Advanced Aerodynamics & Structures, Inc..

[jmhollen]

Company History

In 1946 brothers Al and Art Mooney founded Mooney Aircraft Corporation in Wichita, Kansas to certify the single-seat Mooney Mite. That was the start of a tremendous heritage of aircraft that are the legacy of this first design. In 1953 the company moved to Kerrville, Texas and since then has produced 10,505 aircraft from that factory.

Production rates have varied over the years, with a high of 767 units produced in 1966 and low of two years of suspended production in 1972-1973. In the last 5 years annual production rates have hovered just under 100 units. In 2001 Mooney produced just 28 aircraft before filing chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The new Mooney Airplane Company is now poised to capitalize on successes of the past and to build on this rich heritage that forms the substance of the brand.

The M20 design shares a common heritage of always being the fastest and comprises a family of 17 distinct models or variations (including a prototype for a two-seat military trainer). Beginning in 1955 the first M20 rolled off the line with a wooden wing & tail and a 180hp Lycoming 4-cylinder power plant. The M20C, the first all-metal Mooney, began production in 1962 and virtually all Mooneys since then have shared a common design. There have been two major modifications to the dimensions of the airframe and many more engine/propeller combinations, each to achieve optimum design criteria or performance goals.

The design has a rich history, but it is a product that has advanced with each new model such that it shares the advantages of a proven airframe combined with the latest in aerodynamic improvements and state-of-the-art capabilities.

The Mooneys produced within the last three years may look similar to older models, but the performance, feel, fit, finish and overall experience are so significantly improved that it seems like an entirely new aircraft design. This provides a distinctive advantage in the market as we continually seek for new reasons for customers to buy new aircraft.

Mooney has always led the market with innovative engineering and strong product development. Among several aviation firsts credited to Mooney are the first pressurized single-engine piston-powered aircraft (M22 Mustang), the first production aircraft to achieve 200mph on 200HP (M20J 201), the first single-engine power control certified in the US (M20L Porsche) and the first single-engine aircraft certified for flight into known icing conditions (M20M Bravo w/TKS anti-icing system). Mooneys have also repeatedly held and broken many performance records, including fastest transcontinental flight in a single-engine, piston-powered production aircraft (M20K 231) and altitude records (also in an M20K 231). The M20M Bravo currently holds the coveted position of being the fastest piston-powered aircraft currently in production (single or twin) and routinely cruises at altitudes and speeds similar to the King Air C90 (twin-engine turboprop). Mooney engineering has always focused on producing the highest performing, safest and most efficient aircraft possible.

Another Mooney hallmark, and a characteristic that has been strengthened over the years, is the capability of the aircraft. Mooneys have always been considered planes for the serious traveler, but recent developments and improvements to the aircraft create an incredibly strong performer in the current market. Among these are enhanced systems in the current aircraft as well as options available as airframe upgrades. Mooney now provides redundant electrical and vacuum systems in all aircraft as well as enhanced engine instrumentation. Airframe upgrades available include built-in Oxygen systems, air conditioning and TKS anti-icing systems (certified for flight into known icing conditions). No other competitor, with models at or even near the speeds of current Mooneys, offers these capabilities. Clearly, as acknowledged by recent comparisons of competing designs, Mooney stands out as being not only the fastest, safest and most efficient choice, they are also the best c hoice for are mission-critical trips.

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