Mooney M20

Mooney M20
Type:	Light aircraft
Design country:	United States
Manufacturer:	Mooney
First flight:	1955
Commissioning:	1955
Production time:	1955 -
Number of pieces:	> 5000

The Mooney M20 is the best-known light aircraft series from the US aircraft manufacturer Mooney .

history

Mooney M20M

The M20 was developed in 1955 by company founder Al Mooney and is still being built in Kerrville to this day . The tail unit and the wings of the M20 were initially made entirely of wood and covered - it wasn't until 1961 that the first full metal Mooney was built with the M20B . A turbocharged M20K-231 set the speed record for a transatlantic flight in a single-engine, piston-powered aircraft. The speed of 320 km / h was reached in 1977 with the M20J 201. The fastest piston engine-powered aircraft ever manufactured by Mooney is the M20M Acclaim with a maximum cruising speed of 237 kt (440 km / h). An M20F from the 1970s with a four-cylinder injection engine and 130–150 kW already reached cruising speeds of around 150 knots. The seating position and space in the front seats are cramped compared to other aircraft.

The common feature of all Mooney designs is the trapezoidal vertical stabilizer , which is slightly inclined forwards . The trimming of the elevator is due on Mooney M20 not - as with most airplanes - right at the oars, the whole instead tailplane dynamically to the transverse axis inclined.

Mooneys are also considered to be relatively safe small aircraft, as they are equipped with a kind of steel cage that provides additional protection for passengers in the event of minor falls or crashes against obstacles.

Versions

M20 and M20A: The original M20 (1955–1958) and the M20A (1958–1960) had wooden wings with fabric covering, but were otherwise similar to the later designs with metal wings. With the M20A, the engine output was increased from 110 to 130 kW.

With the first aircraft there were accidents with the wooden tail, which broke off due to water ingress and subsequent rotting. Most were then replaced by metal structures.

The M20 received its type approval on August 24, 1955, which followed the M20A on February 13, 1958.

M20B: The M20B was the first all-metal version, which was approved on December 14, 1960. Since this version was heavier, it lost 9 to 15 km / h in top speed.

M20C Ranger: Further improved version from 1962, which received its approval on October 20, 1961. It was produced between 1962 and 1978 and was the last short body version. It represents the most produced version of all Mooneys.

M20D master: Simplified version introduced in 1963 based on the M20C with rigid landing gear and non-adjustable propeller. It was approved on October 15, 1962. It was developed primarily for training purposes and to reduce insurance rates. Production only continued until 1966. Most M20Ds were later converted back to M20Cs.

M20E Chaparral, M20E Super 21: The M20E was the first high-performance machine and was built from 1964 to 1975. It had a 150 kW injection engine (with optional turbocharging ) and was registered on September 4, 1963.

M20F and M20G (e.g. M20F Executive 21): The M20F is a variant based on the M20E with an extended fuselage and an additional window. It was produced between 1966 and 1977. The M20G Statesman, which was produced between 1968 and 1970, was an elongated M20C. The M20F was registered on July 25, 1965, the M20G on November 13, 1967. From 1969, an electrically extendable landing gear and landing flaps were optionally offered for the machines.

Mooney M20J

M20J: M20F aerodynamically improved by Roy LoPresti , launched in 1977 and sold under the name Mooney 201 due to its top speed of 201 mph (323 km / h) . The first flight took place at the beginning of September 1976 and the approval followed on September 27, 1976. In 1998 the production of the M20J model was ended. At the same time, the production of the medium-body models also ended.

M20K: Up to this type, all M20s were equipped with four-cylinder Lycoming engines. The M20K was the first to be equipped with more powerful six-cylinder engines (some of them such as the M20K also had a turbocharger). It was produced between 1979 and 1998. The first M20K was marketed as the Mooney 231. It was equipped with a Continental TSI0-360-GB engine, which, however, struggled with overheating and was replaced from 1986. This variant was marketed as Mooney 252. The M20K was approved on November 16, 1978.

M20L PFM

Mooney M20L

Variant with an even longer hull and Porsche PFM 3200-N03 engine with 162 kW output. The variant was built between 1988 and 1990 and was approved on February 25, 1988.

