Although avgas prices have abated recently, smart owners know the respite is temporary, thus economical airframes are much in demand in the current anemic market. Topping the list of economical choices is Mooneys venerable M20J or 201.
The J-model is one of those rare ideal compromises between speed, economy and payload. Its not the fastest retract on the block, but its affordable to own and easy to fly and maintain. Owners rave about their 201s, thus it was no surprise that our query for comments on the airplane drew more letters than any other
model.
History
Amazingly, even the latest speed champions from Kerrville-the Mooney Type S Acclaim-trace their heritage to the original Mooney type certificate. The basic airframe has evolved over the years, but the concept of a semi-monocoque rear fuselage mated to a metal-skinned steel-tube cabin, a long and slender tapered wing and distinctive reverse tail has endured.
The J-model evolved most directly from the F-model, which was itself descended from the short-body C-models of the mid-1970s. The first J-model or 201-the number derives from its supposed top cruising speed in MPH-appeared in 1977. It sported a 200-HP Lycoming four-banger-the IO-360-improved landing gear and a sloping windshield, among other changes. All of these were the product of a concerted effort by Mooney to kick the model line up a couple of notches.
The 201 is, to the surprise of many, very much the work of the late LeRoy LoPresti. LoPresti had a long aeronautical background, including a stint on the Apollo lunar program at Grumman. He became a near legend for his ability to get the utmost from an airplane through aerodynamic cleanups, which hed done with success on the Grumman Tiger.
Applying his magic to the M20F model, LoPresti and the Mooney team created the M20J. A number of changes were made, the most visible being a new cowling and a more aerodynamic windshield. The interior was addressed, too, with adjustable seats and a contemporary flat panel with organized electricals and circuit breakers rather than the typical dogs breakfast arrangement of the 1960s and 1970s.
The old Mooney naming conventions-Executive, Chaparral, Statesman-were chucked in favor of the top speed moniker. To be fair, it should really be more like a Mooney 184, since this model doesnt honestly cruise at 170 knots. As a marketing ploy, Mooney even went so far as to reserve as many 201 registration numbers as possible for the new airplanes. Even by 1970s standards, the 201 was a smash hit, selling more than 1000 copies in the first four years.