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Knee jerk reaction, pictures anyone?

xcrmckenna

By xcrmckenna
in Vintage Mooneys (pre-J models)

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xcrmckenna Veteran

xcrmckenna

Posted
Posted

So my understanding the biggest or "smallest" knock on the short bodies is no leg room for a back passenger or two. I was just wondering if anyone has pictures of the leg room after someone is in the back and the two front seats filled. I'm on the short side and there just looks like a bunch of front seat travel for me, and that would open up even more leg room in the back.

carusoam Grand Master

carusoam

Posted
Posted

Xcrm,

It's like being in the back of a firebird...

If it fits in a firebird, it will fit in a C.

Your finance administrator won't be happy sitting back there, but she'll understand the value of somebody else being back there.

It's just not a flying Tahoe.

Ya' know?

-a-

carusoam Grand Master

carusoam

Posted
Posted

601RX,

Let me finish...

The R is like a Tahoe. I got this idea of comparison from David McGee! The guy sitting in the back seat in those pictures.

Can you tell how old that story was? I was looking for a date on it but was unable.

Buying a plane with the help of David was truly an enjoyable experience!

Best regards,

-a-

kerry Mentor

kerry

Posted
Posted

I took a budget flight on allegiant airlines from Las Vegas to Hawaii.  It was 6 hours each way.  To be honest I think my short body Mooney had more back seat leg room than that airline.

  • Like 2
Bob_Belville Grand Master

Bob_Belville

Posted
Posted

I have carried 4 adults in my Es on many occasions over the years. I don't think there was ever a backseat passenger over 6', certainly not one who was also 225#. (Two big guys in the back will not work out W&B wise.) I always ask folks how badly cramped did they feel and the usual reply compares it favorably to an airline seat. I have had 6' ers in back when there was 3 on board. That is not a problem at all.

 

That said, if I was filling the back seats half the time I might think about something roomier but my flights that are more than a couple of hours are solo or me and one other.

Andy95W Grand Master

Andy95W

Posted
Posted

3 people in an M20E or C is very do-able and not at all uncomfortable. The person in the back can sit a little side ways and have no problem. 2 adults, 2 children is also no problem. 4 adults gets tight for more than an hour and is also tough going for weight and balance.

People say the F/J/K fuselage is a little more pitch stable, but I've never really noticed until you get to the L/M/R long bodies.

The MAPA article was good but I truthfully didn't notice much difference in the pictures of rear seat leg room.

Plus, I fly from the front seat.

Love my C!

  • Like 1
1964-M20E Grand Master

1964-M20E

Posted
Posted

The F model is much nicer if you have 3 or 4 adults in the plane.  The C and E models are perfect 2 seat aircraft that you can put 4 in when you have to.  I’ve had 3 adults in my E for a 2 our flight before and it was not a problem.   It is nice to have the extra baggage room as well.

 

 I do find that the F model has less tendency to fishtail in flight than my E model did.

Andy95W Grand Master

Andy95W

Posted
Posted

Not sure what the problem is, this 1962 sales brochure shows acres of back seat room in a short body Mooney.post-11090-0-36580300-1410376727_thumb.j

I figure she's either 12 years old or only 4'10", and probably the smallest woman working at the Mooney factory in 1962.

Someone should ask Bill Wheat.

  • Like 4
bonal Grand Master

bonal

Posted
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I think it's Jacky-O.  like the others we have had several 3 plus hour trips with 3 adults and no problems.  some times on long flights my wife will curl up in the back and sleep she says it's comfortable that way. leaves the right seat open for ipad charts and such. She dont wake up until i pull the mixture.

  • Like 1
cliffy Grand Master

cliffy

Posted
Posted

I've had 4 in my C 3 times in 14 years. Usually just the two of us. Had 4 grown men once for a 40 min flight. Tight is all I can say. 

Yes the smallest were in the back. 

My wife's record is 13 mins from gear up to asleep in the right seat!

  • Like 1
Bob_Belville Grand Master

Bob_Belville

Posted
Posted

I don't have a pic of 4 on board but  this shot is from a flight to Sun n Fun, 4 hours each way. Joey in the back is 6' tall. I think you can see that there is a lot of shoulder and head room in my E. (Joey has an Archer II and a relatively fresh PPL. He spent a lot of time observing the panel and IFR procedures. He got his GoPro out for the final ~15 minutes. Again, the cabin looks pretty roomy. I get tired of being defensive about the back seat of the short bodies. My Mooney is as big as my Crossfire and easier to get in and out of.  :) )

 

post-8913-0-97844900-1410380798_thumb.jp

  • Like 3
xcrmckenna Veteran

xcrmckenna

Posted
  • Author
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That is a great picture 601RX for comparison. It doesn't look like there is a whole lot of difference. I'm sure  people in the back of the later models wouldn't want to spend more then 4 hours back there just the same as an short body model. 1395W that could so be my grandmother she was about 4'10" and maybe 90lbs....:) Bob I see your side very clear it doesn't look like a trip in an E would be that bad of a trip, at least no worse than any other single engine plane that didn't have a sexy little stewardess bringing you a drink.... That is a great video of how awesome the ATC was flying in there. They were on the ball and I'm sure it was great having two sets of eyes going in there. I'm sure the twin wanted you to speed up because he had to get on the ground for fuel....:) I love the 9gph

