Where did the model names come from?

[Boboli]

I know that the 201 got it's name from its cruise speed.  Where did the Ranger, Mark 21, Super 21, etc... get their names?

[EricJ]

Marketing department. 

 

[carusoam]

Pure Mooney marketing… of the 60s

new marketing group in the 90s really brought names to a new height…

TLS - Turbo Lycoming Sabre

TLS version 2 - kicked off a naming cover-up… the B model got oil cooled heads for the engines…

M20M Bravo!

M20R Ovation

M20TN Acclaim 

M20K Encore

 

Rocket Engineering added a few to the list, including…

Standing Ovation

 

I suddenly feel like flying to an opera for a Standing Ovation!

Ovation was up to version 3 before it got a major upgrade to Ovation Ultra…

Get your O1 Ovation with…

MSE Mooney Special Edition…

O2’s G1000 color screens…

O3 power… 310hp 
 

Then trade it for the O4… to get the Ultra door and composite roof…

Go Marketing!!!

Best regards,

-a-

[LANCECASPER]

4 hours ago, EricJ said:

Marketing department. 

 

Exaaaactly. And so were the  201, 231 and 252 dreams of the marketing department.

If a test pilot on a perfect day ever got 201, 231 or 252 mph out of any of those models it was definitely in a descent. 

 

I liked the names that were introduced in the 90’s and 2000’s:

Ovation  (an enthusiastic public reception) it turned out that way since it was Mooney’s best seller, at the time, the moment it was introduced

Bravo  (used in praising a performer) Fastest piston single at the time

Allegro (brisk or rapid in tempo) best speed for the 200 horsepower of any certified single produced at the time

Encore (a demand by an audience for a repetition) when they brought back the K model. The only thing that killed it was a change in complaint ownership.

Acclaim (a welcome with shouts of joy and approval) the new fastest piston single had a backlog of orders the minute it was introduced, that took 18 months to fill

[Boboli]

1 hour ago, carusoam said:

Pure Mooney marketing… of the 60s

new marketing group in the 90s really brought names to a new height…

TLS - Turbo Lycoming Sabre

TLS version 2 - kicked off a naming cover-up… the B model got oil cooled heads for the engines…

M20M Bravo!

M20R Ovation

M20TN Acclaim 

M20K Encore

 

Rocket Engineering added a few to the list, including…

Standing Ovation

 

I suddenly feel like flying to an opera for a Standing Ovation!

Ovation was up to version 3 before it got a major upgrade to Ovation Ultra…

Get your O1 Ovation with…

MSE Mooney Special Edition…

O2’s G1000 color screens…

O3 power… 310hp 
 

Then trade it for the O4… to get the Ultra door and composite roof…

Go Marketing!!!

Best regards,

-a-

Roger that!  Was doing some “super 21” vinyl for my wingtips and it occurred to me that I didn’t know what the 21 was for?

Appreciate the help!

[MooneyMitch]

It’s good Mooney moved on from the name ….Mite ! 

[Andy95W]

3 hours ago, Boboli said:

Roger that!  Was doing some “super 21” vinyl for my wingtips and it occurred to me that I didn’t know what the 21 was for?

Appreciate the help!

The M20 stands for Al Mooney’s 20th design.  It is the straight M20 with 150 HP engine and wood wings and tail.

The M20A was called the Mark 20, it was after Al Mooney sold the company.  It was an M20 with 180HP engine.

The M20B was called the Mark 21, it was a Mark 20, but with all metal wings and tail.  They improved it slightly and made it the M20C, but still called it the Mark 21.

In 1964, they put a 200HP fuel injected engine onto a Mark 21.  They called it the Super 21 (obviously!)  That’s the M20E.

In 1966/67, they stretched the fuselage 10” and called it the Executive 21.  That’s an M20F.

In 1968, they decided to give them Texas-sounding names, and that’s when they called the M20C the Ranger, M20E the Chaparral, and the M20F stayed the Executive.