M20M Bravo / M20R Ovation

Mooney M20R Ovation 2nd

The M20M (based on the M20L), built from 1989 onwards, was equipped with a turbocharged 200 kW engine. It was approved on June 28, 1989. With the M20R Ovation introduced in 1994, a new engine, the Continental IO-550 , was added to the long fuselage -G with 210 kW power. This was approved on June 30, 1994. Both machines are the starting point for the Bravo and Ovation models that are still produced today. From 2001 the Ovation 2 with a slightly more powerful engine and from 2005 the luxury version Ovation 2 GX came onto the market. The latter has a glass cockpit and avionics in the form of a Garmin G1000 . The latest version is the Ovation 3 with a more powerful 230 kW motor.

M20S Eagle: The M20S was registered on February 7, 1999. It is also equipped with a Continental IO 550 G engine, but with an output of 182 kW. In 2001 the Eagle 2 followed with some changes such as the new three-bladed propeller, increased take-off weight and leather interior.

M20T Predator: The M20T Predator is a version with canopy based on the M20 with Lycoming AEIO-540 engine for the United States Air Force Enhanced Flight Screener competition . The prototype was built in 1991. The order then went to the Slingsby T-67 Firefly , whereupon the development and approval of the M20T was abandoned. The prototype, known as the N20XT, flew with a classification as an experimental aircraft until 2008 for Mooney Aircraft.

M20TN Acclaim: The M20TN Acclaim is the newest variant of the M20 series. It is driven by a turbo-normalized Teledyne Continental Motors TSI0-550-G with two turbochargers and intercoolers and 200 kW of power and has a retractable chassis. It was approved on October 15, 2006. The Acclaim replaces the Mooney M20M Bravo. The latest and fastest version is currently the Acclaim S with a 210 kW engine.

Technical specifications

Cockpit of a Mooney M20R Ovation 2

Cockpit of a Mooney M20TN Acclaim Type S

Parameter	Data Acclaim S	Data Ovation 2
crew	1
Passengers	3
span	11.13 m	11.20 m
length	8.19 m
height	2.36 m	2.56 m
payload	500 kg
Empty mass	1000 kg	1029 kg
Takeoff mass	1500 kg	1534 kg
Top speed	448 km / h (242 kts)	352 km / h
Service ceiling	25,000 ft (approx. 7,620 m)	20,000 ft (approx. 6,100 m)
Range	1445 nm (2676 km)	1860 nm (3445 km)
drive	TCM TSI0-550-G; 280 PS (approx. 210 kW)	TCM IO-550-G; 280 PS (approx. 210 kW)

Web links

Commons : Mooney - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Internet presence of the aircraft manufacturer Mooney

Type certification of the Mooney Model M20 - EASA-TCDS-A.266 (PDF; 67 kB)

Site of German Mooney fans

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j A. Czernek: Mooney Model Chronology (1948-2006) . September 2006. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
↑ Bob Kromer: Wood Wing Mooneys - Are They Safe? . undated. Retrieved August 6, 2008.
^ Federal Aviation Administration : Airworthiness Directive 86-19-10 . October 1986. Retrieved August 6, 2008.
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ Federal Aviation Administration : AIRCRAFT SPECIFICATION NO. 2A3 . May 2008. Retrieved July 6, 2008.
↑ FliegerRevue September 2008, p. 67, data sheet Ovation 2
^ Belvoir Media Group: Mooney Predator . February 1998. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
^ Federal Aviation Administration : FAA Registry N-Number Inquiry Results . July 2008. Archived from the original on October 2, 2006. Retrieved July 7, 2008.
^ Mooney Aircraft: Mooney website . October 4, 2007. Retrieved October 6, 2007.

[Chronology-1] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j A. Czernek: Mooney Model Chronology (1948-2006) . September 2006. Retrieved July 4, 2008.

[Wheat-2] Bob Kromer: Wood Wing Mooneys - Are They Safe? . undated. Retrieved August 6, 2008.

[AD86-19-10-3] Federal Aviation Administration : Airworthiness Directive 86-19-10 . October 1986. Retrieved August 6, 2008.

[2A3-4] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ Federal Aviation Administration : AIRCRAFT SPECIFICATION NO. 2A3 . May 2008. Retrieved July 6, 2008.

[5] FliegerRevue September 2008, p. 67, data sheet Ovation 2

[AviationConsumer-6] Belvoir Media Group: Mooney Predator . February 1998. Retrieved July 4, 2008.

[FAA-7] Federal Aviation Administration : FAA Registry N-Number Inquiry Results . July 2008. Archived from the original on October 2, 2006. Retrieved July 7, 2008.

[MooneyX1-8] Mooney Aircraft: Mooney website . October 4, 2007. Retrieved October 6, 2007.