M20 family | |
---|---|
General information | |
Type | Personal use civil aircraft |
Manufacturer | Mooney International Corporation |
Designer | |
Status | Production completed |
Number built | >11,000 |
History | |
Manufactured | 1955–1971, 1974–2008, 2014–2019 |
Introduction date | 1955 |
First flight | 1953 |
Developed from | Mooney M-18 Mite |
The Mooney M20 is a family of piston-powered, four-seat, propeller-driven, general aviation aircraft, all featuring low wings and tricycle gear, manufactured by the Mooney International Corporation.[1][2][3]
The M20 was the 20th design from Al Mooney, and his most successful. The series has been produced in many variations over the last 60 years, from the wooden-wing M20 and M20A models of 1955,[3] to the M20V Acclaim Ultra that debuted in 2016. More than 11,000 aircraft in total have been produced across three production runs, with the most recent concluding in 2019.
In November 2008, the company announced that it was halting all production as a result of the late-2000s recession, but would still provide parts and support for the existing fleet.[4][5][6][7] With the injection of Chinese capital after the company's purchase, production of the M20 resumed in February 2014. Since then, the company has released two more M20 models.[8]