Mooney's "Mark" Numbers

[Kevin Harberg]

Mark numbers were used to identify design variants in some Second World War aircraft (Australian built Mustang P51D was designated Mark 20)

The "M" in Mooney's 1959 M20 was referred to as "Mark 20" with the Mooney Mustang being designated "Mark 22)".

Does anyone still use the term "Mark' when referring to Mooney model variants or do people assume the "M" stands for "Mooney"?

[Nico1]

Al Mooney numbered all his planes, from the M1 up to (don't recall what the last one was). The mooney mite was the M18 for example. I recommend reading his biography, interesting history: The Al Mooney Story: They All Fly Through the Same Air

 

 

[201er]

The M20C is also referred to as the Mark 21

https://www.flyingmag.com/this-1967-mooney-m20c-mark-21-is-a-speedy-stylish-classic-aircraftforsale-top-pick/

https://planeandpilotmag.com/mooney-mark-20-21-series/

[EricJ]

The British have often used 'Mark' to indicate a revision number for various engineering designs, including cars (e.g., Jaguar) and airplanes (e.g., Spitfires).  They did this a lot during and around WWII, so it was still in vogue when the M20 was designed in the late 50s.  It got used for marketing a lot of things other than airplanes, too.

[Kevin Harberg]

19 minutes ago, Nico1 said:

Al Mooney numbered all his planes, from the M1 up to (don't recall what the last one was). The mooney mite was the M18 for example. I recommend reading his biography, interesting history: The Al Mooney Story: They All Fly Through the Same Air

 

 

Yes. Al never referred to the M-18 as the "Mite", as it was a moniker given by a airplane magazine contributor.

[Kevin Harberg]

Technically, Al Mooney numbered all his designs (not all his planes). After the company bearing his 18th, 19th, and 20th design was sold, he continued his design numbering which differs from Mooney Aircraft Model numbers  (The M21 is a small twin Jet he designed for Lockheed)

Edited July 31 by Kevin Harberg
Clarification