How to tell mooney models apart

[Marauder]

Slight correction to Anthony's great post: Fs uniquely have 3 windows per side. The J/K combine the rear two. 

Chupa's correct. The 1976 F models have a single window in the back.

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[Wakeup]

I have to say, I am always amazed by the extensive knowledge of Carusoam!!  Thanks for all your contributions to the site!!  Looking forward to meeting you someday.   TR

[PMcClure]

18 hours ago, JKSmith said:

David said if it fits in the Tahoe, it will fit in the O.

Yes but it might be harder to load the O!

[Bennett]

Under the mods, don't forget the 261/262 Trophy Conversions. These were/are 231s modified to be 252 clones with a few extra mods. Think of a 12 volt 252. The 261/262 POHS are virtually the same as the 252s. Get 252 performance at a discount, but you won't get the rounded Windows (without plaint or vinyl)

[johncuyle]

Mooney model identification, a semi-accurate layman's guide.  This is more of a how to distinguish models most of the time, so there are probably minor inaccuracies, especially with the later naturally aspirated models.

Cowlings come in five(ish) visually distinguishable configurations:

1. A short cowling with a wide opening that completely surrounds the spinner.
   1. There's a couple cowling enclosure mods which make the cowling sort of look like the second version, but you can generally see the seams and the top remains squared.
2. A short cowling with two rounded rectangular openings, one on each side of the spinner and a sculpted top cowling.
   1. This is the J style cowling and there's a mod to retrofit the factory cowling or lookalikes to earlier models.
3. A longer version of the second one.
4. A long cowling with slightly different rectangular openings.
5. A long cowling with round openings.

Windscreen:

1. A somewhat vertical window.
   1. Early ones were split, later ones were single piece, converting from the split to single is a common mod and won't help you distinguish the model but might help with the year.
2. A much sleeker sloped window.
   1. This can be retrofit to earlier models.

Side windows come in six primary configurations: 

1. A short, rounded top window.
2. A short rectangular window.
3. Two short rectangular windows.
4. A single, long rectangular window.
   1. Sometimes this gets retrofit to replace the dual windows.
5. A single, long window with radiused corners.
   1. I think radiused corner versions are occasionally retrofit to earlier models as well.
6. A single, very long window with radiused corners.

A, and B models are comparatively rare.  I'm not sure if they're visually distinguishable from the C since I don't think I've ever seen one.

The C is most closely associated with window style 1 and has cowling style 1 and windscreen style one.  As someone else mentioned, it's got the 180hp carbureted engine.  Late C models had window configuration 2.  Some owners convert the windows on the older one to the more modern square look (which is more closely associated with the E model.)  Some owners upgrade to the IO-360, which effectively makes the plane an E, and some owners have square windows, a retrofit cowling style 2, windscreen style 2, and the IO-360, effectively making them a short-body J.

The D can be distinguished by the gear not being retractable. Some D's were converted to C models (it was a design feature, learn in your fixed gear D, send it to the factory to be converted to a C when you're ready to step up to a retrac).  These are essentially C models and nobody will fault you for identifying one as a C.

IIRC very early E models (first year or so) had window style 1.  Most have window style 2.  It originally came with cowling style 1 and windscreen style 1.  As with the C, the J-style cowling and windscreen can be retrofit essentially making it a short body J.

The F model is a mid-body E.  Cowling 1, windscreen 1, window style 3 or 4.  J-style (2) cowling retrofits and windscreen retrofits are common and essentially make it look like a J.

The G model is an F with the C's engine.  It's essentially visually indistinguishable from an F.

The J model replaced all previous models.  Most of them have window style 4.  Later ones have window style 5.  They have cowling style 2 and windscreen style 2.

The K model has a six cylinder engine.  There are two variants, the 231 and 252 which probably are more significantly different than any other two versions to share a letter designation.  The 231 has window style 4, cowling style 3, and windscreen style 2.  The 252 has window style 5, cowling style 3, and windscreen style 2.  They look very similar to the J and the only really easy way to distinguish them (for me, anyway) is the length of the cowling. 

The L is essentially extinct, but it was the first modern long body and has window style 6.  I think.

The M and R, and S look the same to me and have cowling 4, windscreen 2, and window 6. 

The TN has cowling 5, windscreen 2, and window 6. 

Broadly, there are three distinct eras for Mooneys, the early era (pre '77) which features the A-G, the mid-body-only era featureing the J/K, and the modern Mooney era which features the big-engine long bodies.

[Guest]

Don't forget this Mooney.

Clarence 

[JKSmith]

1 hour ago, PMcClure said:

Yes but it might be harder to load the O!

I don't remember making that statement you quoted me on. Maybe I got hacked haha 

[Hank]

F and G should be easy to tell apart--both are mid bodies, but the G should have the carb chin in front while the F is smoothly faired back like the rest of the injected models.

[Cruiser]

and don't forget this one ............... M22

 

 

[Cruiser]

and I wonder what happened to this one? .............................. M20T

 

[carusoam]

Also flews...

M10T - Modern three seat composite fixed gear trainer. With a diesel Continental motor.

M10J - an M10T with larger displacement and retractable gear.  Still in design phase.

M10 - Cadet. Two seat, fixed gear trainer Mooneys... (Ercoupe history?)

M18 - Mite. Single seat Mooneys. (Thanks Doc for the picture)

M22 - Mustang.  A pressurized six seater, of which a couple have showed up here on MS.

M22 - Twin engine Mooney.  (Thanks Dave!)

Mooney 301 - Updated six seater.  Lopresti designed. 350hp Lycowning TSIO540. Next in line to Lopresti's 201 and 231 nomenclature.

TBM - Turbine version that grew out of the M301.  A Partnership with the aircraft company in Tarbes France who built the TBM700.

There were two versions of military trainers over the years.  Tandem two seaters... The one with the tiger paint sat outside in Lakeland for years.  The tiger paint was pretty well faded for a while...  The designs competed unsuccessfully to be trainers for the air force.

I Would love to fly a Mite. Transition training has got to be interesting.  

Note: regarding the Long Body M20L...  The L did not have the later Long Body aft windows.  If it has a visible water cooling radiator it got updated with a water cooled IO540 with lots of extra HP.  It's cowl has no usual cooling air inlets!  The L was a transition from the J to the later Long Bodies.  The Porsche engine was well underpowered at 217hp and was not well supported for very long. 

Best regards,

-a-

 

 

[Mooney in Oz]

That M22 Mustang looks as though it has oleos instead of rubber donuts, although I can't see what the nosewheel has.

[DaV8or]

Don't forget this one either...

 

Oh, never mind me. I'm muddying the waters with Mooney trivia at this point. 

 

[carusoam]

Jim, that Lopresti cowl looks very familiar on the 301.

Best regards,

-a-

[PMcClure]

13 hours ago, JKSmith said:

I don't remember making that statement you quoted me on. Maybe I got hacked haha 

Not sure why it attributed that quote to you! 

 

[FloridaMan]

The door handle and gear doors are the best way to identify some F's, since so many F's have been converted to different cowlings, sloped windshields and one piece rear windows. 

This is a 1967F. Note the handle with the bar that sticks out, the shape of the gear doors and lack of inner gear doors and the twist in the wings. 

Edited September 22, 2016 by Antares

[mike_elliott]

Only a few F's had the twisted wing, an idea that didn't work out as planned.

[M20F-1968]

I thought there were only two categories of Mooney airplanes, those with a Johnson bar, and those without a Johnson bar!

John Breda