Mooney 201 questions

[satpak77]

I am looking at Mooney 201 airplanes, due to their performance and good
fuel consumption, and had a few questions. I WAS looking at RV-8's but the wife wants a four place family truckster instead of a aerobatic machine.



1) Which model year is more desirable than other years (SB's, ADs, etc
reasons...) ?

2) Which year did the tan colored panel come out? Can an older 201 be
retrofitted with the tan panel?

3) Which autopilot is recommended? If I had two 201's side by side,
which autopilot is preferred?

etc etc

any other info on 201's is appreciated.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

I am looking at Mooney 201 airplanes, due to their performance and good
fuel consumption, and had a few questions. I WAS looking at RV-8's but the wife wants a four place family truckster instead of a aerobatic machine.

Well, as long as your kids are still very young. As you probably know that thing is pretty tight up front and in the back too. Can't fault you on wanting one though, excellent plane to fly.

 

[propsarebest]

Don't get a 201 if you want a 4 place airplane, get a 182 or something. It's too damn small in the back if your kids are over 5 or so.

 

[satpak77]

I hear you but I need 130+ knots and decent range. Kids are under 5 at this point.

 

[Mickey]

A family truckster. That sound like a C182 and not a Mooney. I have 3-400 hours in various Mooneys and would not call them trucksters. Sportster is more like it. That said, the C182 is a great family machine. The kids will keep growing and you will be hauling stuff. Ease of entry, good view, 135-150kts depending on the model, fixed gear.... the list goes on. C182.

 

[mtrv]

Since you've had thoughts of an RV-8, you could always build a four place RV-10.

http://www.vansaircraft.com/public/rv-10int.htm

see the performance numbers

 

[Knob]

Start looking at a 231. It will carry 4 people, cruise at 165 kts @13 GPH and has a service ceiling of 24000'. It also carries 5 hours of fuel. It may cost a little more than a 201, but the turbocharged performance is worth it! And you'll smoke the C182 everybody likes so much. A 201 is going to be too small for a family. I am a partner in a 231 and would recommend this aircraft to anyone that travels in small a/c alot.

 

[Gorilla]

Start looking at a 231. It will carry 4 people, cruise at 165 kts @13 GPH and has a service ceiling of 24000'. It also carries 5 hours of fuel. It may cost a little more than a 201, but the turbocharged performance is worth it! And you'll smoke the C182 everybody likes so much. A 201 is going to be too small for a family. I am a partner in a 231 and would recommend this aircraft to anyone that travels in small a/c alot.

Interesting... I thought the 231 was a 201 (same dimensions and seating for both) with a different powerplant. Not true?

 

[typhoonpilot]

Start looking at a 231. It will carry 4 people, cruise at 165 kts @13 GPH and has a service ceiling of 24000'. It also carries 5 hours of fuel. It may cost a little more than a 201, but the turbocharged performance is worth it! And you'll smoke the C182 everybody likes so much. A 201 is going to be too small for a family. I am a partner in a 231 and would recommend this aircraft to anyone that travels in small a/c alot.

I would disagree with the above. Unless you live on the west coast and do a lot of mountain flying the 231 doesn't make sense. It has significantly higher maintenance and operating costs over the 201.

The 201 is tight for space if you're fat, but not if you are tall and skinny. Most people who look at the back seats of a 201 do so without someone who has already gotten in the front seat and ran it up far enough for them to reach the rudder pedals. Once that is done there is a fair amount of room in the back seat.

The 201 is a great machine and would certainly be my choice for personal aircraft. That said, the arguments for the C-182 shouldn't go unheeded. It's a fantastic all around machine as well. It is all going to come down to your exact mission profile and budget.

These are the guys to talk to in regards to specific maintenance questions.


Typhoonpilot

P.S. The early 80s models of the 201 are good.

 

[Flyin Tony]

201 would be fine. Never had a problem getting 4 people in a M20E. Lots faster then a 182

 

[Waldom]

Get an insurance quote comparison for comparable Mooney 201s and Cessna 182s. You will find this an enlightening exercise.

 

[Knob]

The 231 is a bit larger than the 201-not sure of the exact dimensions. The 231 is what is referred to as the "long body" mooney because of the extra length of the fuselage. The only additonal mx for a 231 comes at engine overhaul time, our last rebuild cost $35K. It is cheaper to operate on a day to day basis than a 182, at 13 gph- I don't remember what the fuel burn is on a 182 but both are great planes. Just depends on how fast you want to get there!

 

[Choppy]

Airplane

Take a look at the Comanchee 260's. Fast, cheap, and a lot of bang for the buck!!

 

[imacdog]

I have about 30 hours in an M20J and loved flying it. I actually found it quite comfortable, and the flying characteristics are great. I have also ridden in the back of one and didn't find it that bad for a couple hour flight. If I was looking for something to haul four full sized adults plus gear and fuel I'd go with a 182 (I flew one part 135 and we could fill the plane no problem), but for a speedster the Mooney is a great choice.

 

[propsarebest]

Good choice on the Comanche, but I would stick to the 260B only- most refined of the lot, and STAY AWAY from the Comanche 400.

 

[Immelman]

I have just a handful of hours in an M20C and 231 belonging to a friend of mine. I'm the tall skinny type and was very comfortable flying both. Realize that mooney's did get longer somewhere through the years making the rear seats somewhat feasible (as compared to the older models such as the C).

I really do hope to buy one someday soon; the thing is though my traveling will be my wife and I, and maybe a dog... no need for the extra capacity of a 182.

I don't recall numbers but my friend with the 231 mentioned that after a few months of initial time building the insurance bill went down significantly; sorry, I wish I had specific numbers.. but it didn't seem all that bad when he was explaining it to me at the time.

 

[JimNtexas]

If you plan to routinely carry three or four people do yourself and especially your pax a favor, and get a Cessna Cardinal RG instead of a Mooney.

Mooneys are great for pilots, but they are hell on pax. Passengers love the Cardinal, and won't mind giving up a few knots in speed for the Buick like comfort and scenicruiser visiblity of the Cardinal, compared to the MG-TC seating and nuclear sub visibility of the Mooney's back seat.

The Cardinal flies like a real airplane, nothing like any other single engine Cessna.

 

[satpak77]

hmm thanks for the info guys

 

[propsarebest]

Cardinal RG is nice, but watch out for the doors, fuel caps, and STAY AWAY from the early year models.

 

[gfvalvo]

6 Seats

Since everyone else is throwing in their $0.02, I'd say if you want to carry 4 people and a reasonable amount of luggage in comfort then the answer is a Cherokee 6. Especially if 2 of those passengers are kids who you expect will grow.