Mon, Feb 23, 2009
Minneapolis To New Orleans Flight In Under Three Hours
The first production Mooney Acclaim Type S, owned and piloted by
Dr. Dave Craddock, was flown to set a world speed record on a trip
from Minneapolis, Minnesota to New Orleans, Louisiana. Flying at an
average ground speed of 333 knots (383 mph) with a max ground speed
of 357 knots (410 mph), Dr. Craddock traveled 904 nautical miles
(1040 sm) in 2 hours and 43 minutes.
The record flight, submitted to the National Aeronautics
Association (NAA) for review and certification in the C-1.c
category, spanned the entire length of the Mississippi River. To
accomplish the world-record speed over a recognized
course, Craddock departed Crystal Airport outside of
Minneapolis, did a running start over MSP at 25,000 feet and a
running stop over New Orleans descending through 11,400 feet.
"I had been watching the weather for several days via the
internet and realized that I could set a blistering record,"
Craddock said. "I love flying my Mooney Acclaim Type S at 25,000
feet, and I look for opportunities to do so."
Nicknamed the Batmobile, the Acclaim Type S is the third new
Mooney for Craddock, a dentist from Kewanee, IL. As Vice-President
of the Flying Dentists Association, Dave used the Acclaim to make
meetings in Minneapolis and New Orleans on January 31 along with
setting the speed record.
"Gone from home only 24 hours, I missed no clinic time,"
Craddock noted. "I could have never, ever done that trip
commercially."
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