What is your ultimate mooney?

[DaV8or]

My intent with the limitations was not to keep it from being futuristic or exciting. It was just to keep it more of a fun thought exercise that would engage minds a little more than simply saying you would want an acclaim or a TBM 850. And also to keep it from turning into a bogus airplane that is outside of the realm of "reasonable" reality. ie 2500 lb useful load, 500 knot cruise on 3 gallons an hour.

 

Well, since you said we could dream about the future...

 

My vision of the future Mooney would blend the best of the past with the future. I would keep the Mooney steel cage construction with the same aluminum M20 wing and tail, complete with the tail pointing the correct way, forward of course! However in the fuselage I would go to skinning it with carbon fiber for an even more aerodynamic shape. I would put gull wing doors on both sides of the fuselage and incorporate both a lower baggage door like on a Cherokee and an upper like on the current Mooney. I would also enlarge the windows for greater visability and offer the plane in either a short, speedy two seater, or a longer more comfortable four seater.

 

I would keep the same retractable gear system laid out by Al Mooney but would offer it in both all electric, or manual. Same goes for flaps too. To reduce the weight penalty for the retractable gear, I would build the components using materials like titanium, carbon fiber and magnesium where applicable instead of steel. I woud also feature optional electric retractable boarding steps.

 

Propulsion for the Mooney of the future would come from a choice of either an economical 200 hp electric motor, or a performance oriented 300 hp electric motor. Flight noise would be reduced to the point that headsets would be completely optional and mostly used for personal music. They would be powered by twin, redundant fuel cells that could be recharged in a similar amount of time that current gasoline does. The electric variable pitch prop would be computer controled for maximum efficiency with pilot selectable performance settings from economy to climb, to go fast mode. The prop would be reversable too, so shorter landing distances and the ability to back up if needed, with the aid of a rear facing backup camera/s of course!

 

Yeah, it's a dream. I'll likely never see it, however, if the American people willed it so, it could easily happen. It's not that far out of the rhelm of reality.

[RJBrown]

I just want my Rocket,with a new panel, back. I miss you N2131NH.

[John Pursell]

6" wider, useful load of 1200 in the cabin plus fuel, TKS FIKI and AC.

John

[Awful_Charlie]

I want one that does Mach2 or more, carries everything I ever need to carry, goes in and out of 200m grass strips and burns a teaspoon of gas an hour.  Oh,  it should be cheap to buy, never need spares and be free to maintain too.  Anybody got one for sale?

 

Otherwise, back in the real world, the Bravo does me pretty well. I wish is wasn't quite so runway hungry and coped with grass/soft fields a bit better.  More useful load would occasionally be useful, and a lower fuel burn would always be nice.  Also, if we're having a new one, can we not have that annoying lower cowl cam-lock just above the nose wheel that needs its own special screwdriver to do up and undo (and even then it's still a git to get to)

[aviatoreb]

Nice idea skinning it in Carbon.

 

How about a full FADEC that would allow my rocket to run mogas, and less fuel, but otherwise still the same rocket.

 

A second door STC would be cool if it doesn't add too much weight.

[1964-M20E]

 

OK here it goes

 

1. New Production J model

2. Manual gear

3. Manual flaps

4. 200HP Delta hawk turbo diesel

5. Two doors 4" longer

6. Baggage door 4" wider.

7. Avydine 540

8. Aspen pro 1000 and steam gauges

9. mode S XPONDER

10. and other miscellaneous goodies I can't think of now

11.  all for under $160k  ok maybe this part is a pipe dream

 

My ultimate Mooney with a possible alternate power source.

 

Direct alcohol to electric fuel cell 110kW (approx. 150hp) (approx. 200lbs)

200HP DC electric motor capable of 250HP for 15minutes (for fast climbs) at 95 deg F

200HP continuous

Lithium Ion battery capable of powering the plane for 1 hour at 150HP output

Electric variable pitch prop

This would be a hybrid capable of long distance at the same speed we currently achieve in the J and Pre J models.

 

Most of this technology is here now.  Just need to work on the cost and weight.

 

We would need to get into a whole new discussion of the new LOP vs. ROP but it would be based around what motor power setting to charge, discharge, or maintain battery level after takeoff.

[carusoam]

Add the Pedator's bubble canopy to the list.... (M01’s suggestion from another thread)

Complete with an integrated sunshade for the hot days...

Best regards,

-a-