How stiff a ride is your Mooney in turbulence?

[FlyDave]

I flew a 201 a few weeks ago in more turbulence (moderate) than I've flown them in before. The ride was stiffer than I thought it would be. I knew is would be a bit stiff but not that hard.

I'm glad the airframes are as strong as they but I guess the price you pay is in turbulence.

So I ask (and not to sound odd or perverted.....), How stiff is your Mooney?

[Parker_Woodruff]

It's hard for me to really define it, but I appreciate the strength.

 

I've hit severe turbulence in a Cessna in clear air passing through 4500' (after climbout in almost smooth air).  Hearing the stall horn at 95 KIAS is not fun.  That's an experience I'd rather have in a Mooney.

[Flybeech21]

 

I have always thought the ride quality was a function of (Weight) X (Speed).  I think it has very little to do with the structual dampneing of the airplane ( at least in light GA aircraft).

Take our remarkable Mooneys for example.  The are faster or comparable/ lighter than the competition.  

Legacy Retractables:

C182RG   3100 Gross

C210       3300 Gross

A36         3600 Gross

Mooney 201 2740 Gross 

Entry Level Light Retractables:

Commanche 180       2550 Gross

Arrow                      2600 Gross

C172RG                   2650 Gross

M20C                     2575 Gross

*obtained from Rising Up Aviation Performance data

http://www.risingup.com/planespecs/info/

Using my examples above, the 201 is comparable and sometimes faster than its competition but is is substaintially lighter.  Net result is a somewhat rougher ride in turbulence.  The M20C is comparable in weight to its competition but is faster than its competition (especially in the descent where turbulence is most frequent).  Net result a somewhat rougher ride than the competition.

Also noteworthy is the average flying weight of the airplane.  Usually airplanes with a large useful load are flying at gross weight with less frequency so may be rougher than the airplanes with little useful load that fly at or near gross weight every single flight.

[RobertL]

I am quite an observer of flying comfortably below maneouvering speed in my current ride (PA23 250) when encountering turbulence, which below gross would typically be MIAS140 (149mph IAS at MGW). A vintage Mooney with top of green arc at 150 mph (Vmo of 130mph at GW?), would therefore have to operate at maximum range setting per Owner's Manual of 1950 RPM and 16.8 in.MP to be comfortably close to Vmo?

A side benefit is that you are getting 20 mpg+ at these settings.

[FlyDave]

Quote: JimR

On the other hand, I can't recall ever having had my '78 model into the 201 mph yellow arc.  As far as I know, though, this is more a certification issue than anything else.  I think that the structures are substantially the same.

[jlunseth]

If you hit stiff turbulence, you will find out what that post is for in the center of the windshield.  Just don't grab the compass and rip it off.

[KSMooniac]

The ride in turbulence is mostly a function of wing loading, which is lbs/sq. ft. of wing area.  The higher the wing loading, the less turbulence will be "sensed" in the cockpit.  That is why heavier airplanes with smaller wings (like jets, or Lancair IV kit plane for example) will ride through turbulence much better than a Cessna 150, which has about the same wing area as a Lancair IV and less than half the weight.

[HRM]

Quote: JimR

I have enjoyed the increased speed ranges of my '78 model over a '65 that I fly sometimes.  In the '65 model, I am usually well into the 150 mph yellow arc when descending in smooth air.  On the other hand, I can't recall ever having had my '78 model into the 201 mph yellow arc.  As far as I know, though, this is more a certification issue than anything else.  I think that the structures are substantially the same.

[N6843N]

Living in So Cal most of my life I am familiar with turbulance and I think my Mooney rides as good or better than most of the comparable aircraft i have owned. I do slow way down in turbulance in any airplane, much better to let the wing stall as opposed to bending. I was in Rialto one day and say a Mooney with the wings actually wrinkled and bent from an encounter with severe turbulance. As I remember it was a newer aircraft and the Mooney factory was real interested in examining it. Any how our one piece wings are very tough.