Can a Mooney M20 be a good budget airplane?

[flyingcheesehead]

If you are under 7 feet tall, you won’t be able to see over the glare shield.

FWIW, I'm 6'4" and I can see over the glareshield on the ground - but the first bit of taxiway centerline I can see is probably 10 yards in front of the plane. Mooneys sit a little bit nose up on the ground - Mine is 4.5º and I think that might apply to all of them, so it does feel like you see less, but once you're flying the nose will be lower and easier to see over.

Weight and balance is a problem if you don’t have at least 1,000 lbs of weight between you and your passenger.

Again, taking your humor and putting some reality along with it to hopefully be useful: I believe the early Mooneys tended towards being nose heavy; they had the battery on the firewall. When they made the long body Mooneys (M20L and later), the extra engine weight necessitated a change, and what they did was to move the battery into the tail. That wasn't quite enough, so they added a second battery. But, as with any aircraft, it's worth asking about the empty weight and CG and running some scenarios to make sure it'll work well for you.

The cup holders are sized and shaped for Jack Daniel’s bottles.

Um. Cup holders? Mine's a baby (1997) and I don't have cup holders. Or at least, not anything I recognized as a cup holder, I'll keep an eye out for the Jack Daniels holders.

If you have never been cut from a World’s Strongest Man competition for your out-of-this-world strength, you won’t be able to handle the control forces.

Heh... It's a very solid, stable ride. It's the closest to the cliché "flies like it's on rails" that I've experienced in this size of airplane.

There is a big difference between the control forces at cruise and in slow flight, because there's a big speed difference between the two.

More seriously, the M20 is popular for a reason. In certified land, you can fly faster than a Mooney and you can fly for less money than a Mooney, but if you are comfortable in the seat you will probably never go faster for less money. The NASCAR strength crash cage, simple systems, sports car control feel, and all the other unique Mooney features are icing on the cake.

That is a great description. Practically speaking, what I always say is that, departing from Wisconsin, I'm fast enough that I can beat the airlines anywhere east of the Rockies, yet my cost per mile is lower than a 172. It's a great traveling machine, but it's still cheap enough to fly that I can go poke holes in the sky for fun without worrying about what it costs.

I definitely can't go any faster without spending a LOT more money.

 

[bflynn]

If your arm can't get it down, is there enough room to use your leg?

If you can get your leg there, go for it.

 

[MIFlyer]

People love the Mooneys and it sounds like a good fit for you. One other alternative is an early Bonanza. There are different things to watch for, but you can get a very nice plane within your budget.

I got one with 100 hours on a 260hp motor, decent original paint and interior, and a 25 year old panel for less than you're talking about. It's a 145-155 kt plane on 11 GPH, or you can pull it back. Relatively simple systems for a retract and an enthusiastic community.

With any of these old planes, it will help if you're curious about what to watch for and what maintenance to stay ahead of. I'm one year into owning my C35 Bonanza and love it.

 

[Lama1125]

I know of a M20B for sale in Middle TN. engine and prop are over time but compressions are fine and no metal in filter. Basic VFR panel, paint is rough, interior is newer. 25k. no damage history that we could dig up and sat for a while in a heated hangar.

 

[Dave Palacios]

People love the Mooneys and it sounds like a good fit for you. One other alternative is an early Bonanza. There are different things to watch for, but you can get a very nice plane within your budget.

I got one with 100 hours on a 260hp motor, decent original paint and interior, and a 25 year old panel for less than you're talking about. It's a 145-155 kt plane on 11 GPH, or you can pull it back. Relatively simple systems for a retract and an enthusiastic community.

With any of these old planes, it will help if you're curious about what to watch for and what maintenance to stay ahead of. I'm one year into owning my C35 Bonanza and love it.

I don't own a moony but have flown one a couple of times in a demo flight. What i do know about them is 1) few owners would change brands 2) slick, fast, efficient well designed 3) in operation, economical 4) not a favorite with some mechanics. very tight to work on, this puts maintenance cost a bit higher than average 172, cherokee etc. they also require special tools that some mechanics may not have so the owner may have to purchase the tools. That being said there are no oleo struts to service or wire rope control cables to rig, all push pull tubes. Jacking them up is a little different too. The maintenance manual used to instruct putting a special yoke under the propeller to hold the nose up, latter they realised that not too good for the prop so an engine host is used for that now. Initial buy in can be steep for a real nice one.

 

[Doc Holliday]

I know of a M20B for sale in Middle TN. engine and prop are over time but compressions are fine and no metal in filter. Basic VFR panel, paint is rough, interior is newer. 25k. no damage history that we could dig up and sat for a while in a heated hangar.

That $25k airplane has the potential to cost over $75k to get flying. And what does a similar model year with a mid time engine and in annual and flying cost to buy?

 

[Lama1125]

That $25k airplane has the potential to cost over $75k to get flying. And what does a similar model year with a mid time engine and in annual and flying cost to buy?

