MOONEY M30 "301" - Plane + Pilot

1983

Plane & Pilot

Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By: Omar Filipović

Key Takeaways:

Mooney developed the M301, a pressurized single-engine aircraft designed by Roy LoPresti, to compete in the market, aiming for a top cruise of 262 knots with a 360-hp Lycoming engine.
The project encountered significant setbacks, including an overweight and underperforming prototype, coupled with Mooney's financial difficulties that hampered its development.
The M301 design was eventually transferred to France as part of a joint venture with Socata, where much of its engineering was incorporated into the highly successful TBM 700 aircraft, with 'M' acknowledging its Mooney heritage.

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In response to Cessna’s success with the pressurized 210 Centurion, and with similar pressurized products on the drawing boards at Piper and Beech, Mooney began work on a pressurized single called the Mooney 301. The design was to have a 360-hp Lycoming TSIO-540 for a speed of 262 knots, or 301 mph, and was the responsibility of the renowned Roy LoPresti. The first prototype flew on April 7, 1983, overweight and slower than expected. Mooney’s financial troubles hobbled the continuing research and development. The company entered a joint venture with the Socata division of French Aerospatiale, and in 1987 the Mooney 301 was shipped to the factory at Tarbes, France. Ultimately much of the aircraft’s design was incorporated into Socata’s TBM 700, the ’TB’ standing for Tarbes, France, and the ’M’ for Mooney.