Mooney International has announced the first customer delivery of a new M20U Ovation Ultra, marking what the company described as the latest in a series of major milestones for 2017.
In March, Mooney International announced certification of the M20U Ovation Ultra, which is powered by a normally aspirated 310-horsepower Continental IO-550-G engine, and the M20V Acclaim Ultra, powered by a twin-turbocharged 280-hp Continental TSIO-550-G-engine. Both aircraft feature new interiors, Garmin G1000 NXi avionics, composite canopies, and pilot-side doors.
Customers also may select a TKS anti-icing system manufactured by long-time Mooney supplier CAV Ice Protection that is certified for flight into known icing conditions.
The announcement did not disclose the identity of the buyer of the first production M20U Ovation Ultra, but noted that the transaction represented a new milestone for the company “as it continues to regain its leadership position in the general aviation market.”
In October, Mooney International and co-ownership company Partners in Aviation announced MooneyShares, a partnership program that could help customers become co-owners of M20U and M20V aircraft.
“This really has been quite a year so far,” said Lance Phillips, Mooney International's marketing director. “Not only have we delivered the first production Acclaim Ultra, and now the first production Ovation Ultra, but we’ve also received word that we’ve just been selected as Piston Plane of the Year by Plane & Pilot magazine. This is a tribute not only to the products themselves, but also to the men and women here at Mooney International who have dedicated themselves to ensuring an exciting future for customers, and for our company.”