landing light, lightweight floor, an increased gross weight of , lighter empty weight, new instrument panel layout, and a higher maximum flap angle of 33 degrees. In 1963, the M20D was introduced, essentially an M20C with fixed landing gear and a fixed-pitch propeller. This had a slightly lower price than the M20C and was intended as a basic or trainer model which would have lower insurance costs and which would compete with the Piper Cherokee 180. It could be upgraded with retractable landing gear, and in fact, most of them were upgraded over the years. The M20D was produced from 1963 to 1966 with a total production of 161 units. In 1964 the M20E Super 21 was introduced. It was also based on the M20C but with a more powerful Lycoming fuel-injected engine. The company sold 366 M20E units that year. In 1965, a new feature was introduced to the M20. It was called "positive control" and was a single-axis autopilot produced by Brittain Industries. It maintained the wings of the airplane in a level position unless a button on the control wheel was depressed for turns and banks. It was a controversial feature, liked by some pilots and disliked by others. Production and sales of the M20 continued to increase. In 1966, a total of 760 units were delivered, including 280 of the M20C Mark 21 planes and 473 of the M20E Super 21s. A new model, the M20F Executive 21, offered more legroom due to a increase in cabin length which also allowed for a third fuselage side window. It had of fuel capacity compared to in earlier models, and grossed an additional . This year, the company exceeded $1,000,000 in profits. The M20G Statesman, a version of the M20F with less-powerful engine, was released in 1968. It had a larger airframe than the M20C, but the same engine, and as a result was slower. It was not as successful as the M20F and was produced for only three years, from 1968 to 1970, with a total production run of 189 units. Despite strong sales, Mooney was short of cash. The company went into
chapter 7 bankruptcy Chapter 7 of Title 11 U.S. Code is the bankruptcy code that governs the process of liquidation under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. This is in contrast to bankruptcy under Chapter 11 and Chapter 13, which govern the process of ''re ...
in early 1969, and was acquired by
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and then Butler Aviation International. Sales that year were less than half of the previous year's figures, although a new version of the M20E Chaparral was released with electrically operated flaps and landing gear. Butler Aviation also acquired the troubled
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company and combined it with Mooney in an attempt to save both. The Mooney name was dropped in 1970, as was the M20 designation; the planes were called Aerostars.


1970s

Butler Aviation closed the Mooney plant in early 1971, and it remained closed for more than two years. In October 1973, Mooney was purchased by
Republic Steel Republic Steel is a Mexican steel manufacturer that was once America’s third largest steel producer. It was founded as the Republic Iron and Steel Company in Youngstown, Ohio in 1899. After rising to prominence during the early 20th Century, ...
. Robert Cumming, a general manager at Republic Steel, had owned a Mooney M20F Executive for years and flew it frequently, and wished to put the Mooney M20 back into production. This began in January 1974 with the reintroduction of the M20F Executive.
Roy LoPresti LeRoy Patrick "Roy" LoPresti (June 9, 1929 – August 7, 2002) was an eclectic American aeronautical engineer. He worked on projects as diverse as the Apollo Moon Program and missile design, served as advisor to the US Congress, became known a ...
, formerly of Grumman American, had been hired as the vice president of engineering. Through the efforts of his engineering group, various improvements were made to the M20 with the goal of increasing its speed, and the M20J was introduced in July 1976. It was also known as the Mooney 201 because it was capable of with its engine. The 201 was a big seller, and a turbocharged version was developed later that year. The next year, 1977, three models were offered: the M20C Ranger, the M20F Executive, and the M20J 201. By 1979, the M20C had been dropped, ending production of the short-body M20. The same year, 1979, the company's first turbocharged M20 was released: the M20K 231, so designated because its top speed was . It was based on the earlier 201 with further improvements. It had a wider wingspan and a six-cylinder
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engine, and the fuel capacity was increased to . This year, a total of 439 airplanes were delivered—fewer than the top years of the 1960s, but these deliveries resulted in healthy profits. From this point through 1986, the M20J and the turbocharged M20K were the only two models offered.


