Matt Hamel Posted May 9 Report Posted May 9 On 5/6/2025 at 6:18 PM, Kevin Harberg said: So all of the prints are at the Smithsonian and they are available. The Mites original cockpit and firewall forward is all metal. The Fred Quarles Estate and/or the Smithsonian may have the current drawings for the metal fuselage (headrest to tail cone). The certified M-18 fuselage section aft of cockpit were wood. The wing was wood and the vertical and horizontal stabs have wooden spars. Here's a photo of the updated M-18 rear metal fuselage attached to the original metal tubing cockpit and motor mount. Where could the plans be found?
EricJ Posted May 9 Report Posted May 9 A number of Mites were built as experimentals from drawings, so those drawings existed somewhere. In experimental category there shouldn't be any barrier to converting the wings to metal, or however much of the airplane you want to convert. The FAA would have to be convinced it is safe in order to get an airworthiness certificate in experimental category, but that should be doable.
Kevin Harberg Posted May 10 Author Report Posted May 10 4 hours ago, Matt Hamel said: Where could the plans be found? TravisM has a set of M-18x plans for sale here in Mooney Space in the Mooney Mite Forum. 1
cliffy Posted May 14 Report Posted May 14 Do any of you remember what it took for Mooney to recertify the fuselage for "just" adding a second door and a composite "fairing" on the forward fuselage? It took so much time, effort (with the FAA oversite), and money that it killed the company Making changes to a "certified" aircraft is a very costly endeavor because its the FAA on the hook and not just the manufacturer. The wording is- FAA CERTIFIED They don't stick their neck out for anything or anyone. But of course Mooney also never did market well to their customers or come out with marketable ideas- they just spent money on losers- M22, M10, Porsche, MU-2, D model, and quite possibly the 2 door model But most abysmally, was their marketing to the flying public. All one had to do was go to OSH and visit the Cirrus booth and then go by the Mooney booth and it didn't take a rocket scientist to see which one knew how to sell airplanes - THE MAIN purpose of being in business. I personally saw them lose a brand new sale (right near the end) to an overseas customer who came all the way to OSH to give them money and no one at OSH, from the factory, would even talk to him. Don't get me wrong, I love my Mooney but one has to sit back and smell the roses. 2
EricJ Posted May 14 Report Posted May 14 30 minutes ago, cliffy said: they just spent money on losers- M22, M10, Porsche, MU-2, D model, and quite possibly the 2 door model And don't forget the M301, which wound up being very successful...with a different company after Mooney spent the money on development. I think in recent times the M10 sucked up a lot of money for zero benefit. Decent concept, just horrible execution.
Mooney in Oz Posted May 14 Report Posted May 14 2 hours ago, cliffy said: I personally saw them lose a brand new sale (right near the end) to an overseas customer who came all the way to OSH to give them money and no one at OSH, from the factory, would even talk to him. I think I might know who you mean Cliffy.
mike_elliott Posted May 14 Report Posted May 14 4 hours ago, Mooney in Oz said: I think I might know who you mean Cliffy. so do I
Kevin Harberg Posted May 14 Author Report Posted May 14 Interesting to note is the wooden M20 (1955), the metal M20B (1961) and the Mooney M20C (1961-1978) share the same type certificate (Type Certificate 2A3).
Kevin Harberg Posted May 14 Author Report Posted May 14 Wait, there's more, Mooney Type Certificate Number 2A3 covers M20, M20A, M20B, M20C, M20D, M20E, M20F, M20G, M20J, M20K, M20L, M20M, M20R, M20S, M20T, M20TN, M20U, M20V
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