The M-19 Story
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Test Flight of the Mooney M-19 You may recall that the M-19 was a specially modified M-18C-55 which Mooney developed as a counter-liaison aircraft they called the "Cub-Killer." It featured a 90 h.p. engine with a Flottorp constant speed propeller and .30 caliber machine guns in the wings. No one seems to know where the M-19 is now -- even photos of the plane are as rare as hens' teeth. Only stories remain. Here is a good one from long-time Mooney man, Bill Wheat.... "The photo is definitely the M-19. The pilot is Bill Taylor [Mooney's general manager]. Due to the quality of the picture I cannot be certain as to whether it is as presented to the Military or repainted and cleaned up as a company run-about. The original was a dull olive-drab all over and was as ugly as all-get-out."
When he finally taxied up and got out, someone asked him what he was going to name it. He stood on the wing for a moment and finally answered, 'Old Puss.' Al Mooney asked why and Bill replied, 'It's the only thing I can think of that looks so bad and feels so good!'" |
27 October, 2000
Development history of the M-19
| The following articles are from the files of Tony Terrigno who acquired the material from Glenn Bell. The first is a reprint of an undated document prepared by Mooney Aircraft outlining the rationale for the development of the M-19: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MOONEY AIRCRAFT, INC. Wichita – Kansas THE MOONEY MODEL M-19 AIRCRAFT. 1. PURPOSE. To develop and evaluate the possibilities of a small, armed, single-place aircraft for use by the Armed Forces in the following specific functions: A. As direct and close support of ground troops beyond the support now given. B. To destroy enemy light observation and artillery control aircraft. 2. INSPIRATION FOR DEVELOPMENT. As a result of many informal demonstrations of our civil Model M-18 aircraft to Air Force, Army Aviation and other military flying personnel, it was repeatedly suggested that the very superior low-level flight and maneuverability characteristics would have great value in connection with the above functions provided the aircraft could be armed with machine guns and light rockets, while maintaining these characteristics. A careful and thorough design study by MOONEY AIRCRAFT in late 1950 proved that the desired characteristics could be maintained while providing for a substantial military load of guns, ammunition and light rockets, The resulting aircraft was designated as our Model M-19, and was substantially a completely new design. 3. DEVELOPMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY. On January 2, 1951, at a conference at Army Field Force headquarters, Fort Monroe, Virginia, with Colonel Boyd and Lt. Col. John W. Oswalt, it was determined that if MOONEY AIRCRAFT developed such an aircraft upon its own initiative and at its own expense, Army Aviation in turn would give it an informal but complete evaluation at the Fort Sill Air Training Base. The management of MOONEY AIRCRAFT decided to proceed upon this basis, and the prototype was constructed, flight tested, and presented at Fort Sill on April 5, 1951. 4. EVALUATION TESTS AND DEMONSTRATIONS. During the year 1951, the following tests and demonstrations were accomplished: A. Fort Sill, Oklahoma. By authority of Colonel Hopkins, Commanding the Air Training Department, and under the direct supervision of Lt. Col. D. E. Condon, Engineering Officer, an extensive and satisfactory evaluation of this aircraft was conducted between April 5th and April 24th, 1951. During this evaluation all phases of low-level flight were investigated and it was demonstrated that this aircraft could hit targets with both rocket and machine gun fire very effectively under simulated battle conditions. We understand that a report on these tests was forwarded to Army Field Force headquarters at Fort Monroe, and we were told that the report was favorable. It was stated that the aircraft had possibilities as a spotting aircraft. It was understood that these officers, while having no procuring authority, were favorable towards recommending a small procurement for further evaluation and service test. Several improvements, non-basic in nature, were also recommended from these tests, in the event of procurement. Many officers flew the prototype at Fort Sill. The officers actually responsible for the evaluation were: Lt. Col. D. E. Condon. Captain Neely R. Brown. Captain William R. Dodd. We consider all proceedings to be in keeping with the informal understanding at the basic conference. B. Fort Bragg, North Carolina. On May 17, 1951, while awaiting some word from Fort Monroe regarding the Fort Sill tests, an informal visit was made to Army Aviation Board No. 1 at Fort Bragg. Colonel Compton, President of Board No. 1 authorized a machine gun firing demonstration under the supervision of Major Thomas E. Haynes. Major Haynes was quite frank in telling us that the pressure from prior projects would prevent setting