Light · ICAO M20T

Mooney M-20K 231

Mooney's turbocharged M20 variants are known for being among the fastest piston singles ever built, a reputation built on the M20's distinctive forward-swept tail fin and unusually tight, low-drag fuselage. That tight-fitting cabin trades some passenger comfort for genuine speed, letting a Mooney often outrun other piston singles with similar horsepower. Turbocharging maintains engine power at altitudes where normally aspirated rivals start losing performance, extending the type's speed advantage into thinner air. Devoted Mooney owners have long prized the type specifically for out-running competitors on cross-country trips using the same fuel.

Mooney M-20K 231, example photo from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: aeroprints.com · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Did you know?

Mooney's turbocharged M20 models are known for their forward-swept tail fin and tight, low-drag fuselage, among the fastest piston singles built.

Specifications

Length8.1 m (27 ft)
Wingspan11 m (36 ft)
Height2.5 m (8 ft)
Maximum passengers3
Persons on board4
Maximum take-off weight1.5 t
Range1,000 NM (1,852 km)
Maximum speed197 kt (365 km/h)
Stall speed57 kt (106 km/h)
Service ceiling25,000 ft (7,620 m)
Optimum ceiling21,000 ft (6,401 m)
Rate of climb1,080 ft/min (5.5 m/s)
Take-off distance372 m (1,220 ft)
Landing distance790 m (2,592 ft)
Fuel capacity360 l
Engines1x Continental TSIO-360/520

Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.

In CatchFlights

In CatchFlights the Mooney M-20K 231 starts as a Uncommon catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you.

A catch counts for the manufacturer Mooney, the M-20K 231 family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.

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