Mooney TX-1

TX-1
Role Training aircraft
National origin United States of America
Manufacturer Mooney Aircraft Company
First flight 1982
Number built 1

The Mooney TX-1 or Mooney MT-20 was a prototype American military basic training aircraft of the 1980s. It was a two-seat derivative of Mooney's popular M20 light aircraft, but was unsuccessful, only a single example being built.

Design and development

In late 1982[1] the Mooney Aircraft Company of Kerrville, Texas flew a prototype of a two-seat military trainer aircraft, the Mooney TX-1. This was based on its popular Mooney M20K four seat light aircraft, but with side-by-side seating for pilot and instructor under a sliding canopy. It was an all-metal low-winged monoplane with retractable tricycle landing gear powered by a single Continental O-360 piston engine driving a two-blade propeller.[2] The TX-1 was aimed at the basic trainer market, also being suitable for weapons training and light attack missions,[2] and so was fitted with four hardpoints under the wing.[3]

Mooney stated that they needed orders for 100 aircraft to launch production of the TX-1,[2] but these did not occur, and no production followed.[1] The prototype's aircraft registration was canceled in 1989.[4]

Specifications

Data from Airdata File: Mooney TX-1[2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 25 ft 5 in (7.75 m)
  • Wingspan: 36 ft 1 in (11.00 m)
  • Height: 8 ft 4 in (2.54 m)
  • Wing area: 174.79 sq ft (16.239 m2)
  • Empty weight: 1,800 lb (816 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 2,900 lb (1,315 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 73 US Gallons (276 L)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Continental TSIO-360-GB turbosupercharged flat-six, 240 hp (180 kW) (take-off power)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 239 mph (385 km/h, 208 kn) at 16,000 ft (4,880 m)
  • Cruise speed: 185 mph (298 km/h, 161 kn) at sea level
  • Range: 940 mi (1,513 km, 817 nmi) at 55% power, no reserves
  • Rate of climb: 1,336 ft/min (6.79 m/s)
  • Ceiling: Over 30,000 ft (6,100 m)

Armament

  • Hardpoints: 4 with a capacity of 1,000 lb (450 kg) total[3]

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Notes

  1. ^ a b "BERNHARD C.F. KLEIN COLLECTION: Mooney MT20 TX-1 (N231TM)". 1000aircraftphotos.com. 15 June 2006. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d Air International August 1983, pp. 101–102.
  3. ^ a b Flight International 3 August 1985, p.56
  4. ^ FAA Registry – Aircraft – N-Number Results: N231TM has Assigned/Multiple Records. Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved 17 May 2011.

References