Pilot-Side Door, Upgraded Avionics Mark M20V Acclaim Ultra

The engineers and designers at Mooney Aircraft have apparently been busy. In a special evening event, Mooney International Corporation unveiled the latest generation of its legendary M20 aircraft for 2016. The aircraft has been designated the M20V Acclaim Ultra.

The new Acclaim Ultra features detail improvements to the overall fuselage – including a first-ever pilot door and composite-wrapped cabin, a clean-sheet interior design, and instrument panel enhancements – all of which will keep this flagship aircraft at the top of Mooney’s product line. And, with a speed of 242 kts, the new Acclaim Ultra will continue Mooney’s heritage of building the fastest production piston-engine aircraft in the world.

“Our customers love the performance and handling characteristics of the Acclaim, so for 2016, we focused on changes that will broaden our appeal to those looking for a latest generation interior, improved cabin access, and professional flight deck to go with our well-known heritage of speed,” said Jared Absher, Director of Sales and Marketing. “Most important, we took time to re-imagine the aircraft as a whole – and ensure every aspect of it was considered, from nose to tail. The result is a Mooney unlike any that has been seen before, and one that will set a new standard for many years to come,” he continued.

The new Acclaim Ultra incorporates an intelligent use of composite technology, as a smooth single-piece composite shell now wraps around the cabin area and its incredibly strong all-metal roll cage that surrounds the occupants. This new composite shell eliminates several riveted panels and allows for even tighter tolerances for the doors and windows – which will yield an even quieter cabin.

Most noticeable upon walk-up to the aircraft is the new left-side pilot door – a first for the M20 series, and a feature guaranteed to be praised by Mooney pilots and passengers worldwide – who have for many years had to make use of a single door on the right side of the aircraft. In addition, both pilot and copilot doors have been stretched in length by four inches to allow better rear-seat access and offer better visibility thanks to larger cabin windows.

Inside the new Acclaim Ultra, Mooney has taken a clean-sheet approach to the cabin with the goal of creating an ergonomically perfect interior while reducing pilot workload and increasing passenger comfort. In addition to new soft-touch switches and optimized switch locations, the new interior features an integrated Garmin flight management keypad for use with the aircraft’s G1000 system. Mid-Continent’s all-in-one stand-by instrument with four-inch displays and internal battery has also been centrally located in the panel, as have the flap, landing gear, and rudder trim controls. “In sum, we’ve kept all the great characteristics which the previous Acclaim Type S was known for,” said Tom Bowen, Chief Operations Officer, “and have now greatly improved on aesthetics, functionality and comfort with the new Acclaim Ultra.”

FAA certification is anticipated in the second quarter of this year – with first deliveries to follow shortly thereafter.

(Images provided with Mooney Aircraft news release)

FMI: www.mooney.com