Anybody willing to show me their Mooney

[bushuenj]

I have what I would consider a bit of an odd request.  I am currently a student pilot, seriously considering purchasing a Mooney late spring/early summer next year.  My main concern is the size of the plane.  I am not a giant guy, but bigger, 5'10" 280 and pretty broad in the shoulders.  I am from central Illinois and do not see very many Mooney's at my local airfields, maybe one in passing so far.  I will be in the DFW area (Saginaw specifically but willing to travel somewhat) for Thanksgiving this year, and was wondering if anybody in the area would be willing to let me just sitting in the plane and see how tight it actually feels.  I have watched all the YouTube videos "debunking" Mooney size myths, but before making such a large purchase I would really love just to sit in one, if possible.  Maybe somebody from central Illinois will see this as well and I could meet up with somebody local too, currently training out of IKK, but live down state. I really do think a Mooney fits my mission best (travelling back and forth for work) alone 90% of the time.

Just figured Id throw out a line and see what happens.  Thank you.

[bigmo]

I’m hangared at KALN. There are actually 4 at our airfield (all different flavors). I’m flying (away) for the next two weeks, but will be home the week of Thanksgiving and the week after. Stop by any time.

[Fly Boomer]

1 hour ago, bushuenj said:

I have what I would consider a bit of an odd request.  I am currently a student pilot, seriously considering purchasing a Mooney late spring/early summer next year.  My main concern is the size of the plane.  I am not a giant guy, but bigger, 5'10" 280 and pretty broad in the shoulders.  I am from central Illinois and do not see very many Mooney's at my local airfields, maybe one in passing so far.  I will be in the DFW area (Saginaw specifically but willing to travel somewhat) for Thanksgiving this year, and was wondering if anybody in the area would be willing to let me just sitting in the plane and see how tight it actually feels.  I have watched all the YouTube videos "debunking" Mooney size myths, but before making such a large purchase I would really love just to sit in one, if possible.  Maybe somebody from central Illinois will see this as well and I could meet up with somebody local too, currently training out of IKK, but live down state. I really do think a Mooney fits my mission best (travelling back and forth for work) alone 90% of the time.

Just figured Id throw out a line and see what happens.  Thank you.

You may have already gleaned that the measured cabin width is about the same as the B, C, and P brands.  Your size means that it would be difficult to sit shoulder-to-shoulder with a right-seater, but it's typical for the B, C, and P brands I have flown to adjust seats so that you are not shoulder-to-shoulder, and you normally have to do the same in a Mooney.  Usually the pilot in command gets to pick his seat position, and the other person adjusts accordingly.  One reason the Mooney has a reputation for being cramped is that the fuselage is "shorter" than many other airplanes.  I suspect that it's one of the reasons why Mooneys also have a reputation for being fast and slippery.  The big difference between a Mooney and many other airplanes is that the seating position is more like a sports car.  Others have a more upright seating position like sitting at the dining room table with your feet flat on the floor.  Fortunately, Al Mooney was a tall guy (rumored to be 6'5") so there is tons of leg room to compensate for less head room.  In fact, there is so much leg room that a shorter person will have to adjust their seat up in order to reach the rudder pedals.  Failing that, there are rudder pedal extensions that move the pedals aft by 1.5 or 3.0 inches.  I can't speak for others but I'm pretty tall, and I find that once I'm in with my seat adjusted, I'm pretty comfortable.

That said, the only way to know for sure how it will fit is to sit in one.

[DonMuncy]

I am at RBD in Dallas. I will be glad to have you sit in my plane, when you are in my area.

[TheAv8r]

The front Mooney cockpit is a lot more spacious than people make it out to be, tons of leg room and headroom. It's the rear seats that get cramped in older Mooneys, not the cockpit. The difficulty for larger people isn't the cockpit, it's getting in and out of the airplane IMO, kind of like getting in/out of a Mazda Miata. 

 

[Rick Junkin]

4 hours ago, bushuenj said:

I am not a giant guy, but bigger, 5'10" 280 and pretty broad in the shoulders.

I am the same size and I fly an M (Bravo) "more or less comfortably"  with my wife in the right seat. Also comfortable with 180-200# friends in the right seat without a seat stagger.

What you'll want to look at is how much room you have, and what range of motion you can accomplish, with your left arm with your hand on the yoke. It's tight but I can make it work. I've heard some folks say they sit slightly offset to the right to give them more room.

If you can fit in other brands you'll probably be ok.

[Rick Junkin]

5 hours ago, bushuenj said:

currently training out of IKK, but live down state.

How far down state? I'm flying over to St Louis next week and may be able to make a detour on my way home on Thursday the 21st.

What's the closest airport to you?

[bushuenj]

11 hours ago, Rick Junkin said:

How far down state? I'm flying over to St Louis next week and may be able to make a detour on my way home on Thursday the 21st.

What's the closest airport to you?