1980s

General aviation manufacturing experienced a significant downturn starting in 1982. Mooney was affected along with other manufacturers and was forced to downsize through temporary layoffs. Despite the recession, development work continued. The 201 and 231 received more improvements, including significant reductions in cabin noise levels. In 1982, deliveries fell to 218 units, and in 1983 only 154 aircraft were produced. The
United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
announced a competition to develop a replacement for the
Cessna T-41 The Cessna T-41 Mescalero is a military version of the popular Cessna 172, operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) and Army, as well as the armed forces of various other countries as a pilot-training aircraft. The T-41A, used by the USAF ...
trainer, and Mooney immediately began to develop a military trainer based on the 231. While the company was dealing with the recession, Republic Steel was acquired by the
Ling-Temco-Vought Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV) was a large American conglomerate which existed from 1961 to 2001. At its peak, it was involved in aerospace, airlines, electronics, steel manufacturing, sporting goods, meat packing, car rentals, and pharmaceuticals, ...
corporation and dropped Mooney. The company ended up in the hands of Armand Rivard of Lake Aircraft and Alexandre Couvelair, a Mooney dealer from
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. Sales continued to fall, totaling 143 in 1984 and 99 in 1985. The next new model, the M20K 252, appeared in early 1986 with a top speed of . It replaced the 231 and achieved its higher speed with the same engine. It featured a new 28-volt electrical system to power additional equipment and to improve cold-weather starting. The Continental TSIO-360-GB engine in the 231 had required specific pilot training and modified takeoff and climb procedures to operate at acceptable engine temperatures in hot weather. Because of this, the 252 received an intercooled TSIO-360-MB engine. The various improvements were copied to the 201 airframe, and the new 205 model was released in 1987. This was followed in 1988 by the M20L PFM, powered by a
Porsche PFM 3200 The Porsche PFM 3200 was a six-cylinder horizontally opposed Engine cooling, air-cooled aircraft engine developed by Porsche from its air-cooled line of automobile engines from the famous Porsche 911 sports car. The PFM designation was derived ...
engine which had been developed from the 911 Carrera engine. The maximum speed with this configuration was . The fuselage was stretched to form the first long-body M20. One new feature on this airplane was the replacement of the throttle, mixture and propeller controls with a single power control; mixture and propeller rotation speed were automatically adjusted based on the setting of this single control. The Mooney PFM did not last, with a total of 41 units having been manufactured in 1988 and 1989. Most M20Ls no longer use this unique engine, as factory support ceased in 2005. In February 1989, the next M20 model was released: the M20M TLS (Turbocharged Lycoming Sabre). It was powered, as the name hinted, by a turbocharged Lycoming six-cylinder engine that produced at 2,575 rpm, and it had a three-bladed propeller. It was capable of cruising at and had a range of and a maximum climb rate of per minute. The first year, the TLS accounted for 30 of the 143 aircraft delivered, and in 1990, this increased to 61 units. Also in 1989, Mooney released a trainer model based on the M20J. Beech, Cessna, and Piper had all stopped production of trainers throughout the 1980s, and the 201AT was designed to fill this gap. From 1989 to 1992, 20 units were delivered.


1990s

The next Mooney M20 model was the M20J 201, also designated the MSE, released in 1990 (although few were actually delivered prior to 1991). This was a non-turbocharged model that incorporated many features from the TLS. In early 1991, Mooney decided to offer its Enhanced Flight Screener Trainer model to the general public, given that the Air Force was slow to make a decision on its trainer. It was to have a
Lycoming O-540 The Lycoming O-540 is a family of air-cooled six-cylinder, horizontally opposed fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter engines of displacement, manufactured by Lycoming Engines. The engine is a six-cylinder version of the four-cylinder Lycoming O- ...
engine and would be rated for aerobatics. However, it generated little public interest. The TLS continued production through 1995, and the MSE continued, too, until it was replaced by the M20R Ovation in 1994. Once again, Mooney was offering two models: one offering high speed (the TLS) and the other offering high efficiency. The M20T Predator, a canopy-equipped version of the basic M20 design powered by a Lycoming AEIO-540 engine, was Mooney's entrant in the
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Enhanced Flight Screener competition. The prototype, built in 1991, displayed in a tiger-stripe paint scheme. The sole prototype, registered N20XT, was flown in the Experimental – Market Survey category and was still owned by Mooney Aircraft in 2013, although its registration had expired November 30, 2013. The competition for the Enhanced Flight Screener program was finally held in 1992, and the
Slingsby T67 Firefly The Slingsby T67 Firefly, originally produced as the Fournier RF-6, is a two-seat aerobatic training aircraft, built by Slingsby Aviation in Kirkbymoorside, Yorkshire, England. It has been used as a trainer aircraft by several armed forces, a ...
was chosen instead of the Mooney EFS. Sales continued to drop, only reaching 64 units in 1993. The San Antonio location was sold and all operations returned to Kerrville. Development of the M20 continued, however, and the M20R Ovation was released in 1994. It was designed to fill a gap between the normally aspirated MSE and the turbocharged TLS, and it was powered by a
Continental IO-550 The Continental IO-550 engine is a large family of 9 liter fuel injected six-cylinder, horizontally opposed, air-cooled aircraft engines that were developed for use in light aircraft by Teledyne Continental Motors. The first IO-550 was deliver ...
engine. Of the 91 Mooney aircraft manufactured in 1995, 54 were Ovations. This model was named '' ''Flying's'''' single-engine plane of the year in 1994. The following year, an upgraded model of the TLS with a more powerful Lycoming TIO-540-AF1B engine, was designated the M20M, but also was referred to as the "Bravo" due to the new B engine. This upgrade was offered to owners of earlier TLS models that had the TIO-540-AF1A engine. Soon after the release of the Bravo, the TKS ice protection system was offered for the Bravo and Ovation models. The M20K Encore was released in 1997, an M20K with more horsepower and a higher gross weight, giving it performance similar to the original M20K. It also had an improved interior and reduced cabin noise levels. The M20S Eagle, released in 1999, was powered by a Continental IO-550-G. It was followed in 2001 by the Eagle 2. This model included refinements such as a standard leather interior. The Eagle 2 also used the same 3 blade propeller as the original versions of the M20R and was produced from 1994 to 1999.


