General Aviation

Mooney M20c

Manufacturer: MOONEY

The Mooney M20 is a family of four‑seat, low‑wing, piston‑powered aircraft built by Mooney International. First flown in 1953, the series has evolved through many variants, offering high cruise speeds, efficient fuel use, and a distinctive tail design. Over 11,000 units have been produced across three production runs, with the latest model, the M20V Acclaim Ultra, entering service in 2016.

Aircraft Facts

Type Key
mooney-m20c
Class
General Aviation
Registry Count
1,256
Example Registration
N101T

Specifications

Wingspan
11.13 m / 36 ft
Length
8.13 m / 26 ft
Height
2.54 m / 8 ft
Max Speed
448 km/h / 278 mph
Cruise Speed
324 km/h / 201 mph
Range
2000 km / 1100 nmi
Ceiling
7600 m / 25000 ft
First Flight
1953-09-03
Production Start
1955
Production End
1971
Total Built
11000

Aircraft Overview

History

Mooney began developing the M20 in the early 1950s after the single‑seat M‑18 Mite. The first prototype flew on 3 September 1953 and received FAA certification on 24 August 1955. Early models used wooden wings and tails, but a 1958 redesign replaced them with aluminum. The 1960s introduced the all‑metal M20B and the high‑performance M20C Ranger. The 1970s brought the turbocharged M20K 231, and the 1980s saw the TLS (M20M) and M20R Ovation. Production halted in 2008, resumed in 2014, and ended in 2019.

Design

All M20s are low‑wing, all‑metal aircraft with slotted flaps covering 70 % of the trailing edge. The forward fuselage uses a steel‑tube cabin structure covered in aluminum, while the aft fuselage is semi‑monocoque. Flush‑mounted rivets reduce drag, and the landing gear is retractable on all models except the M20D Master. The tail has a distinctive vertical fin and a pivoting horizontal stabilizer for pitch trim. Fuel is stored in two wet‑wing tanks and fed by an engine‑driven pump with an electric boost backup.

Variants

Key variants include the original wooden‑wing M20, the all‑metal M20B, the high‑speed M20C Ranger, the turbocharged M20K 231, the TLS (M20M) with a 270‑hp Lycoming, the M20R Ovation, and the modern M20U Ovation Ultra and M20V Acclaim Ultra.

Operations

As of 2017, 6,748 M20s were registered in the United States, with additional registrations in Canada, the UK, and Australia. The aircraft is popular for private ownership, flight training, and light business use. In 2017, pilot Brian Lloyd flew an M20K 231 around the world.

Notable Facts

  • First M20 prototype flew on 3 September 1953.
  • The M20C Ranger introduced a 33‑degree maximum flap angle.
  • The M20K 231 was the first M20 variant with a six‑cylinder engine.
  • Production was halted in 2008 but resumed in 2014 after new investment.
  • The M20V Acclaim Ultra entered service in 2016.

Variants

  • M20C- 1,256 registrations - Example N101T

Machine-Readable Resources

Sources