Which Mooney is best for me?

[agk2307]

Hello.  I am new to the forum and have a question.  A little background first - I am just getting into flying, almost ready for solo.  I have been training in a Cessna 152 and 172.  My goal is to get my commercial rating.  I am planning on purchasing my own aircraft.  For the money, I think a Mooney is the best deal, but is it the best option to continue my training in?  I have heard from friends that it is not the best "trainer" and can be a "slippery" airplane.  I have flown a low wing (Beech Sundowner) so I do know what a low wing is like.  I would like to own a Mooney, but not sure on which model is best for me.  My budget is no more that 60K.  I was also wondering about annual costs.  Would an older plane with mechanical gear be cheaper in an annual and more reliable as far as dependability when flying?  And as far as size goes, I think a Ranger is to small, but don't think I need an Executive either.  We (my wife and I) plan mostly on flying from Southwest Michigan to Greenville South Carolina so space and comfort would be nice (especially for her).  So, I just want to be wise in my purchase and appreciate any advice you can give.  Thanks in advance.

[EDNR-Cruiser]

I'd go for an E model if I were you... - they have great speed and economy and it's a good training too to experience such a huge variety of "best" personal settings".

"Slippery" is one of the virtues of Mooney that very few other airplanes can offer... - it does NOT mean bad or tricky or whatsoever negative but "very close to aerodynamic perfection"... - if you want to become a real pilot you will just love it every minute... - when the engine runs for its speed and economy and in case the engine ever fails, you will love it even more because it will transform into a formidable glider if needed...

Whoever talks about a Mooney as "difficult" is definitely NOT a real pilot because he doesn't want or simply is not capable of flying to the books. Simple as that... - fly a Mooney by the numbers and you can land on a blanket, it just lacks the Cessna 40° emergency "brakes" for sloppy pilots...
The Mooney is famous for its stable flight characteristics and therefore a chosen model for IFR pilots.

[ArtVandelay]

You have to sit in one first, then you can make an informed decision on which model or if it even is the right plane. Also, you should take your wife up to see if she likes flying and with you to see if she likes the mooney. So you don't have any surprises when you come home saying "Look what I bought!"

[M20F]

I

Whoever talks about a Mooney as "difficult" is definitely NOT a real pilot because he doesn't want or simply is not capable of flying to the books.

Students aren't real pilots and I don't disagree with practice and proficency it is easy enough to fly a Mooney. I personally wouldn't reccomend training in one though.

[Houman]

Hello.  I am new to the forum and have a question.  A little background first - I am just getting into flying, almost ready for solo.  I have been training in a Cessna 152 and 172.  My goal is to get my commercial rating.  I am planning on purchasing my own aircraft.  For the money, I think a Mooney is the best deal, but is it the best option to continue my training in?  I have heard from friends that it is not the best "trainer" and can be a "slippery" airplane.  I have flown a low wing (Beech Sundowner) so I do know what a low wing is like.  I would like to own a Mooney, but not sure on which model is best for me.  My budget is no more that 60K.  I was also wondering about annual costs.  Would an older plane with mechanical gear be cheaper in an annual and more reliable as far as dependability when flying?  And as far as size goes, I think a Ranger is to small, but don't think I need an Executive either.  We (my wife and I) plan mostly on flying from Southwest Michigan to Greenville South Carolina so space and comfort would be nice (especially for her).  So, I just want to be wise in my purchase and appreciate any advice you can give.  Thanks in advance.

I did a bit the same, after getting my PPL, I rented a Sundowner for a year and did about 75h on it, it was an easy plane to get use to for low wings, but it's not slippery like the Mooney and dosn't float as much.

I would say you will love the mooney, but make sure you get a Mooney comfortable transition pilot as for sure your insurance will require it. Mine asked for 15h duo and 10h solo on the Rocket, but the Rocket is a beast of a plane, so if you go with a C or E model, the transition is easier.

Enjoy the ride, everything else will look slower.

[rainman]

See if you can locate the late Richard Zefro's e-book "Those Mooney Airplanes". The folks running the Mooneyland website have it. It'll tell you all you need to know about the models, then just match it to your mission. Ray

[kerry]

If it's just you and your wife all Mooneys are the same size up front.  The longer bodies have more leg room for rear passengers.

[gsxrpilot]

Opinions are like...  but that said...

 

The C is probably the best value for your money considering the acquisition cost, running cost and speed.

The E is the sexiest of the short bodies (sexiness calculated as HP/Wt.) But you've got to pay a little more for that sexiness.

The F is like buying the "four-door" version of the sports car. More practical with a family, but at the expense of coolness.

J, K and beyond... beyond my budget. But I dream of a Rocket someday.

