Aspiring Mooney Owner

[HeavyD]

Hi Everyone,

New to the group and I've recently been bitten by the Mooney bug!

So I'm a little on the tall and large size. Six feet - two inches and 230 lbs. Everyone I talk to says I'm too big for a Mooney. 

I've tried lurking around local FBO's to find an owner who would let me try one on for size with no luck.

Anyone in the central NC area willing to help a guy out? I'm in the Winston-Salem area.

Thanks,

D 

[Danb]

Welcome and good luck D, no problem being 6’2” 

[C.J.]

@HeavyD If my plane wasn't in the shop for the next 6 weeks or so I'd fly over to KINT & let you check it out. I'm 5'11" & 185 and it's not a problem. What makes/models have you been flying so far & how were those for you?

[MikeOH]

Your size won’t be an issue. If you’ve been flying Cherokees (low wing) with one entry door  without problem the Mooney will be fine.

If you’ve been flying high wing Cessnas with a pilot door you’ll need to get used to entry/exit but, again, your size is not a factor.

[KLRDMD]

32 minutes ago, HeavyD said:

So I'm a little on the tall and large size. Six feet - two inches and 230 lbs. Everyone I talk to says I'm too big for a Mooney. 

Everyone you are talking to is wrong. My guess is none of them have ever sat in a Mooney.  A friend of mine is 6'4" and 330 lb and fits.

[DCarlton]

I'm 6' 1.5" and at one point was up to 230 lbs; about 215 now.  I don't feel like I need more leg room or more clearance to the overhead.  With two guys up front with broad shoulders you'll feel a little tight side to side but that's typical of many airplanes.  Staggering the front seats can help once you're in flight.  You've just gotta like sitting close to the floor like you're in a sports car with your legs extended.  

Edited September 4, 2023 by DCarlton

[exM20K]

Dunno what your model preference or budget is, but there’s a 201 for sale by owner in Apex.  Why not reach out to the seller and see if you can sit in it as a first step?

https://www.controller.com/listings/search?Category=6&Manufacturer=MOONEY&State=NORTH CAROLINA

I agree with others in this thread: especially if the plane you’re interested has the crank up/down seats, you should be fine.

-dan

[toto]

I think that Al Mooney was like 6’4” tall.
 

I’ll need to dig out the Baxter biography

 

[Fritz1]

Same here, 6'2", 215lb, M20M long body, my height is in the torso, seat cranked full down and locked in 2nd hole in the seat rail, head set does not touch roof, staggering seats helps, my wife rolls her seat full back when in cruise.

[gmonnig]

About 6'1" and 245lbs, broad shoulders, you will fit absolutely fine.

[M20F]

How old are you?  Your size definitely works but I find at 53 getting in and out gets harder every year. 

[Pinecone]

11 hours ago, M20F said:

How old are you?  Your size definitely works but I find at 53 getting in and out gets harder every year. 

WOW, I am a lot older and only find it marginally difficult.

 

 

[802flyer]

I match your specs and fit in my F model just fine. I often bring a friend that's an inch or two taller and has 20+ pounds on me, and we do fine.

[Rusty Pilot]

12 hours ago, M20F said:

How old are you?  Your size definitely works but I find at 53 getting in and out gets harder every year. 

I find my new Corvette much harder to get in an out of then my Mooney.  No issue yet at 60

[HeavyD]

Thanks for all of the replies. To answer a couple of questions, most of my time is in Cessna's and a couple of flights in a Sundowner.

I've got some time on the clock but am still active so not too worried about getting in and out thru the one door. 

It appears a lot of people have good intentions but give opinions without knowing the facts - go figure. I had an idea my height wouldn't be an issue and, like toto mentioned, I read somewhere Al Mooney was a tall guy so the width is a greater concern. Luckily the wife is petite so no problems there! 

That's a good idea Fritz1 about setting the passenger seat back for more shoulder room. We'll definitely try that out.

I'm partial to the F model with Johnson bar landing gear so the quest can begins...

[Fly Boomer]

23 minutes ago, HeavyD said:

Thanks for all of the replies. To answer a couple of questions, most of my time is in Cessna's and a couple of flights in a Sundowner.

I've got some time on the clock but am still active so not too worried about getting in and out thru the one door. 

It appears a lot of people have good intentions but give opinions without knowing the facts - go figure. I had an idea my height wouldn't be an issue and, like toto mentioned, I read somewhere Al Mooney was a tall guy so the width is a greater concern. Luckily the wife is petite so no problems there! 

That's a good idea Fritz1 about setting the passenger seat back for more shoulder room. We'll definitely try that out.

I'm partial to the F model with Johnson bar landing gear so the quest can begins...

Good luck on your search.

[LANCECASPER]

49 minutes ago, HeavyD said:

I'm partial to the F model with Johnson bar landing gear so the quest can begins...

Just make sure your shoulder is in good shape. We had someone on here ( maybe @MBDiagMan ?)  with a bad rotator cuff and had to find an electric gear Mooney. 

[Utah20Gflyer]

You would be a lot less likely to fit if you were 5’2” and 230lbs than at 6’2”.  I’m same height but maybe 10 fewer pounds and fit fine.  You run out of width faster than length.  But that applies to almost all small aircraft 

[EricJ]

On 9/4/2023 at 6:19 PM, M20F said:

How old are you?  Your size definitely works but I find at 53 getting in and out gets harder every year. 

A hangar neighbor is in his 80s and has an M20A.   He and another hangar neighbor, also in his 80s, took the M20A to a local breakfast fly-in recently and from my hangar I watched them both extricate themselves from it when they came back.   I wish I'd gotten vid, but it was an awful lot more complex than I expected, and pretty comical since it wasn't me.        Love both those guys, but it was quite the effort.   They got it done, though. 

[HeavyD]

On 9/12/2023 at 7:01 PM, LANCECASPER said:

Just make sure your shoulder is in good shape. We had someone on here ( maybe @MBDiagMan ?)  with a bad rotator cuff and had to find an electric gear Mooney. 

I thought about this potential issue a little bit - maybe fly from the right seat.

[Little Dipper]

On 9/5/2023 at 9:52 AM, Rusty Pilot said:

I find my new Corvette much harder to get in an out of then my Mooney.  No issue yet at 60

+1