triple8s Posted February 19, 2014 Report Posted February 19, 2014 Was curious about this. I thought a Rocket was a 231 with the TSIO 360 removed and a 520 instead. I see for sale on Barnstormers what is described as a 252 TSE Rocket, says very rare, very fast.......is there a difference in Rockets? I know of the Liquid Rocket, it is rare......... 1987 MOONEY 252 TSE ROCKET 1987 MOONEY 252 TSE ROCKET • $167,900 • OFFERED FOR SALE • 1956 TT 1120 SINCE CONVERSION, VERY FAST. VERY RARE, COLO BASED EXCEL AVIONCS PKG, CALL FOR PIC • Contact Dennis Rommel - DPR AVIATION, Broker - located Littleton, CO USA • Telephone: 303-946-6632 . 720-346-6204 . • Posted February 6, 2014 • Show all Ads posted by this Advertiser • Recommend This Ad to a Friend • Email Advertiser • Save to Watchlist • Report This Ad Quote
FAST FLIGHT OPTIONS LLC Posted February 19, 2014 Report Posted February 19, 2014 Rocket engineering applied their STC to both the 231 and 252 airframe Quote
benpilot Posted February 19, 2014 Report Posted February 19, 2014 Yeah I've wondered about this as well. How do you tell a 252 from 231 Rocket? Is there a way to determine by the airframe quickly? I suspect many brokers try to pass a 231 Rocket as a 252 to charge higher sale prices. Quote
RJBrown Posted February 19, 2014 Report Posted February 19, 2014 Dennis is the broker that sold my J. I am still waiting to see pictures of this bird. I will talk to him later today about another matter, I can follow up on this plane if any are interested. To answer your question. The Rocket conversion could be applied to any M20K. From 79 231s to the latest Encore. Because the value of the 252s was much higher back when Rocket was converting Mooneys few were converted. A runout 231 could be had for under $60K back then. Once converted they sold for more than the $130 it cost. A stock 231 with a fresh conversion brought close to $150 at the time allowing for about 20 grand profit when a dealer bought converted and resold a plane. The market for 252s was so strong at the time that the only 252s converted were for customer owned planes. To answer Bens Question. 1985 was a 231 and 1986 was a 252. Once the engines were changed the only real difference was the voltage. 231s were 12-14volt while 252s were 24-28 volt. All 231 had manually operated cowl flaps while the 252 had electric motor to open and close them. Quote
KSMooniac Posted February 19, 2014 Report Posted February 19, 2014 An easy way to tell is the 252 has the rounded window corners, vs. the square of the 231 (and 201) prior to 1986. I believe all of the 252 models had the rounded windows, but someone might know otherwise. Quote
triple8s Posted February 19, 2014 Author Report Posted February 19, 2014 So.....a 252 rocket shouldnt really be any better than a rocket made from a 231 airframe (other than being a newer airframe)cause the FWF is the same TISO520. The improvements made on a 231 to make it a 252 were change to a tuned induction, a change to the cowl flap and a different engine air intake (cowling change), unless the change in the air intake on the cowling would somehow benefit the TSIO 520 installation. ????? Quote
KSMooniac Posted February 19, 2014 Report Posted February 19, 2014 FWF, the 252 Rocket and 231 Rocket should be identical, except for the 24V vs. 12V systems. 252 will be newer and have all of the aero and trim improvements, likely better seats, etc. But, functionally identical! Quote
RJBrown Posted February 19, 2014 Report Posted February 19, 2014 Many early planes have recieved the round window treatment so that is not neccesarily a true indication. Scott is Correct "FWF, the 252 Rocket and 231 Rocket should be identical, except for the 24V vs. 12V systems. 252 will be newer and have all of the aero and trim improvements, likely better seats, etc. But, functionally identical!' Quote
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