2000s

The M20TN Acclaim was released in 2006, powered by a turbonormalized Continental TSIO-550-G powerplant with twin turbochargers and dual intercoolers. The Acclaim replaced the Mooney M20M Bravo in the company product line. Mooney laid off 60 employees in June 2008 and cut production, citing a weak economy and sales inhibited by high fuel prices. Later that year, in November, all production was halted. In July 2008, Mooney signed a memorandum of understanding with
Rolls-Royce Rolls-Royce (always hyphenated) may refer to: * Rolls-Royce Limited, a British manufacturer of cars and later aero engines, founded in 1906, now defunct Automobiles * Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, the current car manufacturing company incorporated in ...
to develop a version of the M20 that was to have been powered by the
Rolls-Royce RR500 The Rolls-Royce RR500 is a family of small gas turbine engines developed by Rolls-Royce Corporation. The RR500TP turboprop variant was intended for use in small aircraft. The RR500TS was the turboshaft variant designed for light helicopters. ...
TP
turboprop A turboprop is a Gas turbine, gas turbine engine that drives an aircraft Propeller (aeronautics), propeller. A turboprop consists of an intake, reduction drive, reduction gearbox, gas compressor, compressor, combustor, turbine, and a propellin ...
powerplant. The project was announced as being a joint "marketing investigation" and "exploration project", but does not appear to have come to fruition.


2010s

More employees were laid off in late 2010. The stated goal was to have fewer than 10 employees at the start of 2011, with these employees providing parts and support to existing aircraft owners while the company searched for new investment. This search ended in late 2013; Chinese investment enabled the company to resume production in early 2014. Later that year, the M10T and the M10J were announced, both to be powered by Continental diesel engines. Two new models were released in 2016: the M20U Ovation Ultra and the M20V Acclaim Ultra. The M20U was based on the M20R, and its first flight was on June 4, 2016. It was the first M20 to have a pilot-side door. It also featured a composite shell forward fuselage which replaced the traditional aluminum skin. The M20V, which was developed from the M20TN Acclaim, had those features, as well. The company closed its doors and laid off all staff on November 12, 2019. The company reopened and staff returned to work on December 2, 2019.


Design

With the exception of the earliest models which had wings and tails with wooden frames, M20s are constructed entirely of metal. All are low-wing aircraft, and the wing skin is
aluminum Aluminium (or aluminum in North American English) is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol Al and atomic number 13. It has a density lower than that of other common metals, about one-third that of steel. Aluminium has ...
. Slotted flaps cover 70% of the trailing edge. Earlier models use a hydraulic hand pump to extend the flaps, while later models have electrically operated flaps. The forward fuselage has a steel-tube cabin structure covered in aluminum skin; the aft portion of the fuselage is of semi-monocoque design. In many places on the skin of the airplane, flush-mounted rivets are used to reduce drag. The landing gear on the Mooney M20 are made of heat-treated chrome-molybdenum steel. The main landing gear is attached to the main wing spar, while the nose gear is mounted to the tubular steel frame. Stacks of rubber shock discs act as shock absorbers. All models, with the exception of the M20D Master, came with retractable landing gear; on these models, the nose wheel retracts rearwards and the main wheels retract inwards. Early models use a hand-operated lever system to raise and lower the gear. The manually actuated landing gear are raised by unlocking the lever, which is called a "Johnson Bar" (named after the
Johnson Bar (locomotive) Reversing gear is a mechanism used to both control the direction of travel of a steam locomotive and adjust its engine's steam cutoff. Reversing lever The most common form of reversing gear uses a lever to engage (known as a ''Johnson bar'' in ...
), from just below the throttle, rotating it to the floor, and locking it into a fixture on the floor. Lowering the landing gear require the same operations in opposite order. Al Mooney got his start working as young man for the railroad industry, hence the borrowing of a steam locomotive term for use in describing part of an aircraft. Starting in 1969, electrically operated landing gear became standard. The Mooney M20 has medium
aspect-ratio The aspect ratio of a geometric shape is the ratio of its sizes in different dimensions. For example, the aspect ratio of a rectangle is the ratio of its longer side to its shorter side—the ratio of width to height, when the rectangle is orien ...
tapered wings with 1.5 degrees of washout and 5.5 degrees of dihedral. Later models were equipped with
stall strips A stall strip is a small component fixed to the leading edge of the wing of an airplane to modify its aerodynamic characteristics.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Terms'', third edition, page 487. Aviation Supplies & Academics, 1997. The ...
to improve the stall characteristics. The
empennage The empennage ( or ), also known as the tail or tail assembly, is a structure at the rear of an aircraft that provides stability during flight, in a way similar to the feathers on an arrow.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Terms, third ed ...
of the Mooney M20 is easily recognizable by its unique tail fin with a vertical leading edge. (The tail fin looks as though it is "leaning forward", but it is approximately vertical in level flight, depending on trim setting.) The horizontal tailplane, which consists of fixed stabilizers and trailing elevators, has no trim tabs. The entire tail assembly pivots at the rear of the fuselage to provide pitch trim. All M20s store fuel in two separate "wet wing" tanks, which are located in the inboard sections of each wing. Fuel is driven from the tank to the injectors or carburetor by an engine-driven pump, backed up with an electric boost pump. For increased power, many M20s also have a ram-air induction system, called the Mooney "Power Boost". For normal operations, the intake air is filtered before it enters the induction system. When ram air is selected, partially unfiltered air enters the induction system with a higher pressure and consequently the manifold pressure increases about a full inch of mercury flying at 7500 feet above mean sea level, giving a greater power output. The turbocharged variants omit this feature, as the turbocharger provides a far greater increase in manifold pressure. The Mooney M20 series has been produced in three fuselage lengths: the "short-body" (M20 through M20E), "medium-body" (M20F through M20K), and "long-body" (M20L through M20V). Although all M20s have four seats, the fuselage length increase provided more rear passenger legroom, but with a slight performance decrease: for a similar engine and vintage, a long-body plane is 4 to 6 knots slower than the short-body plane.


