I agree that the higher landing speed and better wing efficiency of the early year M20 should make a landing like this much easier. I have always wanted a Mooney M20 but pilots don't tend to dump their early year models, at least out in CA. Great video
@SweetFantasyGirl now is the time to buy! I've never seen prices this low with so many people having trouble making payments and needing to get rid of their aircraft at fire sale prices. On the other hand, airplanes on the lower end of the price scale may already be paid off, and thus less likely to be a burden on their owners. But still I have been startled at the prices I've seen on A, B, and C model Mooney aircraft recently.
Remember: "KEEP THY AIRSPEED UP LESS THE GROUND WILL RISE UP AND SMITE THEE!" The higher the performance of the aircraft means there will be less pilots with the abiltiy to fly them. You can stall the Cessna 182 with the undercambered leading edge on the wing 8 to 10 times a minute. I wouldn't try that with a Mooney.
When you get in ground effect the Mooney tends to float because of it's great laminar flow wing. The secret to good landings in a Mooney is when you are a foot or less from the runway in ground effect just put the flaps up and it will settle gently onto the runway. I flew all the Mooneys made in the sixties. My favorite was the Super 21.
Crab looked good, but a bit heavy but not hard landing for a Mooney. Too hard for me anyway. I have a 68 Mooney M20c Ranger, cross wind factor is good on Mooney,s just a myth though that they are hard to fly or land, I have flown all pipers til now, and this is my first Mooney (retract-able) only 30 hrs on it. But a great machine to fly,
What a fun video! And the best airplane in the world that is for sure. Check out our Mooney Ambassador group either on Youtube or Facebook, We would love to have you!
Actually I wouldn't say it was a tense landing at all. The model is right there in the title, an M20A. The Mooney line has an undeserved reputation amongst the unknowing for being "difficult to land". I hoped to show with this video that the reputation is just plain wrong. Because it lands slightly faster than trainers, and the wing is highly efficient, it requires more exacting speed control than your typical flight school trainer, but at no time was my underwear in danger.
If someone makes a comment about "the Mooney", you need to ask what year and model, because a "short body" 1960 M20A handles very differently than a 1/2 million dollar 2009 Mooney Acclaim.
The early Mooney will not drop out of the sky and in fact has about a 12:1 glide ratio clean with the prop at course pitch. When landing, it is important to have the numbers nailed, or else it will float longer down the runway than Cessna/Piper/Beech, because it has a more efficient wing.
@sherlock72 I've been instructing in a variety of Mooneys for almost 10 years now. The Mooney wing "breaks" much quicker than a Cessna or Piper. As a result speed is more important. If you get a C-182 too slow it will slowly increase decent rate, but in a Mooney it would drop more quickly. You just need to manage your airspeed carefully.
nice job!
fastone93 5 months ago
I agree that the higher landing speed and better wing efficiency of the early year M20 should make a landing like this much easier. I have always wanted a Mooney M20 but pilots don't tend to dump their early year models, at least out in CA. Great video
Candace
SweetFantasyGirl 9 months ago
@SweetFantasyGirl now is the time to buy! I've never seen prices this low with so many people having trouble making payments and needing to get rid of their aircraft at fire sale prices. On the other hand, airplanes on the lower end of the price scale may already be paid off, and thus less likely to be a burden on their owners. But still I have been startled at the prices I've seen on A, B, and C model Mooney aircraft recently.
BigDTexas 9 months ago
Remember: "KEEP THY AIRSPEED UP LESS THE GROUND WILL RISE UP AND SMITE THEE!" The higher the performance of the aircraft means there will be less pilots with the abiltiy to fly them. You can stall the Cessna 182 with the undercambered leading edge on the wing 8 to 10 times a minute. I wouldn't try that with a Mooney.
navajopa31 1 year ago
When you get in ground effect the Mooney tends to float because of it's great laminar flow wing. The secret to good landings in a Mooney is when you are a foot or less from the runway in ground effect just put the flaps up and it will settle gently onto the runway. I flew all the Mooneys made in the sixties. My favorite was the Super 21.
navajopa31 1 year ago
Beautiful crab.
FlickerCityPro 2 years ago
Crab looked good, but a bit heavy but not hard landing for a Mooney. Too hard for me anyway. I have a 68 Mooney M20c Ranger, cross wind factor is good on Mooney,s just a myth though that they are hard to fly or land, I have flown all pipers til now, and this is my first Mooney (retract-able) only 30 hrs on it. But a great machine to fly,
Britfiftyfive 1 year ago
Perfect!! You have a helluva lot more experience than me, that goes without saying! Thanks for posting!
galoon 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
What a fun video! And the best airplane in the world that is for sure. Check out our Mooney Ambassador group either on Youtube or Facebook, We would love to have you!
jolielucas 2 years ago
When you have both, ATIS and a windsock to let you know the wind conditions, here's my advice: ALWAYS TRUST THE WINDSOCK!!!
fabriciorechy 2 years ago
Good job!
atvmaster281 2 years ago
standing on the rudder for sure thats a white knckeld undie scaper with out a doubt,Awsome performance A-,btw witch model is your mooney?
smr1967 2 years ago
Actually I wouldn't say it was a tense landing at all. The model is right there in the title, an M20A. The Mooney line has an undeserved reputation amongst the unknowing for being "difficult to land". I hoped to show with this video that the reputation is just plain wrong. Because it lands slightly faster than trainers, and the wing is highly efficient, it requires more exacting speed control than your typical flight school trainer, but at no time was my underwear in danger.
BigDTexas 2 years ago
@BigDTexas
A bit more of a dropped wing and crossed controls would have done good probably...
pilotfk 1 year ago
@BigDTexas A Mooney IS a trainer.....
SRMeadows 10 months ago
Excellent video. Is It so that the Mooney has a tendency to "drop out of the sky" If you cut the engine to early on landing???
sherlock72 2 years ago
If someone makes a comment about "the Mooney", you need to ask what year and model, because a "short body" 1960 M20A handles very differently than a 1/2 million dollar 2009 Mooney Acclaim.
The early Mooney will not drop out of the sky and in fact has about a 12:1 glide ratio clean with the prop at course pitch. When landing, it is important to have the numbers nailed, or else it will float longer down the runway than Cessna/Piper/Beech, because it has a more efficient wing.
BigDTexas 2 years ago
@sherlock72 I've been instructing in a variety of Mooneys for almost 10 years now. The Mooney wing "breaks" much quicker than a Cessna or Piper. As a result speed is more important. If you get a C-182 too slow it will slowly increase decent rate, but in a Mooney it would drop more quickly. You just need to manage your airspeed carefully.
RobertGary1 1 year ago
awesome video, thx for sharing!
sauerbua 2 years ago
Very Nice Piloting, Dave!!
Outlaw1257 3 years ago
Great approach!
javierf55 3 years ago
Comment removed
markmimp 3 years ago