[Danb]

Most likely any of those you could afford and feel comfy in, I purchased my first mooney just after getting my ppl and got my Ifr tix. In the mooney thereby killing two birds with one stone, getting experience in the mooney while getting my rating at the same time, from a cost factor that seems to make the most sense.

[Oldguy]

I bought my J to get my IFR after owning and flying a 172 for a few years. These are great IFR platforms if you will fly by the book. After you get your PPL and a Mooney, I would highly recommend taking the MAPA Safety Foundation PPP (Pilot Proficiency Program) to get more comfortable.

 

Until you sit in a Mooney, it is hard to appreciate all of the space available to you. I would liken it to an MGB - you seem to sit on the seat with your legs almost straight in front of you. I compare that to my 172 where it was more like sitting in a pickup. And at 6'5", I have plenty of space in mine.

 

The only downside in your plan is building time when you fly a Mooney. Yeah, you can always pull it back and slow down, but then why get a Mooney? Just fly more.

 

A well maintained Mooney's annual will not be any worse than any other retract, from my perspective and talking with owners of other types of planes. And a Mooney-experienced A/P or your nearest Mooney Service Center will save you money over the life of your plane.

 

The suggestion to get you wife in a Mooney to see if she likes the feel of it (as well as flying GA) is a good one. I was fortunate that my wife grew up with private pilots in her extended family. She and I make the trip from our home base in Alabama to Greenville, SC to see her family on a regular basis as well. It's the least I can do for her - she recommended we sell the Cessna and buy a Mooney!

 

John

[Hank]

Buy a Mooney, whichever one in your price range is equipped the way you want it and is in sound shape according to the pre-purchase inspection. I bought mine five weeks a after my PPL checkride, perfect timing I think.

As a new pilot, plan on flying 100 hours before your insurance renewal, the premium goes way down at 100 hours. You will have some required dual instruction before you can fly, depending on the insurance company and instructor. Mine required 15 dual including 5 hours IMC if I used an approved instructor, or 15 dual and 10 solo if I used someone else.

Step two is to join Mooney Aircraft Pilots Association, unless you join now while still searching for your ride. Take the MAPA Safey Foundation's Pilot Proficiency Program (PPP) offered several times a year all around the country. I hit 100 hours total time while flying to my first PPP. It's great, includes ground school in flying, maintenance and repair, plus four hours' flight instruction in your plane. It's a great program, and I learned a lot; still dig out the notebook from time to time.

For the plane:

-A is a wooden wing, not for the faint of heart. Finding mechanics can be difficult.

-B, C & D are 180 hp short bodies with carburetors

-E is a short body with 200 hp fuel injected engine

-F is a mid body, 200 hp fuel injected engine

-G is a mid body with 180 hp carbureted engine (only made about 3 years)

-J is an aerodynamically improved F, and they command higher prices.

Enjoy the search, but concentrate on getting the PPL.

[ryoder]

I like the Mooney as a time builder because the C will fly comfortably at 120mph on 6.5 gph and that includes takeoff, landing, taxi, climb, cruise,and descent. There are some drags like 100 hr inspections for the engine mount, gear lube and some have the 100 hour prop hub like mine. That 100 hours comes fast when building time. I like how the speed of the Mooney can get you back home quickly if the weather worsens. It also climbs very well once the gear is up and due to the constant speed prop. It will cost more to maintain than a fixed gear, fixed pitch 172 that every A&P can work on and that has tons of parts available.

[merrja]

I suggest an E or F model.  However I would finsih my private in a Cessna, then transition to a Mooney.... I also suggest finding one with a Johnson bar instead of electric gear.  

[Browncbr1]

+1 on the johnson bar and hydro flaps...  But, I have a little different take on purchase timing... 

 

I bought my F a couple weeks before soloing my CFIs 172... because, after that part of the training, we went into the cross country bit.... i'm really glad i did it this way because i was able to build dual time as required by FAA and insurance, as well as continue working on PPL.  It also saved me money from not renting the 172 for the balance of PPL time.  I pull it back and get the 7gph while still going well faster than the 172...   I figure I saved about $2500 on 20 hours of rental..   So, I got an EDM830 with that money...   Plus, i'm building time and saving on 15 hours of dual instruction and fuel I would have had to pay for if I had waited...   

 

If you have any plans on kids, the get an F... If it will be just you and your wife, then you could get a really nice, well equipped and modified E with less money and go a little faster.

I think if you buy right, you'll be happy either way.  

[Jimhamilton]

Whoever talks about a Mooney as "difficult" is definitely NOT a real pilot because he doesn't want or simply is not capable of flying to the books. Simple as that... - fly a Mooney by the numbers and you can land on a blanket, it just lacks the Cessna 40° emergency "brakes" for sloppy pilots...