Operational history

In August 2017, 6,748 Mooney M20 aircraft were registered with US
Federal Aviation Administration The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is a Federal government of the United States, U.S. federal government agency within the United States Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation that regulates civil aviation in t ...
, 342 with
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, and 33 in the
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with the Civil Aviation Authority. As of July 2018, 154 M20 aircraft were registered with Australia's CASA. In June and July, 2017, pilot Brian Lloyd flew his Mooney M20K 231 around the world, commemorating
Amelia Earhart Amelia Mary Earhart ( ; July 24, 1897 – January 5, 1939) was an American aviation pioneer. On July 2, 1937, she disappeared over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to become the first female pilot to circumnavigate the world. During her li ...
's attempted circumnavigation which took place 80 years earlier in 1937. Lloyd followed a route similar to the one taken by Earhart.


Variants

;M20 Mark 20 :Initial variant with mostly wooden construction and manually retracting landing gear. The 1953 prototype, registered N4199, was originally powered by a Continental C-145-2H engine. The prototype was later re-engined with a
Lycoming O-320 The Lycoming O-320 is a large family of naturally aspirated, air-cooled, flat four engine, horizontally-opposed four-cylinder, direct-drive engines produced by Lycoming Engines. Introduced in 1953, it is commonly used on light aircraft such a ...
engine driving a two-bladed
Hartzell Hartzell is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Andy Hartzell, American cartoonist * C. C. Hartzell, American confectioner * Carl Hartzell (born 1967), Swedish diplomat *Curt Hartzell (1891–1975), Swedish gymnast * Eric Hartzell ...
constant-speed propeller, which became standard on production aircraft.Ball 1998, p. 54–55. Despite the engine change, the cowling was not redesigned, leading to sub-optimal intake air pressure; a problem that would not be fixed for many years. The gross weight was also increased from for the prototype to for production aircraft.Garrison 1980, p. 15. During its four-year production run, the M20 received numerous improvements. Although all M20s were built with wooden tails, the FAA issued Airworthiness Directive 68-25-6 in 1968 requiring all aircraft be fitted with a metal tail. Certified August 24, 1955. 200 total built; 10 (1955, including 1953 prototype), 51 (1956), 105 (1957), and 34 (1958).Ball 1998, p. 222. ;M20A Mark 20A :Introduced in 1958 with a Lycoming O-360-A1A engine, though also certified for the O-360-A1D.Ball 1998, p. 58. As with the M20, Airworthiness Directive 68-25-6 required that all M20As be fitted with a metal tail. Certified February 13, 1958. 500 total built; 103 (1958), 231 (1959), and 166 (1960). ;M20B Mark 21 :Introduced in 1961 as the first M20 with all-metal construction. The M20B's empty weight was increased by over that of the M20A, though the gross weight remained at . Certified December 14, 1960. 222 built, all in 1961. ;M20C :* M20C Mark 21, introduced in 1962 with a Lycoming O-360-A1D engine and gross weight increased to . Electrically retracting landing gear was introduced as an option in 1965, while a single-axis Brittian Industries autopilot marketed as "positive control" or "PC" was added as standard equipment.Garrison 1980, p. 22.Ball 1998, p. 67. At some point during production, the rounded windows of the Mark 21 were redesigned to a more rectangular shape. Certified October 20, 1961. 1,653 total built; 336 (1962), 328 (1963), 183 (1964), 379 (1965), 280 (1966), and 147 (1967).Ball 1998, p. 222–223. :* M20C Ranger, replaced the Mark 21 in 1968 with a one-piece windshield, fixed cowl flaps and entrance step, and the dorsal fin removed. In 1969, a new power quadrant was added, and the formerly optional electrical flaps and landing gear were made standard.Ball 1998, p. 225. Mooney branding was dropped in 1971, and no Rangers were produced in 1972 and 1973. When Ranger production restarted in 1974, it reverted to the Mooney branding.Ball 1998, p. 227. 530 total built; 196 (1968), 97 (1969), 88 (1970), 37 (1974), 39 (1975), 33 (1976), 25 (1977), and 15 (1978). :* Aerostar 200 Ranger, rebranding of the M20C with an ornamental appendage on the tip of the vertical tail, a streamlined stinger tail cone, and an improved air distribution system.Ball 1998, p. 123, 226. 9 built, all in 1971. ;M20D Master :Simplified trainer variant introduced in 1963. The Master is powered by a Lycoming O-360-A1D engine driving a fixed-pitch Hartzell or McCauley propeller, though a constant-speed unit was offered as an option. Unlike other M20 variants, the M20D was sold with fixed landing gear. Mooney offered a factory conversion to replace the fixed gear with retractable units, which a majority of M20Ds underwent. Unlike the M20C and M20E, the 1965 and 1966 M20D did not receive the "positive control" autopilot. Gross weight was reduced to . Certified October 15, 1962. 161 total built; 100 (1963), 51 (1964), 9 (1965), and 1 (1966). ;M20E :* M20E Super 21, introduced in 1964 as a higher-powered version of the Mark 21. Powered by a
