Blue on Top

Mostly prop noise, but you also said 112Hp ... so it’s a 4 stroke (and not 2, which are louder). Why do most people believe the advertising that composites are lighter? In buckling and compression (the vast majority of an airplane) aluminum is MUCH lighter and stronger ... especially in light airplanes. In addition, HIRF and lightning protection are easier (in addition carbon has to have an embedded copper mesh). With Cirrus being the holy grail (on this thread), all y’all might want to do a tap test on the flight controls ... not carbon, not composite but all aluminum. Only part of a Cirrus that’s carbon are the spars and maybe the paint job (misleading advertising). Aerodynamics (Mother Nature) haven’t changed since the beginning of time. Our understanding and analysis tools have gotten better.

Suits - no; engineers - yes, at least one; janitors - yes, I talked to them; and more importantly, mechanics, assemblers and production line personnel - yes, I talked to them, too. Engineers have to talk to the people building the airplanes to know if the parts can be made and installed easily.

Thank you! I have been very busy, but need to have better time management to get all the information … like that is possible I did join earlier, but only posted a couple things … probably on the use of AOA. I'm developing a product now. I'd like to stay around a long time Thank you! -Ron

To follow on to Mitch’s comment, the aerodynamics that were done to make the “J” can be done much, much better today. Yes, all the Mooneys can be made faster and more efficient with today’s knowledge/CFD. I look up to and highly respect Al and Art Mooney, Ralph Harmon (the real designer of the unbreakable, metalized Mooney wing) and Roy LoPresti, but we know a lot more now. And yes, despite all the generally negative comments about the younger generations, have brilliant minds today, too. :) PS. Mitch: The “Ovation” would be a great one to start with ... both faster and lighter (=> more useful load).

So much to say here. The M10 missed an unrealistic (and hidden) schedule, weight goals and speed goals as a result. Carbon fiber didn’t and won’t help it get as light or as inexpensive as aluminum (every OEM has proven that from small to Boeing ... corrosion is another issue). My team did a great job of clean-sheet designing, building and flying the POC in 14 months after the mock-up fiascos. LSA are NOT certificated and therefore are not in the same class. Adding a chute is a BIG deal as the opening loads are large and not in the same place as Flight loads. An M20 would lose >100lbs. of useful load. The M10 and M20 teams were intentionally kept apart (why?). If the original intent of the M10 was kept, it could have (and still could be) a great trainer/personal airplane. Composites, diesel and Garmin don’t meet the original intent (price point). Breathe.