252 and Encore, differences

[Mcstealth]

I will go search for the differences, but If you already know, please tell me. Seems to me that I remember a GW increase over the 252 but I'm not sure why?

 

McStealth

[Mcstealth]

Well, I don't know the differences.

[Chris White ex-N205KD]

Sort of a sore spot for me, cause I owned a '97 Encore for about 6 days last year...

Anyway, in a nutshell, 220hp as opposed to 210hp and the stronger landing gear of the M and R models gives it a GTOW of 3130lbs - 230lbs more than the 252.

Quote: Mcstealth

Well, I don't know the differences.

[fantom]

I bet many of us would like "the rest of that story", Chris.

The Encore also has a much better interior, panel and equipment, and is on average 10 years newer. Wing mounted taxi and landing lights, wing tips, leather covered yokes, lots of little stuff.

Here is probably all you want to know: http://www.mooneypilots.com/mapalog/mapalogarticle.html

Heck of a plane!

 

[Mcstealth]

"The result, the Mooney M20K/252. The 252 in my opinion is a vastly superior aircraft to the 231. Predominately, my opinion is based on the substantial improvement to the engine. However, the airframe was not overlooked. Inboard gear doors were added and better engine instrumentation to name a few of the significant changes to the airframe. And, as usual with the magicians at Mooney Aircraft Corporation, they were not done perfecting the Mooney M20K. In 1997 the Mooney M20K/Encore was introduced. Once, again, the engineering phenoms at Mooney Aircraft decided to tweak a successful line of aircraft and improve it just that much more. The Encore possess 10 more horsepower that the 252, the latest design/innovation in aircraft interior and instrumentation and most importantly a substantial increase in the always illusive useful load!"

 

I read this article previously, and it doesn't mention why the GW increase was allowed. It states the 10 horsepower increase, but nothing else.

Mcstealth

 

[randypugh]

Just got my Aviation Consumer--The M20j is featured and explains these changes

[Mcstealth]

Does it say in the article why the GW increase for the Encore? Even Wikipedia does not tell me the answer :) .

 

Maybe I am not looking hard enough.

Mcstealth

[Mcstealth]

Quote: mooney205kd

 

[fantom]

That's the implication. Why not call either Mooney or MAPA and ask directly?

[KSMooniac]

I'm sure the heavier-duty landing gear was installed on the Encore to allow for the higher gross weight, which was done to boost useful load that had been creeping down during the 231 and 252 development.

Several design aspects determine gross weight...two of the biggies are stall speed and landing gear strength due to drop-test requirements in the FARs.  Mooney obviously couldn't boost the gross weight because the limits of the earlier landing gear were met, so by swapping in the long-body gear it made the boost kosher with the FAA.