Wed, Apr 05, 2006
Mooney's Vice President
of Sales and Marketing and one of the company’s demonstration
pilots established a new world record for speed over a recognized
course in an Ovation2 GX on Sunday, April 2, 2006 enroute from
Wichita, KS to Lakeland, Florida.
David Copeland, the company’s vice president of sales and
marketing, and co-pilot Justin Milam departed Wichita at 7:51 AM
and climbed directly to an altitude of 17,000 feet. They averaged
221.4 knots over the 967 mile route, landing in Lakeland at 1:12 PM
local time for a total elapsed time from lift-off to touchdown of 4
hours and 21 minutes.
The new record is the second in as many years for Mooney. A
Bravo GX flown by Mooney’s chief of flight test Paul Arambide
set a National Aeronautics Association (NAA)-sanctioned world
record between Mooney’s factory site in Kerrville, Texas and
Lakeland last year in 2 hours and 54 minutes. The details of this
year’s Wichita-Lakeland record flight have also been
submitted to the NAA for review and certification as a record for
piston powered aircraft in the 2,205-3,358 lb. category.
“This speed record underscores the outstanding performance
characteristics of the Ovation2…and makes it obvious that
Mooneys continue to set the standard for speed and performance in
their class,“ said Copeland (pictured below).
“The extended flight illustrates not only the exceptional
speed of the aircraft, but the fuel efficiency and confidence that
are part of the Mooney Ovation2’s standard package. Its
Garmin G1000 avionics suite made precise navigation easy and helped
shave time off the trip,” he added.
The record flight was accomplished with a crew of two plus
luggage and boxes of air show materials on board.
“Our average fuel burn was 11.9 gallons per hour and we
landed with 28 gallons still available. No other aircraft in their
class can match the efficiency of the Mooney products,”
Copeland stated.
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