Mooney
M18
Mite

Photo: Robert Deering 10/23/2006
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Chantilly, Virginia
Mooney Mite N3199K is serial number one of the fast and efficient line of private aircraft designed by Albert Mooney and Charles Yankey. Mooney Aircraft Corporation produced more than 365 Mites between 1947 and 1955 and followed them with the larger M.20 series. Current Mooney aircraft still sport the trademark forward-swept vertical fin of the original Mite.

The compact, single-place, low-wing monoplane boasted retractable landing gear and wing flaps, new amenities for personal planes of that era. Mooney's patented "Safe-Trim" system featured a moveable horizontal stabilizer interconnected to the flaps for automatic nose-attitude trim. After replacing the original 25 hp Crosley Cobra engine with a Continental or Lycoming, Mites became lively record-setters, cruising at a brisk 200 km/h (125 mph).
SPECIFICATIONS: PERFORMANCE:
Span: 7.9 m (26 ft 11 in)
Length:  5.4 m (17 ft 9 in)
Height:  1.9 m (6 ft 3 in)
Empty Weight:  235 kg (520 lb)
Gross Weight:  385 kg (850 lb)
Crew: 		Maximum speed: 220 km/h (138 mph)
Cruising speed:
Range:
Service ceiling:
Engines: Continental A-65-8, 65 hp
   
SOURCE: Smithsonian Air & Space Museum