Your Plane's "Birthday"

[PeteMc]

Had a talk with someone that actually knows when their plane rolled out of the factory and/or took it's first flight (not exactly sure if they know which one).  

That got me thinking how some of you here have lots of old records (official or not) from the early days of Mooney.  So anyone have records on when various S/Ns came out of the factory or flew away from Kerrville?  Or maybe know of a link that would show that info?

I can see the various Birthday Party Invitations beginning to form as people read this post...

  

[toto]

I mean, I would think the airworthiness date from the airworthiness certificate is the best “birth date” … or at least that’s how I always thought of it

 

[PeteMc]

11 minutes ago, toto said:

I mean, I would think the airworthiness date from the airworthiness certificate is the best “birth date” … or at least that’s how I always thought of it

Very true.  And usually on the N# Lookup page. 

 

[1980Mooney]

2 hours ago, PeteMc said:

Had a talk with someone that actually knows when their plane rolled out of the factory and/or took it's first flight (not exactly sure if they know which one).  

That got me thinking how some of you here have lots of old records (official or not) from the early days of Mooney.  So anyone have records on when various S/Ns came out of the factory or flew away from Kerrville?  Or maybe know of a link that would show that info?

I can see the various Birthday Party Invitations beginning to form as people read this post...

  

This is a pretty good serial number reference by model calendar year:

https://www.mooneyevents.com/chrono.htm

[Hank]

1 hour ago, toto said:

I mean, I would think the airworthiness date from the airworthiness certificate is the best “birth date” … or at least that’s how I always thought of it

From the AIRCRAFT LOG:

So the Production Flight Test was completed and plane found airworthy on 5/27/70.

Pitot Static Inspection passed 4/15/70, in the page following flight test.

Two pages later  the Certificate of Airworthiness was issued on 5/28/70.

Then a 337 was filed to install radios and update W&B (apparently the plane sold) on 8/6/70.

From the ENGINE LOG:

Final acceptance of Flight Testing, 5/27/70.

Nothing else until 100 hour inspection in July 71.

So when is the birthday? I'm not sure any of these match the data plate under the tail . . . .

 

[toto]

9 minutes ago, Hank said:

From the AIRCRAFT LOG:

So the Production Flight Test was completed and plane found airworthy on 5/27/70.

Pitot Static Inspection passed 4/15/70, in the page following flight test.

Two pages later  the Certificate of Airworthiness was issued on 5/28/70.

Then a 337 was filed to install radios and update W&B (apparently the plane sold) on 8/6/70.

From the ENGINE LOG:

Final acceptance of Flight Testing, 5/27/70.

Nothing else until 100 hour inspection in July 71.

So when is the birthday? I'm not sure any of these match the data plate under the tail . . . .

 

Fair enough

I also like the airworthiness certificate because it's sort of the thing most similar to a birth certificate.  The data plate doesn't have quite the same feel.

[PeteMc]

1 hour ago, 1980Mooney said:

This is a pretty good serial number reference by model calendar year:

That's only the year, which I know.  I was looking for the month and day.  And the A/W date is not a bad option. 

 

[PeteMc]

1 hour ago, Hank said:

So when is the birthday? I'm not sure any of these match the data plate under the tail . . . .

I don't think I looked at the Data Plate since I first was looking to buy the plane.  Is there a date there?  I only remember the Model & S/N.

 

[EricJ]

I discovered a quirky and fun thing that Mooney did with the first J models.   My J is SN 24-0077.    24-0076 was the last J model completed in 1976, and mine, 24-0077, was the first J model completed in 1977.    I can think of no other reason for this than somebody thought it was cool to schedule them that way.

Anyway, that makes mine the first actual 77 J model, although the earlier ones are also considered 77 for those who care about product years for airplanes.

[Hank]

Just now, EricJ said:

24-0076 was the last J model completed in 1976, and mine, 24-0077, was the first J model completed in 1977.    I can think of no other reason for this than somebody thought it was cool to schedule them that way.

My C is 70-00075, and it was built in 1970. The Airworthiness Certificate was issued in late May 1970.

[Mooney in Oz]

9 hours ago, 1980Mooney said:

This is a pretty good serial number reference by model calendar year:

https://www.mooneyevents.com/chrono.htm

Around 90% price rise in 2 years from 83 to 85 for the J & K models.