M20E SPEED?

[MATTS875]

I have read the owners manual on my 66 m20e and see the speed numbers that are listed in the book but what are the realistic numbers to expect? They seem to be a little high to me.What speed are you all seeing in your mooney's

[takair]

I have a relatively stock 1964 E.  I typically flight plan 145kts.  It easilly does that at gross.  I see 150 to 152ktas with just me at 25/2500.  Fuel burn about 11gph at 75 to 100ROP.

[knute]

Relatively stock but with ARI cowl closure I saw about 152-153kts high speed cruise, and after upgrading to a 201 windshield (SWTA) I see 157-160kts depending on outside temperature.  Flat out, down low (1,500 MSL), smooth air, I've seen 163 kts TAS.

-Knute

'66 M20E - KSQL (San Carlos, CA)

[flight2000]

I've seen the same thing as Knute in that I'm in the 157-161 KTAS in the 6-10K altitude range running WOT/2500.  I have the lower cowl closure and 201 windshield mod (Both LASAR). 

I'll out run my neighbors 65 E by 4-5 knots and the only real difference is the style of windshield.  He has the one piece from SWTA, but prefers the avionics access on the nose. 

Brian

[Ned Gravel]

I have the same results as others have mentioned.  I flight plan for 145 kts.  But down low and WOT, I can get in excess of 160 kts TAS.

Mine has the one-piece old style windshield and the guppy mouth cowl.  I figure that if I ever get around to updating those, I will get another 3-4 knots on the windshield mod and perhaps 1 on the cowl closure.

 

[Immelman]

At sea level, full throttle, flat out, I'll get about 180mph (indicated/true should be close together), or about 160 knots. Of course, this is close to 100% power, ultra high fuel flow, just for grins really!

At around 6000-8000' density altitude, the sweet spot for cruise speed in an NA engine, I will get about 150KTAS at full throttle/2500rpm, ROP, but I am burning 11gph or so.

At around 11,000-13,000' density altitude, full throttle, 2500rpm, I get around 140 knots true, leaned *to* peak, around 8gph.

With fuel prices only going in one direction, I find myself running at more economical cruise more often than not, and planning for 140 knots, even though the airplane will go faster.

Only speed mod is the lasar cowl closure. There are a few things on my list (clean-ups, and slight rigging improvements) which I'm hoping will give a few more knots when the time comes for those projects.

[DrBill]

My last 2 flights were c140kts at 4000-7000 ft.  I run 2400/24 .  Burn rate is 8.5 GPH.  Check the chart on FlightAware.com   n5612q

Dr Bill 65 M20E

 

[danb35]

Don't know that I'll ever understand why people buy Mooneys and then throttle them back so much in cruise...

[jetdriven]

because it lowers the cost of owning one about 10-20%

 

 

 

[201er]

Because Mooneys are efficient airplanes. You can fly a Mooney fast or you can fly it very economically. That's what makes it such an excellent aircraft, that you can choose extreme speed or extreme fuel economy.

[MATTS875]

I want to go fast, however most of my flights are around 1 to 1.5 hr flights.  I do find myself however a little fixated on the airspeed indicator though.I guess because all this is new to me...I mean the speed thing..thanks for all the responses

[Ron McBride]

Matt

Fly the plane at the speeds that you are comfortable with. That speed could be 120 or 130 or 150. As time goes on, you will learn to fly faster and to preplan your descents and speed control. I have over 250 hours in my Mooney and over 1200 Total time, and was tired the other night, I goofed my night approach into a mountain airport (home) and had to make a go araound.

Just fly the plane at the speeds that you are comfortable with, and continue to learn as time goes on.

Ron

[Immelman]

Quote: danb35

Don't know that I'll ever understand why people buy Mooneys and then throttle them back so much in cruise...

[MATTS875]

Thanks Ron, I still need to get my speed under control on landings.I am still I believe coming in to fast.I still have a lot to learn about these planes.i guess speed at this point is irrelevant.thank you very much for the advice

[Ned Gravel]

Matt:

You will find speed control to be almost the single most important consideration in a normal no-wind landing in a Mooney.  Many of us fly the numbers such as close to 100 on downwind (need to be that slow to drop the flaps on mine), 90 on base, 80 on final and cross the fence at 1.3 X Vxo (70 mph in my case). 

Of course all this changes in a crosswind or if you are carrying ice or if you expect wind shear or are significantly under gross.