Oh that is not good news indeed. I fear they may be the first in a long line, sadly.

Btw Yves, I hope you don't mind but I editted your topic title a bit because the previous wording implied a mooney airplane crash, which isn't what you intended apparently. Either way, sad news for sure.

I feel bad for them but to be honest I never liked their product.

I remember the first time I saw my Bonanza. It was parked at an airshow right next to one of the brand new Mooney's.

The Beech sales guy is taking me all around my Bonanza and the Mooney sales rep is foaming at the mouth to talk to me. I finally give the Mooney guy a few minute to show me around his plane. I get in it, I look around and I'm thinking "this doesn't even come close to comparing to a Bonanza... Or a Cirrus for that matter. The sales guy kept selling me on speed, speed, speed.

Mooney died because they made an airplane that nobody wanted.

Cirrus sold 750 airplanes last year. Aviation is not dying.

I don't care what it is that you are into. You want to "feel" good for owning it.

Pull up to the ramp in the following:

King Air: King Dingaling!
Baron: Bad Ass
Bonanza: Very nice
Cirrus: Nice and Fast
Mooney: Meh!

It's just the way it is. The Mooney is just a little wimpy looking airplane with a bad name.

There's a lot in a "name". That's why companies spend so much money developing them.

Beechcaft: Tough and Manly
King Air: Tough and Manly
Baron: Tough and Manly
Bonanza: I don't like it so much. Sounds like a carnival ride.
Cirrus: Cool, New and High Tech
Piper: Hate that name
Cessna: Wimpy trainer planes
Mooney: Forget about it. This is the worst name I've ever heard for anything.

The above is not even true. But "Perception is Reality".

I test flew an Acclaim recently, first time in a Mooney. Finish was very nice, but the plane was claustrophobic as all get out. I had high hopes for the experience, and was very disappointed. My wife would hate it! It really has only two positive attributes, slick finish and speed, everything else is second rate.

Then I flew a Saratoga TC, and was very impressed with the room and comfort. I felt like a 70's Impala, very relaxing feeling, but cheap and plasticky interior. Wife probably would like it.

Then I finally flew my first Bonanza. Done. Finished. Search is over. The plane is in a different league. My wife would feel like a princess in the back. The Bonanza is like a brand new top of the line Cadillac from the forties, with all the modern amenities. It's made the way we used to make things in this country -- with excellence. I really can't think of any other American made product that feels so beautifully made anymore.

I want to test a Matrix at some point, but Jason's plane is what I want.

You can't dismiss Cessna - the have some planes that no-one else can touch -- on the high end.

I'm sorry to hear about Mooney.

I have many, many hours in a 201. Nice little plane. Built like a tank and damn near as heavy.

They go far, fast which is good, but the control harmony (very heavy in roll) leaves a lot to be desired.

Once I flew a Bonanza it was all over with. 1300# useful load at 161 KTAS on 11.5 GPH-LOP with beautifully harmonized controls and build quality that is second to none.

I will still be sad to see an airplane manufacturer with the history of Mooney go down.

Tod, where in the city are you? I'm on 62nd and 2nd. Do you fly out of HPN?

I agree with you on your assessment as I've also flown all of the above in your post. You really won't find a better compromise than a Bonanza if you want 6 seats (and room). The Cirrus is also an incredible airplane but for different reasons (and if I support Cirrus too much on here I start getting yelled at so I'll keep my mouth shut for now). The Matrix, however, has substantially more room and definitely a different feel when flying it (very very stable but not nearly as sweet a flying plane as the Bo). I have a decent amount of time in one and I just think it is a different airplane with different mission than a Bonanza.

-Neal

My buddy has an Ovation 2 modded to an Ovation 3. It's really nice. Goes fast and far. Has dual, alts, batts, vac, known icing and Wass.
He has had nothing but fights with Moony. Their refusal to admit a problem with the electric system caused almost 30K in avionics damage and may have caused a death in another owner that wasn't as lucky.
Moony deserves what they get. The employees do not.

John

PS. A Moony has more leg room and is wider elbow to elbow than a Bonanza. The Bonanza doesn't have the panel 6 inches from your face.

