Most Underwhelming Mooney (poll)

[201er]

What short lived Mooney projects do you find most impressive and unimpressive?

Here's a few that didn't make the list M18, M19, M10, M20T Predator, MT20 TX-1

[Mooney Dog]

I still dont understand the G.

Lets put 200hp and call it the E model. Lets stretch it out to give more room and we have the F.

 

 

...Now lets go back to the lower powered engine! G model. 

Edited May 25, 2022 by Mooney Dog

[201er]

7 minutes ago, bluehighwayflyer said:

You guys who aren’t voting for the 301 in poll number two just don’t know enough about it.  It could’ve been a game changer for Mooney if they’d have had the capital to see it through.  The M22 pales in comparison from an engineering perspective.  The 301 was also pressured, by the way.

Jim

I could sure see the appeal of a 6 seat Mooney over a 2nd door.

[jetdriven]

I think it was the French that basically stole the design…They let Mooney some money they couldn’t  repay and they took that as payment

[hammdo]

301 all the way -- what could have been...

-Don

[Shadrach]

I chose the PFM for both. From performance standpoint, it was underwhelming given its combined heritage. In terms of looks and sound, it’s the best Mooney that’s ever been built.

 

[FlyboyKC]

5 hours ago, Mooney Dog said:

I still dont understand the G.

Lets put 200hp and call it the E model. Lets stretch it out to give more room and we have the F.

 

 

...Now lets go back to the lower powered engine! G model. 

I believe Mooney was trying to be more competitive in the market. While I have a G I have also flown an E which in cruise I didn't notice that much of a difference in speed. The climb was a little better, but not a night and day difference. Now if I had to replace the engine I would opt for the 200hp STC, why not...

[Andy95W]

4 hours ago, bluehighwayflyer said:

You guys who aren’t voting for the 301 in poll number two just don’t know enough about it. 
 

The 301, IMO, didn’t really fit the definition of “short lived” because it was a one-off prototype while the others were actually certified and produced.

But wow, what could have been if they’d actually been able to make it work.  I’d bet the Mooney factory would probably still be supplying the wings for the TBM to this day.

[carusoam]

Next up…

1) 310hp

2) increased UL

3) with bench seat for passenger #5

 

This is the LB idea that hasn’t got off the drawing board just yet….

Unimpressive if it never sees the light of day….

Very impressive when it does…

-a-

[Jblanton]

20 hours ago, Mooney Dog said:

I still dont understand the G.

Lets put 200hp and call it the E model. Lets stretch it out to give more room and we have the F.

 

 

...Now lets go back to the lower powered engine! G model. 

I would like to see a poll for the people that voted for the M20G.  Have they actually flown the plane, or just relaying what they heard on the interwebs and CNN...?

The M20G is is a C model with legroom.  That's all it is.   It is not an F with 180hp.  I have owned  C,G,J models.  I currently have a 1968 G model my wife has named Warren G because it is a G and has Gold stripes. I love the airplane, and costs are much less than the M20J I had.  My plane has most speed mods and true airspeed is usually 150 kts at 8500'.   The O-360 A1D is a bulletproof engine with better parts availability.  My point is everybody calls it a lower hp M20F, While it is actually a variation of the M20C (Longer cabin).  Same wing,  fuel tanks, and FW forward.   That changes how you look at it compared to the F in my opinion.

 

Jeff B

 

[Andy95W]

I’m surprised at the number of people who voted for the M20D.

You could buy a fixed gear/fixed prop airplane, learn to fly, then take it to your Mooney dealer and a day later have an M20C.  There’s a good reason that all but 3 have been changed.  It’s the ultimate convertible!

Edited May 26, 2022 by Andy95W

[Shadrach]

2 hours ago, Jblanton said:

I would like to see a poll for the people that voted for the M20G.  Have they actually flown the plane, or just relaying what they heard on the interwebs and CNN...?

The M20G is is a C model with legroom.  That's all it is.   It is not an F with 180hp.  I have owned  C,G,J models.  I currently have a 1968 G model my wife has named Warren G because it is a G and has Gold stripes. I love the airplane, and costs are much less than the M20J I had.  My plane has most speed mods and true airspeed is usually 150 kts at 8500'.   The O-360 A1D is a bulletproof engine with better parts availability.  My point is everybody calls it a lower hp M20F, While it is actually a variation of the M20C (Longer cabin).  Same wing,  fuel tanks, and FW forward.   That changes how you look at it compared to the F in my opinion.

 

Jeff B

 

The truth is that the block speeds for most all 4 cyl Mooneys fall within about 15kts of one another (there will be a few very well sorted outliers).  They are all fine and economical airplanes to fly.  One reason to move to an F or J is if you need the room and the useful load though it did not take long for the planes to get fat and negate the UL increase, the other reason is fuel injection (which I very much prefer).  I like the vintage birds because they are light.  Even with a MGW of 2525lbs many of the vintage birds flirt with 1000Lb UL or better. I could probably get my bird to 1100 or more with an MT prop and a few others strategic changes.  The Gs parallel valve O360 is more than 40lbs lighter than any of the angle valve IO360s on the E, F and Js.  I bet there is not 50lbs difference between a typical G and C model. I think it's silly when people talk like there's this huge delta between them.

[carusoam]

Somebody has to fly the slowest Mooney…

And get ribbed for it…

And have it get called the turtle….

If you get defensive about it…. It works against you….

 

Know it is still better than what brand P & C have to offer… 
 

Go Mooney!

-a-

[Utah20Gflyer]

On 5/25/2022 at 2:17 PM, Mooney Dog said:

I still dont understand the G.

Lets put 200hp and call it the E model. Lets stretch it out to give more room and we have the F.

 

 

...Now lets go back to the lower powered engine! G model. 

The G is an attempt at maximum utility vs cost.  Good speed and climb, low maintenance, low fuel burn but still the potential to carry 4 Adults comfortably (for a short distance) and/or more baggage room.   My G will do 145 knots on 9 gph and when it comes time for overhaul I’ll pay significantly less than an F owner.  Saying a G doesn’t make sense because you could have a F is kind of like saying why a F if J, or why J if K, why K if M, etc.   The G often goes for less than a Cherokee 180 but does an extra 20 or 25 knots so in the grand scheme of things they are a great value plane.   By the way these are all facts because I’m not biased at all, haha!

[Shadrach]

3 hours ago, carusoam said:

Know it is still more efficient than what brand P & C have to offer… 
 

Go Mooney!

-a-

Edited to be more reflective of the model's objective strengths rather than it's subjective quality.  In addition to Mooneys, I very much enjoy other models from P, C and others, especially when the nose wheel is on the tail...

[Fly Boomer]

16 minutes ago, Shadrach said:

especially when the nose wheel is on the tail...

Where it belongs!