Mooney roll cage [cabin superstructure]

[MooneyMitch]

In the below referenced link, the Mooney VP of sales David Copeland [appears to be around 2008] states that the Mooney roll cage was developed by NASCAR.   Although NASCAR was formed in 1949, I'm not sure they were helping to develop safety items during that period.  Possibly later Mooney cage designs, such as in the long body, were enhanced with the assistance of NASCAR.  Opinions or facts please.  

[MooneyMitch]

In the video, I was waiting David to continue on about the reason for the forward facing tale........that did not happen.   According to The Al Mooney Story, written by Gordon Baxter, the vertical stabilizer [tail as described by David] was designed to keep a good airflow over the tail when the aircraft was in a nose high/low airspeed attitude. 

Possibly giving a sales speech, it may be more effective to simply point out a unique feature and leave it at that, as opposed to giving the technical description unless someone asks.  Just my opinion.   The sun is shining bright today, so off I go to the airport. 

[MooneyMitch]

In communicating with Bill Wheat, current Mooney Senior Customer support person and extremely valued Mooney historian, here is what Bill had to say about this:

"The NASCAR idea is pure fiction.  In fact the steel roll cage concept pre dates NASCAR by several decades.  

Al Mooney had several other designs that pre-date the Mooney name."

[Ned Gravel]

Which only goes to show - if you have a question about Mooney history, ask Bill Wheat. Still the most knowledgeable fount of Mooney knowledge going - and the first signature in my aircraft's log book.