fuel injected Fuel injection is the introduction of fuel in an internal combustion engine, most commonly automotive engines, by the means of a fuel injector. This article focuses on fuel injection in reciprocating piston and Wankel rotary engines. All co ...
Lycoming IO-360-A1A engine, the M20E is otherwise largely identical to the M20C. Like the M20C, the M20E received the "positive control" autopilot system in 1965. Other changes introduced in 1965 include a retractable entrance step, improved nose gear door closures, new bucket seats with recessed arm rests, improved cabin ventilation, a ram air power boost to improve high altitude performance, and optional electrically retracting landing gear. Gross weight remained at . Certified September 4, 1963. 1,264 total built; 366 (1964), 363 (1965), 473 (1966), and 62 (1967). :* M20E Chaparral, replaced the Super 21 in 1969 with a one-piece windshield, a new power quadrant, and electrical flaps and landing gear as standard. Mooney branding was dropped in 1971, and no Chaparrals were produced in 1972 and 1973. When Chaparral production restarted in 1974, it reverted to the Mooney branding. 184 total built; 73 (1969), 54 (1970), 37 (1974), and 20 (1975). :* Aerostar 201 Chaparral, rebranding of the M20E with an ornamental appendage on the tip of the vertical tail, a streamlined stinger tail cone, and a more efficient engine cooling system. 23 built, all in 1971. ;M20F :* M20F Executive 21, stretched M20E introduced in 1967. Powered by the same Lycoming IO-360-A1A engine as the Super 21, the M20F's fuselage was lengthened by , the cabin was stretched by , and gross weight was increased to .Garrison 1980, p. 28–29. The 1969 model introduced a one-piece windshield, a new power quadrant, and electrical flaps and landing gear as standard. Certified July 25, 1966. 904 total built; 3 (1966 prototypes), 536 (1967), 208 (1968), 89 (1969), and 68 (1970). :* Aerostar 220 Executive, rebranding of the M20F with an ornamental appendage on the tip of the vertical tail, a streamlined stinger tail cone, and a more efficient engine cooling system. 12 built, all in 1971. No Executives were built in 1972 and 1973. :* M20F Executive, introduced in 1974 with reinstated Mooney branding. 327 total built; 66 (1974), 127 (1975), 127 (1976), and 7 (1977). ;M20G Statesman :Stretched M20C introduced in 1968.Ball 1998, p. 92. Powered by the same Lycoming O-360-A1D engine as the Ranger, the M20G's fuselage was lengthened by , the cabin was stretched by and a third side window was added, and gross weight was decreased to . Certified November 13, 1967. 189 total built; 163 (1968), 20 (1969), and 6 (1970). ;M20H :Engineering prototype ;M20J :* M20J 201, introduced in 1977 to replace the M20F. Powered by a Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D engine, the M20J introduced many changes to reduce drag. These changes included a streamlined engine cooling system, landing gear doors that cover the wheel wells, flush airframe access panels, a new exhaust stack, flaps with faired-in hinges and gap seals, and a more efficient McCauley propeller. In 1978, the engine was swapped for a similarly-powered Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D, and a power quadrant replaced the original push-pull engine controls. The 1981 model introduced the redesigned wingtips of the M20K to the M20J, as well as improved soundproofing. Soundproofing was further improved in 1982 with the addition of double-pane door windows as well as extra stiffeners and insulation in the cabin. The 1984 model introduced improved instrument and circuit breaker panels and a streamlined composite belly panel. Wing-mounted air brakes were made available as an option in 1985.Ball 1998, p. 230. In 1989, the interior was redesigned to improve comfort, a 28V electrical system and electrically-operated cowl flaps were added, and the windows were revised with rounded corners.Ball 1998, p. 232. Certified September 27, 1976. A total of 1,723 were built from 1977 to 1987 and 1989 to 1990, including 201LM, 201SE, and MSE versions; 337 (1977), 380 (1978), 137 (1979), 137 (1980), 176 (1981), 113 (1982), 91 (1983), 82 (1984), 51 (1985), 37 (1986), 53 (1987), 65 (1989), and 64 (1990). :* M20J 201LM, "Lean Machine" version introduced in 1985. As M20J 201 but with simplified equipment package. Production figures between 1985 and 1987 were grouped with the standard M20J 201, while 44 201LMs were built in 1988. :* M20J 201SE, "Special Edition" version introduced in 1985. As M20J 201 but with a luxury interior. Production figures were grouped with the standard M20J 201. :* M20J 201AT, "Advanced Trainer" introduced in 1989 with a 14V electrical system, manually-operated cowl flaps, and a more durable interior. 22 total produced between 1989 and 1991; 1 (1989), 20 (1990), and 1 (1991 demonstrator). In 1992, the aircraft was redesignated to M20J AT for its final year of production. Production figures for the final year were grouped with the M20J MSE.Ball 1998, p. 233. :* M20J 205, introduced in 1987. As M20J 201 but with airframe changes from the M20K 252 which increased its top speed by . Other changes included a 28V electrical system and revised windows with rounded corners. 57 built.Ball 1998, p. 231. :* M20J 205SE, "Special Edition" version introduced in 1988. As M20J 205 but with a luxury interior. 