Al Mooney's quote regarding the tail. "I didn't put the tail on backwards, all the others did. Power on or power off, you will find on my plane that you can always lift a wing with the rudder".

I am 68 years old, fascinated by everything to do with aviation. I'm not technically gifted, nor would I ever board an airplane that I pilot. But what I have to say here is that I have hardly ever heard technical explanations formulated so clearly as on this website. Not only does the narrator seem to sense exactly what the interested dilettante should know, but he also packs it in such a way that one never feels ignorant. I suspect that even established pilots and professionals can learn a lot from this great Brit in the USA. In any case, thank you very much! Best regards from a old retired Swissair-Steward.

Your Mooney is sick looking. I love that plane! Looks super well kept for a 1960’s plane.

I really enjoyed flying the M20E in the late 70s. I feel like I learned to fly in it, even though I'd had my PPL for a few years. Great plane! It really made my day hearing the approach controller say, "Reduce your speed; you are following a King Air. You're 5 miles behind and 20 knots faster." TNX for the video.

Great video, Mark! When I was first taking lessons I used a 2005 172 at the school, my brothers' first plane was a '65 Cherokee 180 and he convinced me to use that, which was cheaper than the school's (he had gotten his first Bonanza). I had 100 hrs in that Cherokee but it was a constant maintenance nightmare. So ultimately I bought my old 172 that I still have, but I recall the Cherokee. I looked into the older Mooney's quite extensively, though I've never flown in one, even as a passenger. But they are remarkably engineered and high-quality machines, arguably (in my opinion) I view them in a 'sportier' way but just as high quality as a luxury car Beechcraft. Mooney's are as fast as Bonanza's but on 4 cylinders, and that's what they were all about. A few years ago I replaced the (fixed) prop on my old 172, but replacing a CS prop is more expensive, and the governor also, inspections and maintenance. Typically in 'trainer class' planes of small displacement, one usually finds fixed props. I believe the Mooney's are still faster than the Archers, Mooney's are just slicker (aerodynamically and aesthetically) than the boxier PA-28's. It's all what one's main mission and budget is. Even in my old 172 tho, it's still at least 2.5 times faster than driving 🤣. I just fly locally, in nice weather, for fun. Kinda why I like the high wings. That and I have a heck of a time getting in and out of low wings, I'm not very flexible!

Im an airline pilot and I generally speaking I know all You talk about in the videos but same time I love watching them. Its just pleasure to watch decades of thinking about planes served like best restaurant. I wish I had this source of wisdom when I was at beginning of my journey. great job

If I had a car dealership I’d be trying to get this guy selling for me. He’s got me sold on this Piper airplane and I don’t have a pilots license of enough money to own a plane. 😊 Trust me, if you’ve never tried sales, selling by giving information and demonstrating features as he does is HARD. He has a gift. Aside from sales, these are really good videos and are stuffed full of knowledge that aviation buffs can’t get enough of.

One of the most informative and useful videos I've seen so far as I am a novice and wish to get in the pilot training and ownership. 👍Many thanks

I grew up in Southern California flying my grandfather's Cherokee 180, then later an Archer. Loved both planes. I've lived in Placerville over 15 years now and enjoy watching your videos from our local airfield. The departing traffic flies right over my house off of Motherlode so I will keep an eye out for your Mooney. I haven't flown since graduating High School but still love aviation. It's said, "Once you've experienced flight your eyes will forever look skyward".

I always enjoy your videos, Mark. Thanks for being a great Mooney ambassador. 6 years ago, I weighed similar options and determined that a 1964 M20C was the perfect plane for me. It’s a wonderful balance of speed, comfort, capability, and perhaps most importantly - affordability. I’ve flown mine from coast to coast and all the way up to 20,000 ft. It’s amazing what 180hp will do when paired with a slippery airframe. One modification I’m particularly happy to have on mine are the O&N fuel bladders (64 gal.). I’ve never had a fuel leak even after operating out of rough backcountry airstrips.

Despite the fact that I knew all this already, I watched it and enjoyed it, like all your videos. You have a talent for dishing up the bare facts (by heart) in a very entertaining manner. I loved the opening shot and the tongue in cheek now and again. From the Netherlands: thanks for sharing!

An intangible, illogical, emotional consideration: It feels so cool to fly a retractable gear plane! In cartoons even spacecraft in outer space have retractable gear because it looks so cool. Speed? Some of us would fly a retractable gear plane despite insurance and maintenance even if it went slower!