The Mooney is famous for its stable flight characteristics and therefore a chosen model for IFR pilots.

For me, I believe the Mooney is a difficult plane to fly.  I have over 22,000 hours and numerous type ratings and take an ATP type check ride twice a year in the Boeing 777.  As compared to the 777, the Mooney is difficult.  I guess I am not a real pilot.  One day....maybe I can join the ranks of being real.  

[FloridaMan]

Where are you located? Chances are there is someone in the area who will introduce you. You should be able to find a well-equipped E or F model for under 60k all day long. 

[BigTex]

I'd personally not purchase a Mooney (or any other aircraft for that matter) until until you have your PPL and know what type of flying you'd like to do.  If you're looking for a time builder, go out and get yourself a Champ or J3.  They're a heck of lot more fun to fly and costs a fraction of what you'd spend on a decent Mooney.  There's so many different types of missions out there, make sure you really think through how you'd use the plane and buy accordingly.  Maybe you'd like to fly upside down?  I know I did... early on, the last thing I wanted to do was to use a plane to go from point A to point B.

 

As for the difficulty of flying a Mooney... I personally find landing a constant challenge to be able to roll it on.  At least for me, it requires a good bit of practice and finesse... Especially if I don't fly for a couple of weeks.   With that airfoil, when the wing decides it's done flying, it drops like a rock so you better be within a few inches of the runway otherwise you'll make one of those less than perfect landings.  It's not like one of those Hershey wing Pipers that you have to work at making a bad landing.

[bonal]

For me, I believe the Mooney is a difficult plane to fly.  I have over 22,000 hours and numerous type ratings and take an ATP type check ride twice a year in the Boeing 777.  As compared to the 777, the Mooney is difficult.  I guess I am not a real pilot.  One day....maybe I can join the ranks of being real.  

get real Jim  . I wonder how hard it must have been to hop in the seat of an p47 or p51 or a hellcat or corsair with less than one hundred hours to fly in formation and in combat conditions back in the day.  them were some REAL pilots for sure.

[Jimhamilton]

get real Jim  . I wonder how hard it must have been to hop in the seat of an p47 or p51 or a hellcat or corsair with less than one hundred hours to fly in formation and in combat conditions back in the day.  them were some REAL pilots for sure.

 

Maybe I was a little harsh.  Classifying what a real pilot is just got my goat.  A student pilot, a CFI, an ATP, a hang glider pilot, a glider pilot etc., they are all real pilots.  They all have new things to learn and to contribute.  The Mooney can be a lot of airplane to a real pilot.  It even can be described as being difficult to fly.  Lets not be so quick to separate ourselves into categories.  We may not be as good as we think we are.

[Guest]

Flip the little wheel to the back and go flying. My RV4 humbles me regularly, made all the other flying a lot easier.

Clarence

[M20F]

get real Jim  . I wonder how hard it must have been to hop in the seat of an p47 or p51 or a hellcat or corsair with less than one hundred hours to fly in formation and in combat conditions back in the day.  them were some REAL pilots for sure.

I just finished reading Unbroken and the death statistics from pilot error provided where astounding. Yes they jumped in those planes with 100hrs but 1 in 3 died due to pilot error, only a small percentage died to enemy action in comparison. Certainly the greatest generation because in spite of those odds they went out and did it, but let's not make it seem that they were ace pilots after almost zero training hours.

[bonal]

My comment to Jim was one of admiration and I had my tongue in my cheek. And yes I know the stats on pilots back then and how so many died during their training and such and yet like you said they had the courage to climb into those demanding airplanes in spite of the risks. And let us not forget all those courageous women that delivered the planes and were test pilots.

[merrja]

I've flown my F model mooney about 700 hours (most of which was out of a 2400' strip with trees on 3 sides) so Thanks Jim as my pilot self esteem just went through the roof!  

 

But having said that, come in 5 kts fast and you will never get it down. 

 

I've got time in F,E,201 models and they are stable paltforms that force you to fly the numbers very neatly. 

[DrBill]

I had a Sundowner for 7 years..  A Sundowner is like a Taurus *roomy comfortable, carries anything).  A Mooney is like a Porche.  Slippery is a good term for it..  Complete your training in whatever is cheaper then you can transition to a Mooney.. You'll have the knowledge to understand the "feel".

 

I have an "E" and I'd suggest a C E or F with the avionics you want in it.   I looked for 7 months before I found mine within 100 miles. I paid 46K for a non perfect ariplane (100% airworthy)  but within 2 annnuals (<2AMU each) I feel it is now as good as ever. .

 

Bill