Rare Mooney Model

[gacoon]

This is an older Mooney model made sometime while the factory was shutdown and in transition.  Anybody know the history of this?

[Hank]

That's a Butler from the early 70s, and it's known as a stinger tail.

Don't rightly know the whys and wherefores, but it's certainly an unusual look. Maybe someone else will chime in with the history. Seems like it only lasted for a year or two.

[EricJ]

The Butler "buttonhook" tail.

 

[LANCECASPER]

Butler acquired Mooney when it came out of bankruptcy around 1969 and then Butler also acquired Aerostar and moved production to Kerrville. I think at that point they renamed the company Aerostar and they dropped the Mooney name and all of the airplanes were called Aerostars in 1970 & 1971 and even the "m20" 's  had the tails that were shown in the picture. The C's were renamed Aerostar 200, E's were Aerostar 201, and F's were Aerostar 220 Executive.

 

 

Butler closed the plant in '71 and you won't find a 1972 or 1973 Mooney because they didn't make any. In late '73 Republic Steel bought them and started making 1974 Mooneys. Republic Steel brought Roy LoPresti in and by '77 there was a 201 and by '79 there was a 231.

 

[LANCECASPER]

 

[Hank]

4 minutes ago, LANCECASPER said:

Butler acquired Mooney when it came out of bankruptcy around 1969 and then Butler also acquired Aerostar and moved production to Kerrville. I think at that point they renamed the company Aerostar and they dropped the Mooney name and all of the airplanes were called Aerostars in 1970 & 1971 and even the "m20" 's  had the tails that were shown in the picture. Butler closed the plant in '71 and you won't find a 1972 or 1973 Mooney because they didn't make any. In late '73 Republic Steel bought them and started making 1974 Mooneys. Republic Steel brought Roy LoPresti in and by '77 there was a 201 and by '79 there was a 231.

My 1970 model says Mooney in several places, including the data plate and Owners Manual. The covers of the original logbooks say Mooney, too, but now I'm gonna hafta check the inside and see what's written there. No, Bill Wheat didn't sign it, durn it! I guess even good test pilots get promoted . . . .

[LANCECASPER]

1 minute ago, Hank said:

My 1970 model says Mooney in several places, including the data plate and Owners Manual. The covers of the original logbooks say Mooney, too, but now I'm gonna hafta check the inside and see what's written there. No, Bill Wheat didn't sign it, durn it! I guess even good test pilots get promoted . . . .

Maybe just the '71's were called Aerostars - that actually makes more sense since it would take some time to design the new tail.

[carusoam]

See if you can get any speed or efficiency out of those fancy marketing gimmicks...  

Any UL increase with that?

How about another hour of fuel capacity?

Who’s idea was that 10” extension for the back seaters?

Some brilliant guy decided a TC would improve this simple plane, who was that?

 

Some ideas were truely better than others...

Fortunately some ideas were bolt on... and bolt off...

 

PP thoughts only, not a historian...

Best regards,

-a-

[1964-M20E]

no matter how you slice it it is still a Mooney.. I'd take one.

[MooniacSC72]

I think they’re kinda cool. True it didn’t add any performance or capability but when did that stop us from buying cool looking machines? ;-)

[GeeBee]

Push that bulge on top of the vertical stab a little further and you could put an HF antenna in it! 

[MooniacSC72]

45 minutes ago, GeeBee said:

Push that bulge on top of the vertical stab a little further and you could put an HF antenna in it! 

Agreed. Who’s ready for an Atlantic crossing? I’ve got lead!

[JMV]

3 of us hereabouts own serial #1 of the Aerostar Mooneys, shown here flying last weekend with of my co-owners.  Data plate reads Aerostar Aircraft Corporation of Texas, Kerrville, TX;  Serial number M20E  21-0001; Type Certificate 2A3.  From the factory it flew to Honolulu in April of 1971 and, with 527 TT, the engine was replaced due to a broken piston (wrong pistons were factory installed).  In December 1973 it returned to the mainland with 653 TT.  This one benefits from several subsequent updates, namely 201 cowl, windshield, inner gear doors, one piece bottom fuselage cover, and considerable TLC.  Having owned a 1976 F model with a good friend in the late 70's/early 80's, it was fun to return to Mooney flying almost 3 years ago. As mentioned elsewhere, the unusual tail is for looks only!

[carusoam]

Great pic JMV!

Best regards,

-a-

[N9201A]

Push that bulge on top of the vertical stab a little further and you could put an HF antenna in it! 

Would it be a great place to mount a camera?

[FloridaMan]

[BasicPlaneGuy]

This one is labeled an Aerostar M20F. Off the top of my head, I think it is 22-0005.

Sorry to revive a long dead thread, but it's neat to see some other Mooney's (Aerostars technically) are still flying with that unique tail.

[Pinecone]

I have time logged in an Aerostar 220.

There was one owned by a person who did a good bit of flying at 0W3 in the early 80s.  I got to fly it once.

Drove my electronic logbook nuts with that entry.

 

[Cchilton]

On 10/27/2022 at 3:53 AM, BasicPlaneGuy said:

This one is labeled an Aerostar M20F. Off the top of my head, I think it is 22-0005.

Sorry to revive a long dead thread, but it's neat to see some other Mooney's (Aerostars technically) are still flying with that unique tail.

I have 22-0012 there were 12 1971 m20fs made. Our has the same paint scheme. I am curious though how you have different rear windows. I bought mine in 2020 and love it.

[Pinecone]

I have a bit over an hour in one, N6497V.  

The airplane was later lost in a crash.

[wrightpwx]

I used to be part owner of a sister ship, N6823V (bird poop green) . Sadly it was turned into beer cans many years ago after a crash (pilot walked away)

[Shadrach]

On 4/2/2024 at 6:03 PM, wrightpwx said:

I used to be part owner of a sister ship, N6823V (bird poop green) . Sadly it was turned into beer cans many years ago after a crash (pilot walked away)

That is a sad accident report. Potential gear up into a poorly executed go around into a low level stall… glad the pilot walked away. Did he continue to fly after the incident?

[Flyler]

This is so interesting! I am going to look at what is listed as a 1971 M20E, and noticed it had that odd bump at the top of the vertical fin.  Is it an "aerostar"?  Any other differences? The pictures are poor but I don't think it has the Bonanzesque stinger tail.

[Schllc]

28 minutes ago, Flyler said:

This is so interesting! I am going to look at what is listed as a 1971 M20E, and noticed it had that odd bump at the top of the vertical fin.  Is it an "aerostar"?  Any other differences? The pictures are poor but I don't think it has the Bonanzesque stinger tail.

I’m pretty sure they made some e’s and some f’s. 
I wish I had bought the one on trade a plane that is pictured above. 
if another F comes on the market or if anyone wants to sell one I am Interested. 

[CMMPilot]

Can I just say how much I love this forum for this very reason!  Someone on here always knows the answer to all things Mooney. It's so cool that so much topic knowledge is available and I just appreciate the opportunity to sit back and learn.  Thanks!