Mooney Question

[acpilot]

What are the differences between:

• M20C, M20C Mark 21, and M20C Ranger?
• M20E, M20E Super 21, and M20E Chapparal?
• M20F, M20F Executive 21?

I was told that the F Exec 21 was 21 inches longer, but the F and F Exec 21 are both "long body" airplanes.

Also, what's the deal with Mooney's overuse of the number "21?"

 

[stlflyguy]

The -C model was 180hp. The -E was the same airframe but with 200hp. The -F is the longer fuselage with the same 200hp as the -E. The -G is the -F fuselage with the 180hp engine.

The -F would later be cleaned up by LoPresti and evolve into the -J/-K series aircraft.

Outside of that I'm not sure what the small differences were within individual series (-C, Ranger, etc).

 

[acpilot]

Right. That's what I understood. I'm guessing the names within the C, E, and F lines are marketing names.

 

[Immelman]

Hi,

I own/operate an M20E. You will find a nice write up discussing the performance and functional differences here, under the flight test links:
http://www.mooneypilots.com/logsample.html

 

[acpilot]

Thanks for the link! I'll spend some time there for sure.

I'm looking at a C model, but how do you like the E? I've been reading that the short body Mooneys, for all pratical purposes, are two-place planes on cross country flights (5'11" to 6'3" people). Do you think that's right?

Is a 180hp Mooney underpowered? I've got about 50hrs in an F Exec 21 with the 201 mods and I loved everything about it.

 

[Immelman]

I'm looking at a C model, but how do you like the E? I've been reading that the short body Mooneys, for all pratical purposes, are two-place planes on cross country flights (5'11" to 6'3" people). Do you think that's right?

I love my E! I have about 350 hours in it now, have owned it 3 years. I have a few hours in a friend's C model as well. There is some substantial variation in performance depending on rigging and mods that they can overlap - it all depends on the airplane. A guy a few tie downs from me has a really nice clean C and recently upgraded to a blended airfoil prop which gave him an honest 5kt boost - so we run about the same speed.

I am 6'3"/175lbs and am very comfortable for long trips in it. Really I think any Mooney of that vintage will be the same up front. The stretch that appeared in the F added rear seat and baggage space.

I bought the E because its just my wife, myself, and the dog, so the size fits the mission perfectly. We did take one long trip (Central CA to Cabo San Lucas and back) a while ago with 3 of us, and it worked out fine. My wife had the back seat and a pilot friend of mine who was shorter (5'7" or so) sat in front of her allowing reasonable legroom. If you do want to take trips with folks in the back often, go for the longer body.

Is a 180hp Mooney underpowered? I've got about 50hrs in an F Exec 21 with the 201 mods and I loved everything about it.

I would not call it underpowered; an NA Piper Arrow -- now that's underpowered . However, I bet your modified F did 155+ knots, where as the typical C is a 140 knot airplane... unless you get a good one like that fellow I mentioned above with the fancy prop!