Mooney's Wee Scotsman

HAVING completed its move to Kerrville, Texas, from Wichita, Kansas, where jet traffic and labor shortages combined to force a transfer of operations, Mooney Aircraft, Inc., has resumed production of its popular single-seater Model 18 and is scheduled to fly its new 4-place Model 20 with laminar-flow wing by June.

Resumption of M-18 production was marked by several improvements and innovations in a new 1953 version of the little single-seater. Heretofore known as the "Mooney Mite" because it is the smallest certificated airplane in production, the Model 18 now has a new name, "Wee Scotsman." This monicker seeks to capitalize on the M-18's unmatched operating economy, and an impressive promotional campaign will stress the Scotsman's ability to fly on pennies.

Bill Taylor, general manager of Mooney Aircraft, says a backlog of 78 single- seaters will be produced through August I with 20 a month thereafter, as compared with 59 deliveries last year.

Bill Taylor, general manager of Mooney Aircraft, says a backlog of 78 single- seaters will be produced through August I with 20 a month thereafter, as compared with 59 deliveries last year.

Cheaper Than Shoe Leather

"A penny a mile will actually cover your costs in gas and oil if you fly a Wee Scotsman," says Al Mooney, the manufacturer. "You can figure it out for yourself. Fuel consumption averages 3 to 4.5 gals. per hour, depending on whether your engine is a 65 Lycoming or 65 Continental. This is 90 cents to about $1.20 per hour. Optimum cruising speed varies from 125 to 138 mph. So it comes out at about a penny per mile." No full-size American-built auto can match such economy. Not even shoe leather is cheaper, says Al.

This miserly quality of the M-18 Wee Scotsman has prompted Mooney to add another touch of merchandising for 1933 - a plaid color job for the vertical fin on the airplane. This is applied with the use of Scotchlite reflective material, and therein Mooney becomes a pioneer-the first aircraft manufacturer to reflectorize an airplane so that it will glow from reflected light.

Reflectorized Tail Fin

Just how much of a safety factor this will be is unknown. Being a single-engine airplane, the Wee Scotsman won't see much flying at night except when pilots complete their trips briefly after sundown. But it will certainly flash in a setting sun or in poor visibility. Also, it will flash a warning to taxiing aircraft when it is parked at night on busy airports.

Highlighting improvements in the 1953 Wee Scotsman are the following:

A new "Tex-hyde" plastic finish which is fire-resistant is used instead of the dope heretofore used in the Mooney's finish.

Additional fuel capacity, the new model having 16 gallons as compared to 12 gallons heretofore. This has been needed, as it extends the Wee Scotsman's range from 295 miles to 420 miles for the Continental model and from 355 miles to 465 miles for the Lycoming model. In addition, a 6-gal. auxiliary tank is available as optional equipment. It is installed in the wing, the main tank being in the fuselage.

A clear-plastic view window has been installed for easy observation of the gear-down lock.

A centrally-mounted glove compartment has been provided in the panel. An optional Mitchell Airboy, Sr., which is a VHP transmitter and LF receiver, can be readily mounted in this compartment.

Hardened chrome bushings are now used in the landing gear to eliminate what little servicing was required on the earlier installations. Bearings in tail attachments likewise eliminate servicing formerly required for them.

Topping these improvements, the factory is making several features standard equipment which were formerly optional, with the purchaser coming out about the same because of a slight increase in price. The new price for the 65-hp. Continental M-18 is $2,840. It can also be purchased at $2,400 without engine, the purchaser furnishing his own engine.

Mooney is being forced to discontinue the M-18L with new 65-hp. Lycoming engine because Lycoming is discontinuing production of this engine due to the small demand for it. As long as new Lycomings are available, the price for the M-18L is $2,740.

Controllable Prop Available

Coincident with announcement of the new model, Mooney has released information that a new Flottorp controllable-pitch propeller is now available. It is priced at $189 and is expected to prove popular among Wee Scotsman operators.

Mooney expects 1953 sales to more than double those of 1952. Fifty-nine of the single-seaters were delivered last year. This year, the plant at Kerrville, Texas, is scheduled to produce 78 Wee Scotsmen through August 1, after which production will be maintained at 1 per working day, or about 20 airplanes per month.

By that time, Mooney expects to be in production on his new 4-place, which is scheduled to make its first flight by June. The prototype airplane at present is practically completed, awaiting Al's return to the shop. He has been confined to bed in a body cast as a result of a: broken leg suffered when he fell on the slippery floor at National Airport terminal in Washington. Al was hoping to be back on his feet by the end of April.

Weights in actual construction are running almost exactly pound for pound with engineering estimates, and the designer expects to hit the mark originally set without the usual gain in weight. No price has yet been placed on the Model 20, which was designed to cruise at 160 mph. or better. It is being equipped with a 145-hp. Continental engine. Landing gear will be tricycle of the same hand-retracted type proved practical on the single-seater Wee Scotsman. A similar tail design is also used. But the wing will be the first on a commercial light-plane to have a laminar-flow airfoil section, utilizing this to greatly reduce drag and thereby achieve high performance with a minimum of power.

Bill Taylor, recently promoted to the position of general manager of the company, said the firm now has 19 domestic distributors and 6 foreign distributors. Exports are running considerably above those of last year. Bill reported, with a large backlog of orders on hand for Latin America, where market exploitation has been intensified.

I'm the 'WEE SCOTSMAN'

MOONEY Model Eighteen for 1953!

"And for 1953 all of us 'Wee Scotsmen' are better than ever. We're finished with 'Tex-hyde' flame-resistant plastic butyrate, we have 25% more range with our new 16-gallon main fuel tank, we're more rugged and smoother handling with new tail attachment bearings and nose gear bushings, we're more convenient with a glove compartment designed to take an optional radio installation, and a peephole for convenience in locking the gear down.

"We're MOONEY for '53, and we live up to our new name 'Wee Scotsman' by giving you greater economy than any other form of personal transportation."