22 built. :* M20J MSE, replaced the M20J 201 in May 1990 with numerous improvements taken from the higher-priced models. 1990 production figures were grouped with he M20J 201. 205 total produced between 1991 and 1997, including the MSE Limited and M20J AT; 38 (1991), 41 (1992), 34 (1993), 34 (1994), 19 (1995), 19 (1996), and 20 (1997). :* M20J MSE Limited, introduced in 1991. As M20J MSE but with packaged optional equipment. Produced from 1991 to 1993, but production figures were grouped with the standard MSE. :* M20J Allegro, renamed MSE for final year of production in 1998. 19 built. ;M20K :* M20K 231, introduced in 1979. The first production M20 variant to feature a six-cylinder engine, the M20K 231 is powered by a Continental TSIO-360-GB engine with a Rajay turbocharger and push-pull power controls. Fuel capacity was increased to , a dorsal fin air scoop was added to cool the cabin, and new curved wingtips were introduced. The 1981 model featured improved soundproofing, which was further improved in 1982 along with the addition of a new exhaust resonator and pressurized magnetos. In 1984, the engine was swapped for the Continental TSIO-360-LB1B, and the improvements from that year's M20J were added as well. The 1985 model also introduced the changes from its M20J counterpart. Certified November 16, 1978. 888 total built, including the 231SE; 246 (1979), 199 (1980), 166 (1981), 105 (1982), 63 (1983), 61 (1984), and 48 (1985).Ball 1998, p. 229–230. :* M20K 231SE, "Special Edition" version introduced in 1985. As M20K 231 but with a luxury interior. Production figures were grouped with the standard M20K 231. :* M20K 252TSE, replaced the 231 in 1986. Powered by a Continental TSIO-360-MB1 with a
Garrett Garrett may refer to: Places in the United States * Garrett, Illinois, a village * Garrett, Indiana, a city * Garrett, Floyd County, Kentucky, an unincorporated community * Garrett, Meade County, Kentucky, an unincorporated community * Garrett, ...
variable wastegate controller, the 252TSE also introduced curved side windows. There were no significant changes during the aircraft's five-year production run. 230 total built, 66 (1986), 89 (1987), 35 (1988), 22 (1989), 10 (1990), and 8 (1997). :* M20K Encore, introduced in 1997 with a Continental TSIO-360-MB7B. Gross weight was increased, and the landing gear from the M20M and M20R was installed to compensate.Ball 1998, p. 235. Gross weight was increased to . 27 total built; 9 (1997) and 18 (1998). ;M20L PFM :Introduced in 1988 and produced for only two years. Powered by a Porsche PFM 3200 N03, the M20L's fuselage was lengthened by to maintain balance. Likewise, the cabin was lengthened by . Gross weight was increased to . Certified February 25, 1988. 41 total built; 40 (1988) and 1 (1989). ;M20M :* M20M TLS, introduced in 1989. Powered by a Lycoming TIO-540-AF1A engine, the M20M features the stretched fuselage of the M20L. The rear seats were moved aft by to improve leg room. Gross weight was increased to . The 1996 model introduced an option for a
TKS The TK (TK-3) and TKS were Poland, Polish tankettes developed during the 1930s and used in the Second World War. Design and development The TK (also known as the TK-3) tankette was a Polish design produced from 1931 based on the chassis of the ...
ice protection system Ice is water that is frozen into a solid state, typically forming at or below temperatures of 0 ° C, 32 ° F, or 273.15 K. It occurs naturally on Earth, on other planets, in Oort cloud objects, and as interstellar ice. As a naturally occu ...
, which could be retrofitted to older M20Ms. Certified June 28, 1989. A total of 218 were built from 1989 to 1996, including the 1996 TLS Brao; 35 (1989), 45 (1990), 42 (1991), 22 (1992), 27 (1993), 20 (1994), 18 (1995), and 9 (1996). :* M20M TLS Bravo, replaced the TLS halfway through 1996. As TLS but with a Lycoming TIO-540-AF1B engine. The 2000 model introduced a dual
Garmin 430 Garmin Ltd. is an American multinational technology company based in Olathe, Kansas. The company designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes GPS-enabled products and other navigation, communication, sensor-based, and information ...
panel, a KFC-225 autopilot, and a leather interior. The dual Garmin 430 panel was replaced with a similar Garmin 530/430 panel in 2001. 1996 production figures were grouped with the TSE, while a total of 110 TSE Bravos were built between 1997 and 2004; 20 (1997), 17 (1998), 25 (1999), 26 (2000), 7 (2001), 7 (2003), and 8 (2004). :* M20M Bravo GX, introduced in 2005. As TLS Bravo but with a Garmin GX1000
glass cockpit A glass cockpit is an aircraft cockpit that features an array of electronic (digital) flight instrument display device, displays, typically large liquid-crystal display, LCD screens, rather than traditional Analog device, analog dials and gauges ...
