AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2012 - 47

Those numbers are so silly they seem made up, and perhaps they are. We couldn’t reach that on our test flight, but we were at gross weight, down low, and it was a warm day. In those conditions we were seeing more like 135 knots on 7.5 gallons an hour. Either way, those are great numbers and result in about 18 nautical miles per gallon in a no-wind situation. It’s surprising that Scott, the owner of a racetrack and a former professional race-car driver, would fly at such a leisurely pace, but it does help to keep noise in the cockpit down (a common complaint of passengers, he says), and obviously he’s burning less fuel. There is another reason to fly slower, however. The M20E has the odd paradox of wanting to spend most of its life in the yellow arc. Push the airplane up past 20 inches down low, and you will accelerate—
Jens Scott’s M20E is a study in contrasts. The modern panel (upper left) and the new cowling (below) seem at odds with the vintage step crank to the left of the pilot (left).

SPECSHEET
Price when new: $18,450

1964 Mooney M20E

Price as tested: $58,000

Specifications
Powerplant ...........................Lycoming IO-360-AIA Recommended TBO ............................. 2,000 hr Propeller .......Two-blade Hartzell constant speed Length.......................................................23 ft 2 in Height ......................................................... 8 ft 4 in Wingspan......................................................... 35 ft Wing area ................................................. 172 sq ft Wing loading....................................... 14.9 lb/sq ft Power loading ....................................... 12.8 lb/hp Seats...................................................................... 4 Empty weight, as tested .......................... 1,681 lb Max gross weight...................................... 2,575 lb Useful load, as tested ................................. 894 lb Payload w/full fuel, as tested..................... 582 lb Fuel capacity, std............... 52 gal (52 gal usable) 312 lb (312 lb usable) Baggage capacity ........................................ 120 lb @ 65% power, best economy, 7,500 ft.................. ...................... 150 kt/4.2 hr (65 pph/10.9 gph) @ 55% power, best economy, 7,500 ft ............... .........................141 kt/5.1 hr (56 pph/9.3 gph) Landing distance over 50-ft obstacle .... 1,550 ft Landing distance, ground roll......................595 ft

Limiting and Recommended Airspeeds
V X (best angle of climb)..............................70 KIAS V Y (best rate of climb)................................91 KIAS VA (design maneuvering) ....................... 115 KCAS VFE (max flap extended) ........................... 87 KCAS VLE (max gear extended)........................ 104 KCAS VLO (max gear operating) Extend.................................................. 104 KCAS Retract ................................................. 104 KCAS VNO (max structural cruising).................130 KCAS VNE (never exceed) ................................. 164 KCAS VS1 (stall, clean)..........................................67 KIAS VSO (stall, in landing configuration)...........57 KIAS

Performance
Takeoff distance, ground roll....................... 760 ft Takeoff distance over 50-ft obstacle ..... 1,300 ft Rate of climb, sea level........................ 1,120 fpm Max level speed, 2,500 ft........................... 168 kt Cruise speed/endurance w/45-min rsv, std fuel @ 75% power, best economy, 7,500 ft ............... ........................ 159 kt/3.7 hr (73 pph/12.2 gph)

All specifications are based on manufacturer’s calculations. All performance figures are based on standard day, standard atmosphere, sea level, gross weight conditions unless otherwise noted.

AOPA PILOT • 47 • FEBRUARY 2012
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2012