  • Like 1
Bob_Belville Grand Master

Bob_Belville

Posted
Posted

That is a great picture 601RX for comparison. It doesn't look like there is a whole lot of difference. I'm sure  people in the back of the later models wouldn't want to spend more then 4 hours back there just the same as an short body model. 1395W that could so be my grandmother she was about 4'10" and maybe 90lbs.... :) Bob I see your side very clear it doesn't look like a trip in an E would be that bad of a trip, at least no worse than any other single engine plane that didn't have a sexy little stewardess bringing you a drink.... That is a great video of how awesome the ATC was flying in there. They were on the ball and I'm sure it was great having two sets of eyes going in there. I'm sure the twin wanted you to speed up because he had to get on the ground for fuel.... :) I love the 9gph

There's at least 440# in the front seats on the SnF flight. Owning the Mooney has been great incentive to lose some weight! Sexy flight attendants would be nice but while we're dreaming an aisle and a potty would really be nice on 4 hour legs. 

 

We were all first timers going into SnF so we were a little paranoid about following the drill - wing rock, etc. I was surprising that in the short time we were listening to the approach and "tower" how many planes came blasting in who obviously had not read the notams and did not know what was expected. I haven't been into Oshkosh but I'd recommend SnF to anyone with the only caution to be very careful taxiing our Mooneys on the grass. I know way too much about how easy it is to have a prop strike.  

  • Like 2
xcrmckenna Veteran

xcrmckenna

Posted
  • Author
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Bob after watching your video I think I spent hours on youtube watching arrival videos into Sun and Fun and almost feel like I have the approaches memorized by now:) maybe I'll have a chance to make the trip after I can find my special M20. LOL Carusoam luckily I'm still my only finance administrator, and maybe that is why I'm taking the plunge. I'm sure I will have to deal with having two loves down the road and only one of them ruling the checkbook. So I will have to get what I can right now. :)

  • Like 1
triple8s Mentor

triple8s

Posted
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The short body is a three seater unless the zombies are on the Tarmac lol. I did have Paul Bunyan (look-a-like) in the back of my old C for an hour trip from 20GA . It truly is amazing what a strong running O-360 can deliver when on the front of a short body Mooney.

  • Like 1
Bob_Belville Grand Master

Bob_Belville

Posted
Posted

Bob after watching your video I think I spent hours on youtube watching arrival videos into Sun and Fun and almost feel like I have the approaches memorized by now:) maybe I'll have a chance to make the trip after I can find my special M20. LOL Carusoam luckily I'm still my only finance administrator, and maybe that is why I'm taking the plunge. I'm sure I will have to deal with having two loves down the road and only one of them ruling the checkbook. So I will have to get what I can right now. :)

SnF arrival is not nearly as hectic/complex as it might sound. We did leave NC about 5 A.M. to arrive KLAL before it got too busy. 

Piloto Grand Master

Piloto

Posted
Posted

Besides the greater leg room the M20F has also more baggage room than the M20C/E model. I used to have an M20C and now an M20J and the difference is significant. On the M20R and M20M because the baggage room is larger you can recline the back seats all the way back that otherwise with the same luggage you cannot do on the M20J/K models.

 

José

DrBill Mentor

DrBill

Posted
Posted

I went to Oshkosh in 2013. I had another pilot in the next seat and a 12 yr old in the back.  The EYES on the 12 yr old were worth his weight in gold.  We all reviewed the procedure twice on the way  so when we rounded Chicago and got to the first checkpoint we were ready.  The kid was pointing out aircraft on all sides.  We just kept a 182 off the nose and followed the tracks.  The 182 was told to go straight at FISK and we were told to turn hard right.  From there, we were alone until touchdown on the yellow dot on 36L.

We were PACKED.. Tent and all for 3 of us. It all fit and the kid slept most of the way with his feet behind my seat.

The important thing is to be VERY familiar with the procedure as you do not know which way they are landing.

Will try for SNF next year... (want to go again Bob ?).

Bill

Bob_Belville Grand Master

Bob_Belville

Posted
Posted

I went to Oshkosh in 2013. I had another pilot in the next seat and a 12 yr old in the back.  The EYES on the 12 yr old were worth his weight in gold.  We all reviewed the procedure twice on the way  so when we rounded Chicago and got to the first checkpoint we were ready.  The kid was pointing out aircraft on all sides.  We just kept a 182 off the nose and followed the tracks.  The 182 was told to go straight at FISK and we were told to turn hard right.  From there, we were alone until touchdown on the yellow dot on 36L.

We were PACKED.. Tent and all for 3 of us. It all fit and the kid slept most of the way with his feet behind my seat.

The important thing is to be VERY familiar with the procedure as you do not know which way they are landing.

Will try for SNF next year... (want to go again Bob ?).

Bill

Bill, I sure would go again.

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