I keep my Diamond Da40 out at N07, Lincoln Park NJ. They just built some new hangars. I did my test flying in SoCal, where I go often for business, and it's always easy to sked demos and the weather always cooperates.

I wanted to eventually buy a plane to replace my frequent coast to coast business trips, but I don't really think that'll ever make much sense. I have flown my Diamond from NY to LA and back about six or eight times. I'd do it more in Bo, but I would still mostly have to go commercial.

I fly often to Fishers Island, NY, Bellaire MI, and maybe soon to the Savannah GA area. All great GA trips.

I live on Bank and Greenwich Ave, downtown, so going out the Lincoln tunnel is pretty easy.

I used to base at Caldwell, but no hangars there. It's a good airport though.

I'm 6'5", 210 lbs. and I definitely was more comfortable in a Bo than a Mooney. The Toga was the roomiest though. I wear my Diamond like a wing-suit.

Some good thoughts being expressed here. I've owned a C model and an F (the Executive) which I flew all over. I really liked them, but they are, in reality, a bit on the slow side, especially by today's standards.

And the stuff about manly names is truer than one would think.... I was forever trying to pronounce "Mooney" clearly and explain what it was. I never have to do that when I say, "Beechcraft Baron". I've long thought that the name "Mooney" was one of the worst marketing hurdles they could ever have to overcome.

Then, that thing about size? I'm about 6' and 200 pounds, and I would get uncomfortable on long trips. I'd end up with one leg on each side of the console on long easy flights. No one in the Mooney fraternity was really willing to face this issue. They would fight anyone who ever dared bring it up, saying it had the same cabin width as a Bonanza. Hogwash. When I got back into a Bo after many years of Mooney flying, I was floored at all the room. The Mooney faithful were citing the only dimension they could find that was close. The rest was plain old snug.

Nonetheless, there are some pretty neat things. They are stable as a rock and fly very well in turbulence. They make a good "IFR platform" as folks like to say. They will climb high. I took my F model to 17,000 several times, and if felt fine. Some of the Mooney Listers went to 21,000 in older 180 horsepower C models. Yeah, they probably had some help from the Front Range, but they claimed to have eventually gotten there, and it's believable to someone who has flown that wing a pretty good bit.

The new models with the longer fuselage have significant issues with tail strikes and prop strikes. Fact is, they just got too long. Many say the turbo'd 252 (later K model) is the best one, and I can see myself flying one of those if I ever went back to a single.

But, I'm now flying a Baron. No real reason to change, huh?

All that said, and all of the perceptive things you guys have said notwithstanding, someone will buy it and try again. They always do. Think about the Tiger, Commander, even the Waco, Luscombe, and numerous repeat attempts to rekindle something left of the flame that once was.

Even though a J model that I owned seemed toyish compared to my Bonanza I really enjoyed its economy for the speed that I got. Now I must admit, after flying in a 252 I do not believe any of us on the single engine side could keep up with it. And especially for the money. They are built like a tank, no cables, and very fast. I am personally sad to see this happen to them but they have not kept up with modernization except engine. They would tell you that when something is built almost perfectly, there is very little that needs changing. But again, thats what Porsche has been telling me for years as well.

Doug

Actually, CDW is just finishing building some hangars. Seems like 9 is the magic number though. You had to be on the list for the last nine years to get one and they are going for $900+ per month!

I have an A36 out of MMU. I would be glad to trade a Bo flight for a Diamond flight any day.

Perhaps the Second 3rd time will be the charm.
I hope they make it somehow... I've been wanting to go and tour the factory since I moved to Tejas.

Perhaps the Second 3rd time will be the charm.
I hope they make it somehow... I've been wanting to go and tour the factory since I moved to Tejas.

The only way for Mooney to come back is with an infusion of capital (to develop new models, update production methods, etc . . . it all takes lots of money). In the current economic climate, I don't see how that could happen.

It'd help if the FAA cert. process made more sense. This the NUMBER ONE drag on GA, and AOPA and nobody talks about it.