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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 06, 2006 CONTACT:
Dave Franson
Mooney Public Relations
316.641.6766
dfranson1@cox.net
NEW 310 HORSEPOWER UPGRADE NOW AVAILABLE FOR MOONEY M20S & M20R MODELS upplemental Type Certificate for Modification obtained by Midwest M20 Mooney
Kerrville, Texas— Mooney Airplane Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Mooney Aerospace Group, Ltd. (OTC BB: MNYG) has begun offering operators of its Mooney M20R and M20S models a retrofit program which increases the output of their Teledyne Continental IO-550 G engines to 310 horsepower at 2700 rpm. The optional power increase became available after Midwest M20 Mooney of Flora, Illinois and PowerLite LLC, a subsidiary of AvPower LLC, obtained a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the adaptation from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Midwest M20 has authorized the installation of the 310 BHP modification only at Mooney’s Factory Service Center (FSC) in Kerrville, Texas and at its Flora facility.
“This mod expands the list of available improvements we’re providing to loyal Mooney operators as part of our commitment to continually identify and respond to their needs,” said Al Nitchman, vice president of customer support for Mooney. “Midwest M20 Mooney obtained the STC for the original Scream ‘N Eagle, which increased the installed power for the M20S Eagle from 244 BHP to 280 BHP and provided for the installation of a Hartzell Scimitar three-bladed propeller. This latest STC extends the power increase up to 310 BHP for both the M20R and M20S models, making them comparable to both the Cirrus SR22 and the Columbia 300/350, as well,” he added.
Nitchman also noted that this modification increases static thrust by approximately 70 percent over the Ovation with its standard 280 BHP and two-bladed propeller. The three-bladed propeller also diminishes landing “float.” “The STC will also shorten the airplane’s takeoff distance by as much as 55 percent for the M20S and improve its rate of climb by approximately 300 feet per minute. That will translate into better overall point-to-point performance by allowing the airplane to reach and operate longer at more efficient altitudes,” he pointed out.
“Because it makes such a difference in takeoff and climb performance, this modification is especially attractive to Mooney owners who operate out of short, unimproved airstrips,” noted powerplant engineer Bob Minnis, of AvPower, LLC, which worked with Midwest M20 Mooney in satisfying the requirements of the STC. “It makes a difference enroute, too, because it allows the airplane to cruise at 75% power up to an altitude of approximately 10,500 feet, three thousand feet higher than it could before this STC modification was available. And, because the air gets thinner as you go higher, that can translate into an additional 2 to 3 knots of speed per each thousand feet of altitude while burning the same amount of fuel,” he explained.
The modification, which will apply to approximately 383 M20R and M20S aircraft currently in the active fleet, also allows the M20S’s takeoff weight to be increased to the same as the M20R’s—3368 pounds. Thanks to credits applied for the previous STC, it will be priced at $ 20,000 for the Scream’N Eagle, $25,000 for the 310BHP upgrade for M20R and M20S models equipped with two bladed propellers (because of the necessity to change to a three bladed propeller), and $17,500 for the 310BHP for models already equipped with three bladed Hartzell propellers. The required changes can be accomplished during a regularly scheduled maintenance visit to Midwest M20 Mooney or the Mooney Factory Service Center (FSC) in Kerrville, or by separate appointment. Interested operators can call the FSC at 1-800-456-3033 or Midwest M20 at 618-662-3377 for scheduling information.
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