and a three-bladed McCauley propeller. 20 built in 2005. ;M20R :* M20R Ovation, introduced in 1994 with a Continental IO-550-G engine. The 1996 model introduced an option for a TKS ice protection system, which could be retrofitted to older M20Rs. Certified June 30, 1994. 199 total built; 21 (1994), 54 (1995), 20 (1996), 36 (1997), 41 (1998), and 27 (1999). :* M20R Ovation 2, introduced in 2000. As Ovation but with a dual Garmin 430 panel, a KFC-225 autopilot, a leather interior, and a two-bladed McCauley propeller. The dual Garmin 430 panel was replaced with a similar Garmin 530/430 panel in 2001. A limited Platinum Edition was offered with advanced avionics and airframe and cabin upgrades. 131 total built; 55 (2000), 12 (2001), 8 (2002), 28 (2003), and 28 (2004). :* M20R Ovation 2 DX, introduced in 2005 alongside the Ovation 2 GX. One built in 2005. :* M20R Ovation 2 GX, introduced in 2005 alongside the Ovation 2 DX. As Ovation 2 but with a Garmin GX1000 glass cockpit and a three-bladed Hartzell propeller. 64 built in 2005. The 11,000th Mooney delivered from the factory was a 2006 Ovation 2 GX. :* M20R Ovation 3, introduced in June 2006. As Ovation 2 GX but powered by a Continental IO-550-G/AP engine. At least 6 built. ;M20S :* M20S Eagle, introduced in 1999. Powered by a Continental IO-550-G engine, the Eagle also features Moritz gauges, a two-axis S-TEC autopilot, and fuel tanks. Certified March 7, 1999. 58 total built; 39 (1999) and 19 (2000). :* M20S Eagle 2, introduced in 2001. As Eagle but with a three-bladed propeller, a Garmin GNS430 system, a leather interior, rudder trim, and a ground power plug. 9 total built; 6 (2001), 2 (2002), and 1 (2003). ;M20T Predator :Military trainer variant designed for the
United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
Enhanced Flight Screener (EFS) competition in 1991. Based on the M20J, the Predator is powered by a Lycoming AEIO-540-D4B5 engine with the firewall moved back. The cabin was replaced with a two-seat cockpit with a sliding
bubble canopy A bubble canopy is an aircraft canopy constructed without bracing, for the purpose of providing a wider unobstructed field of view to the pilot, often providing 360° all-round visibility. The designs of bubble canopies can vary drastically; so ...
, and the vertical stabilizer was lengthened by . Only a single prototype was built. ;M20TN :* M20TN Acclaim, circular engine cooling intakes and winglets. Certified December 22, 2006. Of the 143 M20TNs built, the first 89 were the original Acclaim. :* M20TN Acclaim Type S, announced in September 2007. As Acclaim but with modified wingtips, a streamlined cowling with enlarged engine cooling intakes, and other improvements. ;M20U Ovation Ultra :Development of the M20R with cabin doors on both sides of the fuselage, a Garmin G1000 NXi glass cockpit, and other improvements. Certified March 28, 2017. ;M20V Acclaim Ultra :Development of the M20TN with cabin doors on both sides of the fuselage, a Garmin G1000 NXi glass cockpit, and other improvements. Certified March 28, 2017. ; MT20 TX-1 :Military trainer variant based on the M20J with a sliding clear-view roof canopy. The TX-1 was powered by a Continental TSIO-360-GB engine driving a two-bladed propeller and had four
hardpoints A hardpoint is an attachment location on a structural frame designed to transfer force and carry an external or internal load. The term is usually used to refer to the mounting points (more formally known as a weapon station or station) on th ...
under the wings for weapons training and light attack missions. Demand for the aircraft was too low to justify production, and only a single prototype was built.Simpson 1995, p. 255.''Air International'' August 1983, pp. 101–102. ;M22 Mark 22 :Twin-engine development of the M20 with strengthened wings, an enlarged vertical stabilizer, and powered by two
Lycoming O-360 The Lycoming O-360 is a family of four-cylinder, direct-drive, horizontally opposed, air-cooled, piston aircraft engines. Engines in the O-360 series produce between , with the basic O-360 producing . The engine family has been installed in ...
engines. One prototype was built in 1958, but further development was abandoned after flight testing. Not to be confused with the unrelated Mooney M22 Mustang. ;Rocket 305 :In 1990, Rocket Engineering Corp. of
Spokane, Washington Spokane ( ) is the most populous city in eastern Washington and the county seat of Spokane County, Washington, United States. It lies along the Spokane River, adjacent to the Selkirk Mountains, and west of the Rocky Mountain foothills, south o ...
, modified an M20K 231 model by replacing the standard turbocharged Continental TSIO-360 engine and two-blade propeller with a turbocharged Continental TSIO-520-NB and a McCauley three-blade propeller. This engine and propeller combination had previously been proven on the twin-engined
Cessna 340 The Cessna 340 is a twin piston engine pressurized business aircraft that was manufactured by Cessna.Plane and Pilot: ''1978 Aircraft Directory'', page 92. Werner & Werner Corp, Santa Monica CA, 1977. Montgomery, MR & Gerald Foster: ''A F ...
and
Cessna 414 The Cessna 414 is an American light, pressurized, twin-engine transport aircraft built by Cessna. It first flew in 1968 and an improved variant was introduced from 1978 as the 414A Chancellor. Design and development The pressurized 414 was dev ...
. Marketed as the Rocket 305, this variant delivered a 228-
knot A knot is an intentional complication in Rope, cordage which may be practical or decorative, or both. Practical knots are classified by function, including List of hitch knots, hitches, List of bend knots, bends, List of loop knots, loop knots, ...
speed and 1,600 feet/minute rate of climb. By September 2017, the Rocket conversion had been discontinued by Rocket Engineering.