Great information. During training I went from Cessna 150 to Cherokee 140.. Felt like I was in big time!

Hi Mark. This is Craig. As you know, I own a 1965 Cherokee. I absolutely love it. I've also had the pleasure of sitting right seat in your plane. Love that one too. Bottom line, it's a joy to own either a Mooney or a Cherokee. Perhaps the next time I fly to California, you can shoot a video about my Blue Angel. Take care. 🛫

Hahaha I flew my M20F like a Goliath 😂. 6'5" of me fit just cozy with plenty of leg room. But I am used to squeezing into small spaces, I mean my first car was a VW Scirocco 😮. On the costs, I was so fortunate that my father was a pilot so my flight training was free and I had 250+ hours in his G36 Bonanza before I even started looking for my own aircraft. I haven't been in the air since 2016 and I really miss it. Your videos really help me remember flying. Thanks Skywagon for another great compairison video 🎉 Thanks for posting!

All I can say is I love this sort of information, sure I know some of it already, I’m a pilot, but it’s what I call the nuts and bolts practical information necessary for making good decisions on a suitable aircraft to buy. Or, even just to know, because I find it all very interesting. Great video!

I have a ‘67F it might be the best 4 place single prop of the era imo.

HEY, COOL! You just flew directly over my house on departure here in Placerville. 1:50 pm on Thursday. 4-6-23

This channel always has the best explanations, comparisons, and breakdowns for everyone to enjoy and learn from.

Never knew about the vacuum powered retractable step on the Mooney. Very clever those old engineers were in the 60s. Other manufacturers used a cable connected to the landing gear.

Great education between a comples plane and a non comples one mark. you really did a great job for those pilots deciding on which ga aircraft they can afford.

It was my understanding that the primary reason for the forward slope of the vertical stab was to give better rudder authority in a climb. In a climb, the plane is going more obliquely to the relative wind. So orienting the vertical stab in that manner gives greater rudder authority. That’s only what I read and was convinced to believe. I never gave much thought to stall recovery. It would likely make spin recovery a little easier. I’ve never read a Mooney POH, so I’m no sure if spins are even permitted. Would be totally cool if the design allows it though. Great video. Thanks :)

Superb analysis as usual.

This has been great information. The comparison is the way minds work. All minds compares things. "With a few exceptions." So the comparison is a natural learning method. And you did a very useful comparison between two similar but very different airplanes. Again, great information and a great job teaching. Thank you. Grateful Roger.

The opening music had me convinced that there was going to be a dogfight. Oh well. Good info as always. BTW, gorgeous place you have there. Shame that it's in California:)

Great video Mark! Glad to see you have survived the blizzards.😁

Great comparison, very informative, thatks.

A very interesting comparison discussion- as always 😎🎩♠️💙

Another very interesting and educational video Mark, you do such a good job with these! Thank you for sharing. 🙂

Thanks Mark. You are the best!

Thanks Mark please keep them coming!

Time well spent enjoying your presentations on two good airplanes. Still, all the while my mind kept expanding the comparison to my 1965 C182 Skylane with a Continental O470R & constant speed 3-blade prop. The conclusion ... all three fulfill the joy of flying. Thanks again.

Another great video. Lots of good information on costs of upkeep and insurance. Thanks Mark.

Welcome back!

Beautiful comparison, and super informative, thank you so much! Best, honest comparison I've come across so far. Love your Mooney, gorgeous plane!

Thanks for posting, I always wondered about the Mooney upright vertical stabiliser, makes perfect sense now. It certainly makes them easy to spot.

Compare that Mooney to the PA-28-235 Cherokee with the constant speed prop. I had a 1973 that I loved. I flew mostly by myself but had passengers on occasion. I also had the wheel pants and speed kit which gave me about 10 knots faster. Changed to oil and filters at 25 hours. That 2,000 hour Lycoming engine was great. Also had full fir King avionics. Tip tanks gave me over 7 hours

As usual, it is a pleasure to hear your explainations.

My understanding of Al Mooney's reasoning for the "backwards" vertical tail and unswept horizontal was that it presented less wetted area and so lower parasite drag for the same span-length and area of sweped surfaces

Very informative and helpful. Thanks

Great comparison video! I like the style of your talking/explaining things Thank you

Awesome comparison. Thanks.

Great video Mark, cheers👍

Great video. Good information . Love the comparison between the 2.

