Mooney Prepares For Deliveries Of The Newest M20, This June

Despite recent turmoil that has accompanied the loss of key personnel and (just days ago) their CEO, Mooney International is touting the first flight of a production M20V Acclaim Ultra as signs that the company still has a lot going for it.

The first production M20V lifted off to begin its pre-delivery flight test program late last week, allowing Mooney's  flight test team to put the new airplane through its initial paces for just over an hour and a half.

Both the new Acclaim and Ovation Ultras received FAA certification last month - and the factory is now beginning to ramp-up to full production capacity as first deliveries of the new aircraft are scheduled to begin in June. Acclaim Ultras will be first of the series to be delivered in early summer, followed later in the year by new M20U Ovation Ultras.

Both aircraft feature improvements over previous generations. The upgrades include larger and wider pilot and co-pilot entry doors, Garmin NXi avionics, a new composite-wrapped cabin 'that retains the high level of safety' previously provided by Mooney's steel roll cage, and a speed of 242 knots -- allowing Mooney to boast that the Acclaim Ultra can claim the title of the fastest piston-engine aircraft in the world.

The Turbocharged, 280 horsepower Acclaim Ultra features retractable gear, a range of 1,275 nautical miles, and a maximum cruising altitude of 25,000 feet.

"Today's first flight of the first production Acclaim Ultra is yet another major milestone for Mooney - and for the amazing team we have here," said Lance Phillips, marketing director at Mooney International. "We've enhanced these new models in significant ways - and we're looking forward to getting them into customers' hands in the months ahead. Mooney has always brought to market the very latest generation high-performance piston-singles, and both the new Acclaim and Ovation Ultras will continue that tradition ten-fold."

FMI: www.mooney.com