Why not a Mooney Acclaim Ultra?

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What a great plane, had a chance to watch Julie fly one of these. After the C172, the speed could be a game changer for us. Any Mooney fans or detractors on here? Seems it's Mooney, Cirrus, or Columbia/Cessna 400. Something about the Mooney just looks right.

But she loves the C172, neat plane and very comfortable in a lot of ways.

 

Here's a good article, although old at 2008.

https://www.planeandpilotmag.com/article/mooney-acclaim-type-s-still-the-fastest/#.WsKwkGaZM8Y

No matter what your mission profile, you’re almost certain to notice the room and comfort of the Acclaim Type S. That’s because its dimensions have always been better than most pilots realize. The myth is that Mooneys are universally cramped and compact airplanes. The myth is just that—a myth. Width at the elbows in the front seat of the Acclaim Type S is a significant 43.5 inches. To put that in perspective, it’s 1.5 inches wider than a G36 Bonanza or G58 Baron’s cabin. True, seating is more laid-back in the Mooney than in other airplanes, so the vertical dimension is admittedly shorter, but legroom is excellent, and overall comfort is better than you might expect. Baggage goes behind the rear seats in a huge compartment limited to 120 pounds.

If comfort is better than you expect, avionics sophistication is also equal to anything in the class. Mooney has embraced the Garmin G1000 dual flat-screen avionics suite, along with the Garmin G700 autopilot. The level of avionics sophistication is only slightly below that of a Gulfstream, and the Mach number is just under 0.40.

Make no mistake, no matter what its other talents, the Mooney Acclaim Type S is all about speed. It makes no compromise with comfort, yet flies behind less horsepower and still manages to go faster than anything else in its class. It’s designed for the pilot for whom nothing but the fastest will do. Roy LoPresti would be proud.

Mooney Acclaim Sets World Speed Records
Alex Coley of Jacksonville, Fla., recently set a new world speed record between San Diego, Calif., and Jacksonville in a new Mooney Acclaim. Coley, along with flight instructor Tim Wadsworth, flew from San Diego’s Lindbergh Field to Mooney’s home airport in Kerrville, Texas, refueled the airplane and people in 12 minutes and continued their flight to Craig Airport in Jacksonville. At an average speed of 265 knots, Coley and Wadsworth made the 1,848 nm transcontinental crossing in only six hours and 59 minutes.

Here at Plane & Pilot, we know a little about Mooney speed records. Back in March 1994, Senior Editor Bill Cox piloted a stock Mooney Bravo, the Acclaim’s predecessor, slightly farther (1,867 nm) from Los Angeles to Jacksonville in seven hours and nine minutes, for an average speed of 261 knots. Cox also set new, Class C1C speed marks for Los Angeles to Albuquerque (294 knots), Los Angeles to Dallas (285 knots) and Dallas to Jacksonville (258 knots). Fourteen years later, those records still stand.

 

Craddock sets world record in Mooney

FEBRUARY 23, 2009 BY JANICE WOOD

Dr. Dave Craddock has set a world speed record on a trip from Minneapolis, Minnesota to New Orleans, Louisiana, in the first production Mooney Acclaim Type S. Flying at an average speed of 333 knots with a max ground speed of 357 knots, Craddock traveled 904 nautical miles in 2 hours and 43 minutes.

The record flight, submitted to the National Aeronautics Association (NAA) for review and certification in the C-1.c category, stretched the entire length of the Mississippi River. To accomplish the world-record speed over a recognized course, Craddock flew from Crystal Airport outside of Minneapolis, did a running start at 25,000 feet and a running stop over New Orleans, descending through 11,400 feet.

“I had been watching the weather for several days via the Internet and realized that I could set a blistering record,” Craddock said. “I love flying my Mooney at 25,000 feet, and I look for opportunities to do so.”

Nicknamed the Batmobile, the Acclaim Type S is the third new Mooney for Craddock, who is a dentist from Kewanee, Illinois. As vice-president of the Flying Dentists Association, he used the Acclaim to make meetings in Minneapolis and New Orleans on January 31, along with setting the speed record. “Gone from home only 24 hours, I missed no clinic time,” he said. “I could never, ever have done that trip commercially.”

 

Big big tailwinds!

 

All three are great aircraft. Speaking of in flight breakup, has anyone ever heard of a Cirrus or Columbia break up? The only one I remember is when the chute is pulled at high speed on the Cirrus.

Imagine how fast the Mooney would be with composite design, no rivets. It's still fast and they promote the single spar design that runs from wing tip to wing tip.

Put that video up on your smart TV and watch, listen. It looks beautiful in flight. Perhaps old school but classic and graceful.

 

Cool video, do you miss it?