Effingham, IL (1H2) is the closest airport, I assume you will be quite a bit south of that assuming you are flying out of KGKT.  If you are willing to stop, I'd be willing to drive down to Centralia (ENL) or  Mt. Vernon (MVN). Otherwise I appreciate the offer.

[bushuenj]

16 hours ago, bigmo said:

I’m hangared at KALN. There are actually 4 at our airfield (all different flavors). I’m flying (away) for the next two weeks, but will be home the week of Thanksgiving and the week after. Stop by any time.

I might have to take you up on that after Thanksgiving. Thank you.

[bushuenj]

13 hours ago, DonMuncy said:

I am at RBD in Dallas. I will be glad to have you sit in my plane, when you are in my area.

I really appreciate the offer, however that is a bit out of the way for such a quick trip to the in-laws.  Thank you.

[A64Pilot]

20 hours ago, TheAv8r said:

The front Mooney cockpit is a lot more spacious than people make it out to be, tons of leg room and headroom. It's the rear seats that get cramped in older Mooneys, not the cockpit. The difficulty for larger people isn't the cockpit, it's getting in and out of the airplane IMO, kind of like getting in/out of a Mazda Miata. 

 

As an older not small guy ate up with arthritis I think this post nails it, once your in it’s fine, but getting in and out is much more difficult. Owning a Mazdaspeed Miata I think the Miata comparison is spot on. In both once I’m in I’m fine until it’s time to get out that is.

My wife flies with her seat slid all the way aft which solves the shoulder width issue.

In my opinion if you want a real four seat airplane, buy a 6 seater, unless we are talking kids. Some aircraft do seem to have bigger cockpits, the Aero Commander 112/114 for instance. But this measurement numbers comparing cockpits is just wrong, I had much more room in my C-210 than there is in any Mooney, a lot of it is that you sit on the floor in a Mooney, like the Miata while other aircraft you sit up high like an SUV.

Mooney has among the smallest cockpits, it has to be to get as much as speed as it does with so little HP, you have to reduce frontal area to get there, while for example the Aero Commander with its large cockpit pays for it in cruise speed.

Edited Tuesday at 01:15 PM by A64Pilot

[Pinecone]

The Miata comparison is slightly off target.  More correct would be a Miata (or other 2 seat sports car) with the top UP or the hard top installed.

[Rick Junkin]

13 hours ago, bushuenj said:

Effingham, IL (1H2) is the closest airport, I assume you will be quite a bit south of that assuming you are flying out of KGKT.  If you are willing to stop, I'd be willing to drive down to Centralia (ENL) or  Mt. Vernon (MVN). Otherwise I appreciate the offer.

Dropping by 1H2 will only add 15 minutes to my trip home, happy to make that happen. I’ll touch base with you next week to confirm a day and time. Tentatively looking at Thursday afternoon, 21 November.

[Rusty Pilot]

My wife and I bought our Mooney about 6 years ago and were both a overweight at the time and still fit in the plane pretty well.  We have both lost a significant amount of weight and it makes it feel like our cabin got bigger and we have more useful load.  I am currently 6' and 190 and my wife is 5'4 and 125 which make the Mooney climb great even with density altitude.  Our decision to lose weight was based on health reasons only and worked since we both dieted together.

[NickG]

On 11/11/2024 at 4:20 AM, bushuenj said:

I have what I would consider a bit of an odd request.  I am currently a student pilot, seriously considering purchasing a Mooney late spring/early summer next year.  My main concern is the size of the plane.  I am not a giant guy, but bigger, 5'10" 280 and pretty broad in the shoulders.  I am from central Illinois and do not see very many Mooney's at my local airfields, maybe one in passing so far.  I will be in the DFW area (Saginaw specifically but willing to travel somewhat) for Thanksgiving this year, and was wondering if anybody in the area would be willing to let me just sitting in the plane and see how tight it actually feels.  I have watched all the YouTube videos "debunking" Mooney size myths, but before making such a large purchase I would really love just to sit in one, if possible.  Maybe somebody from central Illinois will see this as well and I could meet up with somebody local too, currently training out of IKK, but live down state. I really do think a Mooney fits my mission best (travelling back and forth for work) alone 90% of the time.

Just figured Id throw out a line and see what happens.  Thank you.

I had the same questions before I bought my Ovation. Richard Simile was kind enough to arrange a sit in (lol) for me in St George, a couple of hours from where I live in Las Vegas. I had a Cherokee 235 and was considering a Saratoga. I had heard all of the rumors about the small Mooney cabin. My Ovation is about 1 inch shorter than a Saratoga, The cabin width is a but wider than a Cherokee, but was more comfortable. As has been mentioned, you sit more akin to a sports car than an SUV. It's very comfortable. The long bodies have a ton of baggage area and the back seats have plenty of leg room for adults. Getting in and out is, as has been mentioned a bit of a pain the ass but everything in life's a tradeoff, right? I'm 6ft, 275 and wide. No issues. Wife is petite but my regular flying buddy is 6' 4' and 220 and we both fit up front with no issues (seats are staggered). My son is 6' 2" and 190 and sits in the back no problem.