Mooneys Are Crammed Debunked - Measuring Up an M20J!

[201er]

Apparently some people think Mooneys are crammed or that only an amputee can sit in the back seat. So to put all those myths aside, I got out my tape measure and share some real world measurements! Not what the books says or other people say. Here's how my Mooney genuinely measures up inside:

 

[Marauder]

I’ve got a couple of ladies for you to test fit.


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[Mcstealth]

1 hour ago, Marauder said:

I’ve got a couple of ladies for you to test fit.


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Rhutt wro Raggy!!!

[PT20J]

Personally, I don’t think physical measurements are the reason the Mooney seems tight. The short bodies are tighter in the rear. The rear seats are a bit difficult to egress, especially in models with the plusher articulated seats because the seat backs won’t stay tilted forward, you are climbing up hill since the airplane sits about 5 deg nose high on the ground and the main door isn’t very wide. In the front seats, the yokes are in the way on J’s and earlier due to the trim bungees unless you roll the trim all the way down or put the front seats all the way back which you can only do if no one is in the back seats.

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[elimansour]

Fantastic video as usual.  Thank you!

[carusoam]

Wait a sec…

Is that a real Mooney or a model Mooney…?

According to the pic, It looks like 201er’s Mooney is only 18” long…. 

Geat video!

-a-

[A64Pilot]

I don’t care how you measure it, you can argue it’s .5” wider than a C-210, but anyone who has time in both can tell you there is LOTS more room in a 210.

Having a small cockpit doesn’t make a Mooney bad, my Miata is much smaller inside than an SUV, but a lot more fun to drive. I think most Mooney drivers don’t expect to put adults in the backseat, I’ve flown our Daughters but rarely. Our is a 2 seat airplane with an extended baggage compt., and that’s what I wanted. I don’t need a 210.

 

[carusoam]

Great pic A64!

Looks like a family of four enjoying GA flying…

Mom must have said something really funny prior to clicking the pic!

-a-

Edited April 22, 2022 by carusoam

[M20F]

On 4/22/2022 at 11:28 AM, A64Pilot said:

I don’t care how you measure it, you can argue it’s .5” wider than a C-210, but anyone who has time in both can tell you there is LOTS more room in a 210.

Having a small cockpit doesn’t make a Mooney bad, my Miata is much smaller inside than an SUV, but a lot more fun to drive. I think most Mooney drivers don’t expect to put adults in the backseat, I’ve flown our Daughters but rarely. Our is a 2 seat airplane with an extended baggage compt., and that’s what I wanted. I don’t need a 210.

 

Quoted for truth.  I love my Mooney but the seats hurt my butt after 3hrs and it is cramped inside.  As I get older (now 52) it is getting harder and harder for me to get in/out of it.  I don’t see why Mooney owners continually debate this topic.  Bonanzas, Comanches, 210’s etc all are much more roomier.  They also come with their faults.  
 
To me the Mooney is the fastest most efficient plane out there and the earlier models are bullet proof.  It is the best of all worlds, but it is a trade off for space. 

[Yetti]

Just for fun I sat in an A36.   Doable but with the head cocked.  Which would hurt after awhile.    Then tried a citation.    Decided nope.   Might have been able to get in, but may have had to get extracted.

[A64Pilot]

When I was looking, I flew the neighbors V-35, very quickly I was amazed at how small it was inside, excess headroom, but other than a feeling of spaciousness excess head room does nothing, maybe you don’t bump your head in severe turbulence? 210 is huge compared to a Bo.

However people do like sitting in a seat that’s like a kitchen chair, that is tall, it’s the most often heard reason why people say they like their SUV that I’ve heard

But what really turned me off was the mess that the instrument panel was, type and location of gear switch etc. 

At 52 it’s not hard to get in and out, try 64 within a couple months of dual knee replacements, made me think of rigging a Bosun’s chair on an engine hoist.

I didn’t do it, but I do have both an engine hoist and a Bosun’s chair, and if I had someone who could push the engine hoist I might have, would have gotten me flying sooner.

But the C-140 is tough too because you almost have to kneel in the seat to climb in.

If your seat hurts your butt, get Oregon Aero seats made, took my God awful horrible torture seats that come in a Maule and made them really comfortable, spent all day in them several times.

Edited April 25, 2022 by A64Pilot

[PT20J]

My 1994 M20J has very comfortable seats. My 1978 J had horrible seats with no lumbar support. I bought a back support that was very comfortable. A very economical fix was to purchase seat upholstery kits from Airtex and have a local aircraft upholsterer replace the foam to match the shape of the back support and install the Airtex covers.

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[thinwing]

On 4/21/2022 at 1:12 PM, Marauder said:

I’ve got a couple of ladies for you to test fit.


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structural overload