Billed As Fastest Normally-Aspirated Single Available
It's a new month... and with it comes a new version of the
M20 from Mooney Airplane Company. Less than 60 days after
announcing its turbonormalized Acclaim at the Lakeland Fly-In,
Mooney announced Thursday the introduction of its new
310-horsepower Ovation3.
The latest addition to the Mooney product line joins its other
single-engine retractables, the Ovation2 GX and the aforementioned
Acclaim, which took the place of the Bravo in Mooney's lineup.
"The Ovation3 is
available now," said David Copeland, Mooney's vice president of
sales and marketing. "We have already added it to the production
schedule and the first one will enter service this month. The
Ovation3 is demonstrating the type of performance that will
undoubtedly attract significant attention in the marketplace. With
a maximum cruise speed of 197 knots, it is the fastest
normally-aspirated single engine airplane available."
"It joins the Acclaim, which will enter service later this year
as the fastest turbo-normalized single, cruising in excess of 235
knots," added Copeland. "Together, these two new Mooneys allow us
to reclaim our traditional position as the manufacturers of the
fastest airplanes in their class."
Mooney reports the Ovation3 offers all the amenities and
features of its popular sibling, the Ovation2 GX, but with a higher
horsepower, normally-aspirated Teledyne Continental Motors IO
550-G/AP engine to provide improved climb and cruise performance.
Mooney reports the Ovation3 has a shorter takeoff distance, and
will cruise approximately nine knots faster, than the 280
horsepower Ovation2 GX, depending on altitude.
The Ovation3 is right in the middle of Mooney's model range --
not only in speed, but also in price. Base price of the Ovation3
will be $453,000, between the Ovation2 GX ($438,000) and the
Acclaim ($495,000).
"It doesn't take long for you to recognize the exceptional
performance of the Ovation3," said Rick Neely, Mooney's director of
domestic sales. "On a recent trip in the prototype, it was
immediately apparent that its takeoff, climb and cruise numbers are
considerably better than the highly successful Ovation2 GX. With
three passengers and a full load of fuel on board, our takeoff roll
was approximately 800 feet."
"I had a big smile on my face the whole way," he concluded.
Sounds like some new Mooney owners will soon be able to echo
that sentiment...