up much of a demonstration, and while most of the Board pilots were checked-out in the aircraft, little serious low-level flying was done. On May 24, 1951, several slow passes over the target were made by Captain Thomas E. Hall with a good percentage of hits with machine guns, but without evasive action or tactics being practiced. Numerous officers witnessed this demonstration , among them being Lt. Col. Oswalt from Fort Monroe, but we felt that this demonstration was of negative value because of poor preparation and apparent lack of interest. C. Fort Meade, Maryland. An informal demonstration was made at Fort Meade on May 30, 1951. The Air Officer for the 2nd Army, Lt. Col. Harry K. Bayless, and two members of his staff flew the aircraft. Colonel Bayless expressed an informal opinion that the aircraft had a place in Army Aviation. D. Fort Monroe, Virginia. Our pilot put on a flight demonstration at Fort Monroe, Virginia on May 31, 1951 before Colonel Boyd and Lt. Col. Bruce B. Caulder, in the absence of Colonel Oswalt. Following this demonstration Colonel Caulder gave us to understand, in an informal manner, that while many officers were favorable towards procurement and development of this type aircraft, there were reasons which he could not disclose preventing procurement or even discussions of such a project. E. U. S. Marine Corps Air Station, Quantico, Virginia. After the apparent stone-wall situation reported above, we contacted Colonel Montgomery of the Marine Corps at the Pentagon and he made arrangements for a demonstration of our aircraft at the Air Station at Quantico. This demonstration was under Lt. Col. Mickey, Deputy President of the Equipment Board, with detail arrangements being handled by Captain Victor Armstrong. In addition to the Navy and Marine officers present, officers from Army Ordnance, Army Aviation, National Guard and other military services witnessed the demonstration on September 4, 1951. Our pilot did the flying, and both still photographs and moving pictures were made of this demonstration by the USMC. Both machine gun and rocket firing was done, and the entire demonstration was conducted at low-level, using evasive tactics and maneuvers to simulate battle conditions and bring out the possibilities of this concept. As a result of this demonstration, the Commandant, USMC, shortly afterwards authorized a project for the Equipment Board to study this concept and tactics. Until the study is completed, we will not know the results of this effort. We feel that a favorable answer might emerge as a result of the above fine demonstration, unless a stone-wall situation like that of the Army appears. 5. DISCUSSION AND SUMMARY. From the above, it is apparent that it has been impossible to obtain much of an idea as to the real impact of this aircraft upon the procuring authorities. Rather, it appears that perhaps the basic concept is a point of controversy. When the original informal set of requirements were set down, we quickly proved we could produce an aircraft fully meeting those requirements. By the same token, we can also efficiently meet a similar set, if ones were issued. We strongly feel that the present requirements are sound, as shown by the Fort Sill and Quantico tests. Any requirement for higher speed would quickly nullify the low-level capabilities, due to limitations of the human body, as we have discovered and can easily prove. We strongly feel that further tests of a single aircraft, or paper considerations, cannot prove or disprove the value of an operation of this kind, which primarily depends upon group tactics and team-work for full success. We believe that an evaluation program involving the use of a suitable quantity of these aircraft is the next logical step in the ultimate evaluation. Finally, we earnestly believe that the United States can ill-afford to incompletely evaluate any weapon which might improve our position regarding man-power. Attachment: Brief Specifications – Model M-19. (See below) |
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MOONEY AIRCRAFT, INC. Specification No. 12 MODEL SPECIFICATION - PRELIMINARY 10 May 1951 AIRPLANE, LIAISON, COUNTER. A. APPLICABLE SPECIFICATIONS
B. TYPE.
C. MATERIALS AND WORKMANSHIP.
D. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
E. DETAIL REQUIREMENTS.
F. METHOD OF INSPECTION AND TESTS.
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This is a photo of the M-19. Our apologies for the quality -- it is a copy of a copy of a copy. |
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According to our files, the one and only M-19 was designated X499M - Al's personal airplane. It was seriously damaged when Hal Rochel, who bought the Mooney factory in 1955, tried to take off with a stone tied to the tail. Subsequently, it was purchased by Bob Purcell of Fort Worth, TX. Beyond that, its fate is unknown. |
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See also The Mooney M-19, a First-hand Look by Elroy "Buck" Hilbert |
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