Mooney 301 (Can you spell Socata TBM?)

[Ned Gravel]

Just saw this on eBay. In case someone wants a bit of this nostalgia. 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MOONEY-301-INAUGURAL-FLIGHT-LITHOGRAPH-VIDEOS-1983_W0QQitemZ190364422851QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Aviation_Parts_Gear?hash=item2c529a92c3.

I don't remember the whole story behind the 301, but we do know it today as the TBM 700, TBM 750 and TBM 850.  Mooney's foray into the world of turbine designs.

Not for me.  I am just a 4-banger guy.

[RobertoTohme]

I can tell you first hand that the Mooney spirit is alive and well on the TBMs...  Mooney went into a financial crisis when the joint venture with Socata was in place and had to withdraw, but all of the mechanical design for the control surfaces is pure Mooney, and it handles like one...  the french just refined the concept around the solid mechanicals Mooney built into the M30 prototype, and went for turbine power to make the plane perform to the initially planned 301 mph, or 280 kts which is the cruise speed of the 700A, 700B and 700C2; then came the 700N a.k.a "850".   The first time I flew my "M30", it was one of those Deja-Vu moments where I felt "I've been on this plane before", except I was sitting 3 times as high from the ground than my Acclaim, but it handles very similar to the M20 and the landing attitudes are the same.  The demo pilot at the time told me "you're a Mooney pilot, so you shouldn't have any problems handling this plane...  it flies the same way", and he was right on the money.  So, as a Mooney owner, I thank the company for getting this magnificent concept started, and that will carry the Mooney legacy to the corporate aviation world.

[donshapansky]

Roberto, I think I neglected to give you an e-mail to send me your comments on Meridian vs TBM service issues you experienced and other comments. I currently fly a Rocket and have a lot of Aerostar time ( up till now my favorite) but due to airframe age and the risk of longer term support I'm looking to change to a kerosene burner.

Don Shapansky

donshapansky@sprintmail.com

[rbharvey]

I would second that request..looking at Meridians right now....

 

Don do you want a partner? PM me if so

 

 

 

[RobertoTohme]

Quote: donshapansky

Roberto, I think I neglected to give you an e-mail to send me your comments on Meridian vs TBM service issues you experienced and other comments. I currently fly a Rocket and have a lot of Aerostar time ( up till now my favorite) but due to airframe age and the risk of longer term support I'm looking to change to a kerosene burner.

Don Shapansky

donshapansky@sprintmail.com

[RobertoTohme]

Quote: rbharvey

I would second that request..looking at Meridians right now....

 

Don do you want a partner? PM me if so