I also already did this research and had these thoughts. I just like listening to marks passion for GA. I know you love your Mooney and I was dead set on buying a 20c but ended up with a comanche. While it is ancient and was unairworthy its nearly ready to fly again. Can't wait.

I loved how you broke down the cost of ownership. Awesome job.

Excellent video

Outstanding presentation! So incredibly informative and a delivery that's actually easy to absorb. Nicely done!

Well Done very informative and useful.

I really enjoy your videos and look forward to seeing each one. This particular video was great for me because I learned to fly in Pipers PA28, and Cessna’s. Everything just feels nice and easy to fly. I was always told Mooneys were the sport cars of the air and everything happens much faster. Thanks for a very informative presentation!!!!

I’ll probably never own a plane, but I watched this whole video. Darnit!

Thank you for explaining this

What a great airplane is the Mooney!!! Congratulations!!!

Very interesting presentation highlighting differences in complex/normal but also how 2 manufacturers tackle similar problems differently.

Thank you for the education! I earned my PPL in a 180G with Hershey bar wings. The 180/Archer is an old friend, but the Mooney has always been interesting to me. Maybe someday...

Thank you for the video! I have time in both a 1980 Archer II, and a 1979 M20K 231. I enjoyed both, but at my age, I would take the Archer for the reasons you explained.

Hi Mark great review again take care cheers David

Sold that Mooney properly! Love your work!

Excellent work. Keep these coming. Wouldn't mind seeing comparisons with turbo arrow, rv10, Grumman tiger, mooney 201 231 252 etc. More talk on bladder conversion...etc

Great video. I flew the PA-28 for a few hours back in 1977 in Hawaii. Never flew a Mooney, but one of my clients owned one and flew from IL to FL quite often. Love the video and comparisons. My favorite Piper was the Cherokee Six 300. First time I flew that, I had to break out the binoculars to see past the nose when landing. JK. Subscribed

Love the videos! Keep ‘em going! Just down the road at KCPU. See you around!!

This is the first video I have seen from you guys. I'd love to see you explain the fors and against of 3 blade vs 2 blade propellers. Thanks.

Very informative video!.

It was the best of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the epoch of belief, it was the season of Light, it was the spring of hope. It was an epic telling of the tale of two tails.

Excellent Thank you

Hi Mark. I really enjoy your detailed videos. For us aviation junkies these are fun and informative. I would love to see you do a comparison like this between a SLSA (Sportstar, Sport Cruiser, Aerotrek) and a similar certified aircraft like a 172, 152, or DA 20. Maybe you already have. Thanks again.

Another fascinating video and comparison😊👍💜✌️ Thanks for being open and honest about costs, without being flashy. Some UK You Tubers get all coy, if one asks a comparison question about costs (to buy, whole life, fuel etc). Okay GA and aircraft ownership is perceived differently in the UK, that's understandable. I can well recall my dad having owned 12-14 GA aeroplanes, in the UK, he ran a moderate car, didn't drink or smoke, worked hard, and back then, small GA, aeroplane ownership was akin to a second or third hand Jag. Since the UK has been eroded, certainly since, 2008, things have changed. Even fixed wing microlights are costly new (cheap to own and fly and certain brands seem to be lasting 10-14 years, but they ain't as tough as a spam can). Second hand spam cans seem in short supply as they age, and I've noted more PA28 types than C150/2's etc. Sorry the "Encyclopedia" comment went over my head🤔🤔😳😄😄 I never knew that some Mooneys came with fixed gear - everyday is a school day. That retractable step is a very nice touch👍✌️💜😊 What always puzzles me is the single doors, why? Strength? Cost?🤔🤔🤔 Oh......and you've forgotten, Brits call the wheel covers, spats (sometimes)😉😉😄😄

that mooney interior is pure class

Hello Mark at Skywagon University from Sydney Australia. Thank you for discussing the various airframe and powerplants in the two GA planes. You have inspired me to seek further knowledge about the Mooney's emponage (tail) and screw jack: trim wheel to tail screw jack. Didn't the DC10 have something similar? Anyway sir, you got through the snow and have plenty of water now. 🌏🇭🇲

I agree...but as part of an annual there is an AD that is expensive it would be good to know. I was fortunate to own an early C180 I bought from you for 20 years with really only one AD coming out semi-recently. I was glad to know about the AD as it was a matter of safety, not expense.

