Service Ceiling on a C Model?

[Sven]

Those of you with a C model, how high have you been? Our POH says nothing. We have O2 but haven't taken her up to see where the thin air lives yet.

 

[lahso]

My POH says 16,000 ceiling. I've climbed to 14k once, and the performance was anemic. Thank goodness it was only a brief 40 min ride up there.

[rob]

I've had mine to 15,000 on a couple occasions and over 12,000 on a few more. They're not exactly "homesick angels" but they'll manage. Each time I've been that high in mine it's been in the Northern US and temps below standard, so that might have been helpful. If you have a need to be over 10-11k regularly, I don't think the C is a great fit.

[Qwalton]

I've spent some time at 12,000 and I've had mine as high as 13,000 briefly.  It isn't super fast up there but it can get there and stay there with no problem.  every time I've taken mine up that high it's been in the southwest in the summer (mostly in Arizona) 

[Hank]

It takes a while climbing out of Georgia to hit 10,000 in the summer. I once took mine to 15000 msl on the altimeter, but the temps were still 60+ F; I don't remember the number anymore, but did the math afterwards and the DA was something like 18,750. Climb was very anemic the last several thousand feet, but the A&P in the right seat was happy with it. All he did was lean the mixture a little bit "by ear" instead of by the EGT way down low on my side that he couldn't see. We spiraled up, flew a few racetracks, and spiraled back down just because I wanted to, and had just finished up my IR.

It was a combination O2 checkout and altitude/performance check for the plane. I cross the Appalachians to see family, and the straight-line route is off airway with MEA of 8600, so it's either 9000 or 10,000. Haven't had to go higher yet, but have made the trip VFR as low as 4500 msl, wishing I could go a little higher. We'll see how it does this winter as temps aloft drop.

Aside from a slight cramp from holding a bank for so long, the flight went well, and I was surprised at how light the controls are at that altitude. Responses are pretty crisp, too, except to back yoke.

Isn't the sweet spot 7000-10,000 for our wing, anyway?

 P.S.--My "Owner's Manual" doesn't mention a service ceiling, but has climb data up to 18,000 [230 fpm at 82 mph indicated, 2200 lbs; 25 fpm at 82 mph indicated, 2575 lbs]. I assume those are takeoff weights, as there's no legal way to hit 18,000' still at max gross. That's Full Rich, Full Throttle and Flaps 15º; we were Full Throttle, leaned some, and Flaps Up.

[DanM20C]

Hello everyone.  I'm new here and just bought my 1969 C-model about 3 weeks ago.  Last week I crossed the mountains in WY to ID at 14,500msl and returned at 13,500.  It was close to standard temps, when I was at 14,500 the DA worked out to be just over 15k.  I was fairly light, just me, 50lbs of baggage, and about 1hr burned out of full tanks.  I saw at least 250fpm climb up at 14k indicating about 100mph.  Once in cruise I saw about 136kts true.  That was leaned at full throttle @ 2500 rpm.  Overall I am pleased with the altitude capabilities of the Mooney.  I don't think I would have had a problem getting up to the 16k range that day. 

Dan