Mooney 20C

[PilotRPI]

For those that have owned one, is it possible to fly with the rear seats removed. Almost all of my flying is me and the wife, and we want to be able to carry two folding bikes. They seem to be a great value compared to the standard Piper trainers, and it sounds like the gear on them is relatively simple compared to some other retracts.

I'm 6' and 155 Lb, so I don't need a Bo wide cabin.

 

[Hank S]

Back seat removal varies by year. My seat bottom comes out quick, the easy thing is to fold the back rest down, removal is a PITA, reinstalling it even more so.

One bike should fit in the baggage area, the other can be strapped to the seat. Measure for fit, new bikes are much cheaper than new planes.

Visit MooneySpace for all of your Mooney questions.

 

[yetti]

There is a modification to have the rear seat fold down.

 

[Bill]

Back seat removal varies by year. My seat bottom comes out quick, the easy thing is to fold the back rest down, removal is a PITA, reinstalling it even more so.

The 201 is slick in this area. Pull out the seat bottom cushions, slide the backrest cushions up off the support, and the back supports fold down into the bottom cushion recess leaving a flat load floor. Even better, the rear seats are split, fold down either or both.

Slick.

Edit: found a pic with the rear seats folded down.

 

[MooneyDriver78]

The 201 is slick in this area. Pull out the seat bottom cushions, slide the backrest cushions up off the support, and the back supports fold down into the bottom cushion recess leaving a flat load floor. Even better, the rear seats are split, fold down either or both.

Slick.

Edit: found a pic with the rear seats folded down.

This doesn't apply to older 201s, I think the change was in early 80s, some older ones have had the bench seats converted to allow them to be folded down.

 

[Hank S]

My 1970 C has a split folding rear seat back that I did not install. The seat bottom comes out easily, the seat backs food forward independently. I carried a 10' x 10' canopy, in a wheeled case, with one back seat folded down. Thankfully I was alone, as it came into the right front seat a little bit, catty corner through the cabin.

There were many improvements in the models from C to J. Enjoy yours, and wave as you go by!

 

[Gsxrpilot]

I've not tried to remove the rear seat in my C. It is a single seat and doesn't appear to be very easily removed.

As far as value goes... if you are comfortable in the cabin, a Mooney might be the best value for a traveling airplane, and the M20C is the best value of the Mooney line. Mine gives me just over 1000 lbs useful load, 150kts TAS at 8 or less gph. Maintenance is pretty basic and the manual gear is fool-proof and virtually maintenance free.

You'll enjoy a Mooney, I sure do.

 

[Rcmutz]

My 1970 C has a split folding rear seat back that I did not install. The seat bottom comes out easily, the seat backs food forward independently. I carried a 10' x 10' canopy, in a wheeled case, with one back seat folded down. Thankfully I was alone, as it came into the right front seat a little bit, catty corner through the cabin.

There were many improvements in the models from C to J. Enjoy yours, and wave as you go by!

Well, in my Tiger, I can fold the back seats down inside of 1 minute, get two bikes in, wave at a lot of the M20Cs as I go by, AND, laugh on the way to the bank! :wink2:

 

[MooneyDriver78]

Well, in my Tiger, I can fold the back seats down inside of 1 minute, get two bikes in, wave at a lot of the M20Cs as I go by, AND, laugh on the way to the bank! :wink2:

BS, Tiger top speed 143, M20C 153....