Mark thanks for your amazing videos. Please keep them going. Is the m20f a closer comparison to the archer in terms of space inside?

Another great video Mark. I presume a Grumman Tiger would be good alternative between the Mooney and Archer.

Great video ... I would love to see the mooney vs 182

good video Mark...It might also be informative in the compare to speak to any AD's especially recurring AD's.

I actually have a 1965 piper Cherokee 180 it has 1,030 lbs useful load! Great airplane that flies about 115 to 120 knots

I love your channel!

Love the format of the comparison, would like to see more of these. The lighter weight allowance for the cargo area in the Mooney would suggest to me it is more sensitive to weight and balance than the Archer. Thoughts? Hopefully you can have a show on a Cardinal someday, I’ve always been fascinated with them. Maybe vs a 172? Comanche driver here.

"....easier to insure, easier to maintain." Says all I would need to know. Still, the Mooney's speed is very nice. Which means miles per gallon is better. Mooney's have won their share of the CAFE competitions back in the day.

Great video! Thank you Mark! PS: Mooneys are the best 🙂

Welcome back Mark, been a hot minute since you're last video. I'm a little suspicious you just wanted to make a (your) Mooney is superior video. Also, I watched till the end and I'm still waiting for the high performance airplane for comparison 😉

Good video

I’d rather have the 1972 Cherokee Arrow II that I used to fly from 1975-1977. It had a 200 HP IO-360 with a constant speed prop, retracts, and did 165 mph on 11 gph.

Ah yes, us 65’ E model guys like to rub it in how good the plane is. You forgot to mention the Mooney purchase price is $20k less too! That buys a lot of insurance, maintenance and 100LL.

My main consideration is Mooney being in business no more and hence getting into increasing problems to find spare parts. Other than that, Mooney would have been on my list

Very informative as usual, Mark. As always, the conclusion I always come to is that I need five aircraft, maybe six, to satisfy all my desires. I prefer older planes myself so one might save money on purchase costs, but no⁉️Many of the ones I prefer are preferred by others as well‼️😩So, C-180,182, 185, etc. cost way more than when originally sold. DHC-2 Beaver, same. Cross country planes like your Mooney command high prices too. Ah well, who’d have thunk it⁉️😩😡 Have you any plans to upgrade your panel? If so, would you go for Garmin steam gauges or the rectangle flats? G5s I think they’re called?

The Mooney was always about speed and efficiency. Smaller cabin and cleaner aerodynamics. The Piper is a workhorse. Much like comparing a 1980 Honda Civic to old muscle car. Both will do comparable 0-60 and 1/4 mile runs, but you get a lot more durability from the muscle car.

As usual always a pleasure to be well informed by you, tks 🙂👌👍

Another great video, are you going to Sun & fun

Great vid! Where did you get such a great rate on insurance?

Personally, I would also choose your Moonie over the piper. I'm hoping to begin my journey to become a pilot in a year or two. Do you think a Cessna 175 could be a good first plane? Would try to use it as a trainer as well.

The newer arrows only exist, because Mooney was incapable of getting their production sorted and extract more value out of their designs from a lower price point. Mooney should have kept the C in production as an entry level model. Starting from the same basic fuselage, the lower cost entry model could have helped reduce the price for the upper range. One cannot help but think that they just didn't want to survive.

Love the video. Isn't "undercarriage" redundant? Where else would you find the carriage, next to it?

Mark--with all that 1965 low drag speed on your M20E, where have you taken it? British Columbia, over the Rockies? Santa Catalina?

Would love for you to compare a early 80's Socata Tobago TB10 (5 seater) with your Mooney ;)

I bought a complex retractable gear single engine airplane as my first airplane right after getting my private. I didn’t check the insurance until after I bought it. I was hit with a rate three times higher than if it had been a C172. Ouch 🤕

How about comparing the airfoils of the wings?

Juuust one word…SWIFT!

Very interesting. However knowing that your wheels won’t get stuck not locked or retracted makes 100% landing possible over retract gear.

I always flew Cherokees because they are so easy to fly that you can just barely kill your self. Also, the baggage door is big enought for a bicycle to fit through. Not true for a 172. I considered an airplane useless without a bicycle.

Both airplanes are about the same cost to operate due to the Mooney being faster and using less fuel from point a to point b, Unless you hardly fly any hours in a year, the money saved on fuel pays the maintenance and insurance difference for the most part.