Low to the ground with the distinctive Mooney forward-swept tail, the Mooney 201 stands out when compared to retractable gear Pipers or Cessnas. (When was the last time you heard someone describe an Arrow or a 182 as “sports-car like”?)
The 201—actually an M20J, but given the 201 label because of its supposed maximum cruising speed of 201 miles per hour—looks like it’s in motion when standing still. And it has a performance reputation that goes against its sporty looks: The 201 cruises at 160 knots with a fuel burn of 11.5 gallons per hour, but you could fly at 55-percent power and burn just under 8 gallons per hour. Put 64 gallons of fuel in the tanks, and you can fly 700 miles carrying a useful load of 800 pounds.
Mooney’s M20 series of aircraft are said to be slippery airplanes to land if you’re not controlling your airspeed properly. And, with stiff rubber doughnuts instead of oleo struts, landings need to be smooth lest you risk a pilot-induced oscillation—and the Mooney’s already low-to-the-ground frame could quickly transform a PIO into a propeller strike. Much like a sports car, a Mooney can be cramped inside, particularly in the backseat.
Mooniacs don’t seem to mind those foibles, however, and they’re generous with advice to prospective owners on forums such as MooneyTalk and the Mooney Aircraft Pilots Association. For example, one owner advises considering a late model F instead of a J, with J-model aftermarket speed enhancements to broaden your purchasing options.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact the Mooney Aircraft Pilots Association.
Jill W. Tallman
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