chinoguym20

Comparing apples to apples (SR22’s and M20 Ultra’s), both are fine aircraft, but you also need to factor in the company behind the product for many reasons. For my money, I would go with the Cirrus, purely because it’s in current production and you know the company will be around to support. The jury is still out whether Mooney is still in business, or if it will be for much longer.

That’s a shame to hear Stacy quit. Did they hire a replacement? I did hear that possibly the last Acclaim Ultra was delivered the other week (33-0019).

On the Factory Aircraft Sales page of the website. The last Ovation is the 2021 32-0012. I’m not sure it would be possible for owners to produce parts and assist the build, flight test and certification. It takes many skill sets and a good deal of tribal knowledge. Although I agree, it would be fun to try.

I saw that “the last” Ovation Ultra off the assembly line is offered for sale. It looks a good deal and you don’t have to pay the usual distributor fee (10-20%?). I hear there are a few others in various stages of subassembly, so maybe we might see one roll off now and again. I sure hope so Didn’t Mooney auction off the last Mooney R or TN when that production ceased? I wonder if that would be a good way to sell it?

I apologize for my response to you carusoam. It was my bad that I was YouTube link challenged and will do better next time. Thanks to a few people for the PM’s offering help.

I don’t have time for this, but if you must... I have access to good intel, so attempted a post that I thought would be of interest to the MS community. I’m sorry I’m not as savy as some at pasting a link to the YouTube post. instead of getting some help, you made a smart ass comment. I’ve seen you do this many times before and you need to learn to be a positive force in this community, rather than a jerk. mom not sure of your credentials on this site, but I think you need to be grounded!

Save your condescending posts for someone else. You are a real jerk. My goal is to provide good intel and I will continue to do so

Thanks hammdo. Carusoam, take note that positive is better than your negative mode of posting on this forum.

I apologize. I couldn’t figure out how to copy/paste the link to YouTube. If you are smarter than I, please go ahead and insert a link.

https://youtu.be/tLjBZbwdk2U

Very pleased to hear there’s a plan to Make Mooney Great Again and it sounds like Jonny is on the right path by focusing on where the money is (and it’s not in new M20’s). Besides, I doubt the vast majority of us MS’ers or the current market would buy new. Let’s hope there’s some other aircraft related profitable work can be brought to Kerrville and keep the factory open. Go Mooney!

Friend of mine at KERV airport has seen this flying around the “Mooney” area and for a close-up when it fueled at KERV a while ago. Should Mooney be doing something like this? https://texasaircraft.com/

https://texasaircraft.com/

This is great news for the Kerrville employees (and hopefully future employees). As we all know, it’s a very tall order, but hopefully the new owners have deep enough pockets for the investment needed and can make a positive return on their investment one day. I wonder if they will work on an entry level like the M10?

Yes, I think they were done by Plane Schemer in AL. They are not the factory designated, but if the customer wants to go elsewhere, they can pay the extra. I think they are also limited if the aircraft has not completed the production process and had not been licensed. By all accounts they do a great paint job.

Spoke to one of my Mooney contacts and they said the factory was using three reliable paint shops for Ultras: Aerosmith (GGG), Corrigan (HDO) and Specialized/Tejas (HYI). Cost to paint new anywhere from $25K up depending on scheme and paint used. There was one Ultra that a customer had painted outside of these three and a great job done, but it was $$$$$.

https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-announces-new-killdeer-mountain-manufacturing-facility-in-kerrville The Mooney factory may be closed/closing, but there is new aerospace life coming to Kerrville. now that’s positive for the ex-Mooney folks. Let’s hope they get hired.

It would be good if there is such a group with deep enough pockets to make Mooney great again. I hope they are from within the USA. Foreign ownership will not work in this economy Sooner the better. Whoever is paying the bills right now is getting a negative return on their “investment” and the longer the factory sits almost idle, the harder it will be to recover anything. In particular, the human assets. it would be great to see a newly manufactured J (which is my personal favorite), but any new M20 under new ownership would be slim to none (and slim is out of town!). Maybe the M10T with fixed gear? If they hired @blueontop to lead the engineering effort I think they would be wise.

I hear (from my contact at KERV airport) it’s still open and there are a dozen or so employees there but only a handful who are capable of turning a wrench (the rest are overhead). They think there could be 2 new ultras delivered this year but after those, unlikely to be any more due to lack of sales and know how to build them.

I’ve heard a few old timers talk about the races we used to have here at the airport. Looks like fun. I wonder if the MG’s mentioned in this article I found are still around and sitting in someone’s barn? Would be great to get hold of one.

No, just putting 2+2 together based on “its busted.. Im guessing another bill hasnt been paid, unfortunately.”

I hope the rumor isn’t confirmed (does anyone here know?), but has the factory finally closed for good? If so, what a shame for all the good people and such great aircraft. Maybe someone will buy the brand out of the remnants and stick it on a Light Sport or something.

Back to the main subject. The factory did close down, but thankfully has reopened somewhat with just a handful of people. My understanding is they are under new ownership (Chinese are gone) and are trying to complete the last three Ultra’s that were left in production that have a chance of being completed without the skills of those that were let go. The big question is, what next? They can’t survive on maintenance and spare parts. Is there a plan? I think it’s out of the question to spend $ on design improvements as there is no market out there for a Mooney. Should they put a fork in it, or are there any ideas out there?

All good ideas, but don’t you think the talented people at Mooney would have considered all these potential weight saving ideas to increase useful load by now? I’m sure they have and decided that there’s just no returns on investment. How about thinking about achieving the same goal by increasing landing gear strength and testing that? Surely doable and relatively easy to test and have the FAA certify?

I think $50/hr fully burdened is probably close when you add up all the overhead Involved with Chino and Kerrville. To @blueontop 2nd point, Jerry was the most engaged CEO and letting him go was a big mistake. He was followed by the other guy who lasted only months before being booted and they never replaced him. They temporarily installed an investor guy who had no experience. I’m not sure who is CEO now. Nor who is paying to keep it open. Anyone know?