Difference between M20B and C models?

[mooniac15u]

Much like its cousin the P51 the D model is far superior to the lesser C model.

[bonal]

Perhaps your right. Let's find out. My converted D gets an honest 148knots TAS at 8000 ft 300lbs under gross. Only mods are cowl closure gap seals and land light cover. Another D owner claims 150 for his. What are your numbers

[mooniac15u]

When it was just me in the plane I could get between 145 and 150 KTAS in the 6,000-8,000 MSL range.  My D had the all the speed mods.

[carusoam]

The P51D got the new engine and bubble canopy?

The D needs an IO550 with a sloped windshield...

Apply the power liberally,

-a-

[StinkBug]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned double D's yet 

[Hank]

But thank you for doing so!

[StinkBug]

Got to go for a test flight with the owner today and loved the plane. Even got to fly a different part of my local area as well. I mainly stay in the northern part of San Diego and generally avoid the class B, but today we departed KMYF and got clearance to transition over KSAN, then fly over the Coronado Bridge before turning back north and flying up the coastline at 500'. Would have been an awesome trip in any plane, but it was definitely a little more fun in the Mooney. Ended up making an offer on the plane, and it sounds like we're pretty close on price. Owner just needs to get the ok from his wife since they weren't expecting to sell it so fast, and they have a trip planned for the holidays. Pretty sure we'll be able to work it out though. 

[bksmith30]

I love my B, it is my first plane but I may be looking to upgrade to a J or K soon.

[BlueMooneyOverKentucky]

How is parts availability for the M20B? Are most M20C parts interchangeable?

[carusoam]

7 minutes ago, BlueMooneyOverKentucky said:

How is parts availability for the M20B? Are most M20C parts interchangeable?

Welcome aboard BMOK!

Parts availability for the M20B is near identical to the M20C, D, E, F, G….

Some parts can be ‘upgraded’ to C status… increase the rudder throw…

The whole tail can be exchanged if you wanted to get the long rudder… of the later M20C…

 

Believe it or not… this is a very odd question… the cost and down time related to upgrading is a bit tough on the owner…

What do you have in mind?

Best regards,

-a-

[BlueMooneyOverKentucky]

I don’t have one. More concerned about future repairs than modernizing. 

I’ve been looking for a C or E for a while, and a B just came up on Barnstormers. Researching M20B’s doesn’t turn up nearly as much info as the “newer-vintage” Mooneys. I have found that the B and C are mostly similar, mostly from this thread. It sounds like they fill the same mission, within a point or two.
 

The only thing that would really scare me off would be if there was no parts availability. e.g. someone commented that the gear was different. 
 

Thanks for the welcome, @carusoam  I’ve been soaking up as much as I can from this site. 

[carusoam]

BMOK,

In that case get the B and expect to get B parts for it… the same way you would get a C and get C parts for it…

I had an M20C for a decade….

Best regards,

-a-

[MikeOH]

57 minutes ago, BlueMooneyOverKentucky said:

I don’t have one. More concerned about future repairs than modernizing. 

I’ve been looking for a C or E for a while, and a B just came up on Barnstormers. Researching M20B’s doesn’t turn up nearly as much info as the “newer-vintage” Mooneys. I have found that the B and C are mostly similar, mostly from this thread. It sounds like they fill the same mission, within a point or two.
 

The only thing that would really scare me off would be if there was no parts availability. e.g. someone commented that the gear was different. 
 

Thanks for the welcome, @carusoam  I’ve been soaking up as much as I can from this site. 

I flew a rental B for many years before buying my F, and I loved its simplicity.  I really liked the mechanical flaps over the hydraulic of my F.  I'd definitely consider a B model.  While the purchase price may be a tad less, just keep in mind that they are both likely to be the same cost/risk to keep, feed, and water.

Good luck!

[0TreeLemur]

On 11/12/2014 at 12:28 PM, carusoam said:

A newer C is better than an older C.

 

ahem...

What I'm hearing is that the best C model made was the '67 model.  I don't know, but everyone I'm listening to says that.

[0TreeLemur]

45 minutes ago, bluehighwayflyer said:

I would tend to agree with that.  Great flush riveting, none of the “cheapening” features of the ‘68 and later models, and from my anecdotal observations, better corrosion proofing than my ‘65 model and ‘66 models have, which are otherwise as good.  They didn’t build as many in ‘67, though, so they are a bit harder to find.  

The only deficiency of the '67 that I've discerned is that it lacks the full-length rudder that started in '68.   It can still handle a pretty stiff crosswind, but the rudder authority is the first limit reached in my experience.

[hammdo]

4 hours ago, BlueMooneyOverKentucky said:

I don’t have one. More concerned about future repairs than modernizing. 

I’ve been looking for a C or E for a while, and a B just came up on Barnstormers. Researching M20B’s doesn’t turn up nearly as much info as the “newer-vintage” Mooneys. I have found that the B and C are mostly similar, mostly from this thread. It sounds like they fill the same mission, within a point or two.
 

The only thing that would really scare me off would be if there was no parts availability. e.g. someone commented that the gear was different. 
 

Thanks for the welcome, @carusoam  I’ve been soaking up as much as I can from this site. 

I've owned both a B and now a C - max gross weight differences and a rudder travel are obvious differences - few others are crank step, mechanical flaps...

-Don