Photograph:
Mooney M-20TN Acclaim VH-JEU (c/n 31-0101) at Avalon, VIC (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Four-seat light touring monoplane
Power Plant:
One 213 kw (285 hp) Teledyne Continental TSIO-550-G turbo-normalised twin-turbocharged six-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine with dual intercoolers
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.97 m (36 ft)
- Length: 8.16 m (26 ft 8 in)
- Height: 2.62 m (8 ft 6 in)
- Max speed at 7,620 m (25,000 ft): 439 km/h (273 mph)
- Rate of climb at sea level: 378 m/min (1,240 ft/min)
- Range with standard fuel with reserve: 2,677 km (1,663 miles)
- Range with optional long-range tank: 3,408 km (2,118 miles)
- Max operating ceiling: 7,620 m (25,000 ft)
- Take-off run: 293 m (960 ft)
- Fuel capacity [standard]: 378.5 litres (83 Imp gals)
- Fuel capacity [optional]: 484.5 litres (107 Imp gals)
- Loaded weight: 1,528 kg (3,368 lb)
- Useful load: 454 kg (1,000 lb)
History:
When first released to the market the Acclaim was described as the fastest, most powerful Mooney ever produced and, as the flagship of the Mooney fleet, being able to “climb quicker and provide more pulse-sounding performance” than any other aircraft in its class. Fitted with the Teledyne Continental IO-550-G engine with dual Kelly Aerospace turbochargers, driving a three-blade Hartzell propeller, it is able to maintain sea-level manifold pressure up to its service ceiling of 7,620 m (25,000 ft). It has a 25 per cent higher cruising speed than the Bravo model, is fitted with Garmin G1000 avionics and winglets, and is able to fly into known icing conditions. It is constructed with a high-strength 4130 chrome-moly steel cage for structural integrity. Seating is for four, in heated leather-wrapped chairs. The rear seats are removable to increase standard baggage capacity.
Mooney Aircraft Corp commenced operations in 1929 with Albert and Arthur Mooney at the helm, setting up production at the Bridgeport Machine Company in Wichita, Kansas. However, it closed down in 1930 and during World War II the brothers worked for other aircraft companies. In 1946 Mooney Aircraft Inc commenced operations in Kerrville, Texas and produced the Mooney Mite and later the M-20. The Company had a number of owners in the following years but in recent years has gone from strength to strength. After 2005 it increased production considerably to meet a backlog of orders, running two production shifts, production at one stage being eight aircraft per month.
The first Acclaim seen in Australasia was a demonstration aircraft imported in early 2008 by the importer, Ramsay Aviation Maintenance Services. A small number of examples have been imported since the introduction of the type, these including M-20TN VH-JSD (c/n 31-0065 – ex N103550) in May 2008 and VH-JEU (c/n 31-0101 – ex N795RA).