bd32322 Posted March 21, 2013 Report Posted March 21, 2013 Why would I buy a later model year 231 converted to a rocket versus an earlier model year 231 also converted to a rocket? Fewer ADs? Newer airframe - but does that matter (we are talking 1979 frame versus maybe 1987) What else do you guys think are the differences? Thanks in advance Quote
KSMooniac Posted March 21, 2013 Report Posted March 21, 2013 The newer airframes will likely have all of the "better" aero mods that were introduced in the early 80's, and especially better seats. Those may or may not matter to you... The 1987 might have round windows, which I like but was unwilling to spend a lot of money for a conversion on my '77 when I painted her a few years ago. Quote
N601RX Posted March 21, 2013 Report Posted March 21, 2013 http://www.mooneyevents.com/201hist.xls http://www.mooneyevents.com/chrono.htm Quote
bd32322 Posted March 21, 2013 Author Report Posted March 21, 2013 The newer airframes will likely have all of the "better" aero mods that were introduced in the early 80's, and especially better seats. Those may or may not matter to you... The 1987 might have round windows, which I like but was unwilling to spend a lot of money for a conversion on my '77 when I painted her a few years ago. http://www.mooneyevents.com/201hist.xlshttp://www.mooneyevents.com/chrono.htm Ksmooniac - yeah I dont care about round windows much unless its a long body mooney. Rounding the windows on the short body makes the windows appear much smaller in my opinion. 601rx - mucho thanks for those links! Quote
carusoam Posted March 21, 2013 Report Posted March 21, 2013 Wing tips got aero finished somewhere along the way??? Is there a MGTOW change as the Js have from older to newer??? Thinking out loud, not expert advice by any means... Best regards, -a- Quote
gjkirsch Posted March 21, 2013 Report Posted March 21, 2013 the 231 was produced from 1979 to 1985 and then the 252 started in 1986. Model years 1984 and 1985 had enclosed wheel fairings that are supposed to be worth a few knots and you may find a KFC150 with preselect for the autopilot. If I recall correctly, the back seats were the new design that split, reclined, and were removable. 1 Quote
M016576 Posted March 22, 2013 Report Posted March 22, 2013 Ksmooniac - yeah I dont care about round windows much unless its a long body mooney. Rounding the windows on the short body makes the windows appear much smaller in my opinion. 601rx - mucho thanks for those links! I agree- I like the square window look better... Rounded ones always looked a bit funny to me... Kind of like a wannabe Gulfstream passenger look. I prefer the more square "Learjet cockpit window" look.... Then again, I also like the more square look of the Corvalis's windows, which probably aren't that popular either! Quote
RJBrown Posted March 22, 2013 Report Posted March 22, 2013 Three groups of K models. 1979 is alone, the rest of the 231 and 252s. 1979 is a year by its self. They came with non digital King radios. Clunk clunk radios instead of flip flop radios. They came without oxygen. 80 and on the differences were minor. Better rear seat in 84-85 . Earlier planes came in worse colors but like panels most have been modernized. Very few 252s became Rockets, airframe cost difference were much more then and the improvement was not as great. Quote
Parker_Woodruff Posted March 22, 2013 Report Posted March 22, 2013 Come to think of it, I don't think that I have ever seen a '77 Missile. Surely there are some out there, though? Jim I know of at least one. Quote
carusoam Posted March 22, 2013 Report Posted March 22, 2013 The IO 550 makes a great, well proven, power plant. Whatever airframe you put it in, is your choice. If you like the 201 you have already, it sounds good. Price and availability will be two important questions. Best regards, -a- Quote
KSMooniac Posted March 22, 2013 Report Posted March 22, 2013 Unfortunately Rocket is no longer doing Missle/Rocket conversions on Mooneys, but at least they are still supporting the existing fleet. When Mooney released the Ovation and TLS/Bravo, it sorta killed the demand for their conversions. I wonder what it would cost to do one today... Quote
carusoam Posted March 22, 2013 Report Posted March 22, 2013 Engine/prop + mount + cowling + paperwork > $60 k Issues... Cowling belonged to a K? Engines and props were from existing twin Cessnas? Mount? Result...very fast NA SE retractable plane. Probably would prefer a TopProp to go with that, but the feathering prop gives a good glide ratio... The O3 has refinements that people like as well. Best regards, -a- Quote
KSMooniac Posted March 23, 2013 Report Posted March 23, 2013 Yeah, I bet a solid J airframe with updated avionics and a runout engine + IO-550 conversion = spittin' distance from an M20R ready to go. Quote
RJBrown Posted March 23, 2013 Report Posted March 23, 2013 Unfortunately Rocket is no longer doing Missle/Rocket conversions on Mooneys, but at least they are still supporting the existing fleet. When Mooney released the Ovation and TLS/Bravo, it sorta killed the demand for their conversions. I wonder what it would cost to do one today... Mooney did not do anything that affected Rockets market. Conrad figured out that he could make the same money doing one Malibu/JetProp conversion as it had taken12 Mooneys to make. Demand was fine. Quote
aviatoreb Posted March 23, 2013 Report Posted March 23, 2013 Mooney did not do anything that affected Rockets market. Conrad figured out that he could make the same money doing one Malibu/JetProp conversion as it had taken12 Mooneys to make. Demand was fine. But then why not expand his business and take his $12 fromt he Malibu folks AND his $1 from the Mooney folks? Quote
bumper Posted March 23, 2013 Report Posted March 23, 2013 But then why not expand his business and take his $12 fromt he Malibu folks AND his $1 from the Mooney folks? I'll hazard a guess. Maybe, Conrad, having foresight, wanted to avoid one day be considered rich and evil by the BO administration?? bumper Quote
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