Aircraft on display

The Mooney M20H engineering prototype is on display at
Jandakot Airport Jandakot Airport is a general aviation (GA) airport in Jandakot, Western Australia that opened in 1963, about south-southwest of Perth Airport. Originally built on unproductive farm lands, it is now among residential suburbs in the south of ...
in
Jandakot, Western Australia Jandakot is a southern suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Cockburn local government area. It is best known for Jandakot Airport that is situated entirely within the suburb, the airport being "the busiest general av ...
. The aircraft is painted to represent the M20E used by Robin Miller, an
Australian Australian(s) may refer to: Australia * Australia, a country * Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia ** European Australians ** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists ** Aboriginal Aus ...
female pilot known as the "Sugar Bird Lady" for her work in distributing the
polio vaccine Polio vaccines are vaccines used to prevent poliomyelitis (polio). Two types are used: an inactivated vaccine, inactivated poliovirus given by injection (IPV) and a attenuated vaccine, weakened poliovirus given by mouth (OPV). The World Healt ...
across Australia.


Specifications

These are the specifications for the 2016 M20 Acclaim Ultra.


See also


References


Bibliography

* AOPA Air Safety Foundation, ''Mooney Aircraft Safety Review'', AOPA, U.S.A., 1991 * * * * Eric Broumand Nesbit Evans, ''Dynamics of flight, stability and control'' McGraw (Chi Migi) 2005 * * * * * * * * Professor Munib Kirdoggy Sagpur, ''Flight Dynamics'', East Fremantle AOPA Publishing, 1995


External links


Mooney Model Chronology (1948–2006)



FAA aircraft type certificate


{{Mooney Aviation Company aircraft 1950s United States civil utility aircraft Low-wing aircraft M20 Single-engined tractor aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1955 Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear Single-engined piston aircraft