Not sure on pricing but it did just go through an annual and has several items replaced or repaired. Fuel tank seals, new exhaust system, new oil cooler and lines, newer shock pucks, new tires and tubes and a couple other things I can't remember off the top of my head. Engine runs great and had really good compression. Just an option for someone to look at. I can't post an add because I don't have the required messages to do so.

 

[Caractacus]

I hear them Mooney boys unload the Gs a bit to help with gear retraction.

In my experience, that helps a lot. I am by no means an example of peak physical prowess, but my arm strength is reasonable and it takes considerable effort to lower the Johnson bar if you're not in a fairly level attitude. Forget about it if you're approaching 100mph, I don't know what level of upper body strength would be required to get it down at that speed but it's well beyond me.

 

[DMD3.]

I have owned four Mooneys. I currently own an RV. For simple, fast, fun, VFR flying without the need for more than two seats, RV is the answer.

Would you say this is true for a non-mechanically inclined pilot? Whether I get certified or experimental, I’m paying someone to work on my plane. I’m familiar with RVs but thought I’d look into Mooneys as well.

 

[eman1200]

Would you say this is true for a non-mechanically inclined pilot? ....

I mean if @Jim K can do it I KID, I KID

 

[KLRDMD]

Would you say this is true for a non-mechanically inclined pilot? Whether I get certified or experimental, I’m paying someone to work on my plane. I’m familiar with RVs but thought I’d look into Mooneys as well.

Regardless of who does the work, an RV is a simpler airplane that may be maintained more cheaply than a Mooney. Also, the condition inspection (annual) may be performed by an A&P that does not have an IA.

 

[Rcmutz]

For your mission, skip the headache of retract and insurance and get a Tiger! TAS 135Kts at 7-8000 ft. 900 lb useful, remove the back seat and fold the seat down for a station wagon size baggage compartment, all on 10 gph.

 

[William Pete Hodges]

If you are under 7 feet tall, you won’t be able to see over the glare shield. Weight and balance is a problem if you don’t have at least 1,000 lbs of weight between you and your passenger. The cup holders are sized and shaped for Jack Daniel’s bottles. If you have never been cut from a World’s Strongest Man competition for your out-of-this-world strength, you won’t be able to handle the control forces. Al Mooney built these planes for his own physique, so make sure you measure up before you buy one.

More seriously, the M20 is popular for a reason. In certified land, you can fly faster than a Mooney and you can fly for less money than a Mooney, but if you are comfortable in the seat you will probably never go faster for less money. The NASCAR strength crash cage, simple systems, sports car control feel, and all the other unique Mooney features are icing on the cake.

Sorry but I don't agree. I'm 5'10" and I don't have any trouble seeing over the glare shield.

 

[iamtheari]

Sorry but I don't agree. I'm 5'10" and I don't have any trouble seeing over the glare shield.

It's hard to be certain, but I don't think I was being serious in most of that post. It's based on various Al Mooney* facts** posted*** on POA over the years. He was the only man who could hand-prop a Trent 900.

* See also Chuck Norris and Bill Brasky.
** Not facts, actually. That other thing.
*** Mostly by me, but I appreciate all others' contributions to my efforts to throw ChatGPT off the trail before it becomes self-aware.

 

[M20K]

Sorry but I don't agree. I'm 5'10" and I don't have any trouble seeing over the glare shield.

The being tall wrap on Mooneys has to do with long legs or not. I think Al had long legs and probably a pretty standard torso. I remember the glare shield being a little higher/a bit different than the Pipers I flew before, but I don't have any problem looking over it either. But when I got my Mooney it did not have the peddle extensions, and that I noticed!

 

[MooneyDriver78]

The seating position in a Mooney is like a sports car, low and legs extended, it’s not like a SUV. Because of this, some people don’t like it, it can be a bit awkward getting in and out. With a 33” inseam I set the seat to 2nd to rearward position and need to point my toes to apply the brakes.

 

[William Pete Hodges]

It's hard to be certain, but I don't think I was being serious in most of that post. It's based on various Al Mooney* facts** posted*** on POA over the years. He was the only man who could hand-prop a Trent 900.

* See also Chuck Norris and Bill Brasky.
** Not facts, actually. That other thing.
*** Mostly by me, but I appreciate all others' contributions to my efforts to throw ChatGPT off the trail before it becomes self-aware.

My mistake. Apologies.

 

[theplanesalon]

I've owned several Mooneys in my time. Today, I own a Mooney Mite, an M20E (fuel injected, manual Johnson landing gear retraction), and a K model (252/262).

One of the factory test pilots was....6'5? I think he went to work for American Aircraft selling mooneys. No issues flying in a Mooney for him. Don Kaye, a good friend who has well over 11,000 hours flying them, isn't short either.

They can be very economical to fly and inexpensive to maintain - if they're a short body. Mid bodies / electric landing gear have a few surprises. It all depends.

Here's a picture of my E-model before it was finished being painted - I'll probably be selling it one of these days. No wet wing - it has bladders. 600hrs SMOH, and around 2000 TTAF...we did the interior a couple of months ago...