Mooney M20E Super 21 (1964-1975)

The M20E Super 21 (renamed "Chaparral" in 1971) is the first 200 HP Mooney -- combining the lightweight short-fuselage M20C airframe with the fuel-injected Lycoming IO-360-A1A. Production ran 1964-1975 with approximately 1,680 units built, making the M20E the most-produced pre-201 Mooney variant.

The M20E established the "fast Mooney" reputation that would carry through the M20J 201. At 155 KTAS on 10.5 GPH, the E delivered cruise efficiency 15 knots faster than the comparable Piper Arrow on identical engine -- proof of Mooney's aerodynamic clean-sheet design.

Key Characteristics

• Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A, 200 HP at 2,700 RPM, fuel injected
• Fuselage: Short-cabin (same as M20C, no F/G stretch)
• Gear: Retractable, manual Johnson bar (early 1964-1968) or electric (1968+)
• Empty weight: ~1,575 lbs (light for 200 HP retractable)
• Useful load: ~1,000 lbs (200 lbs more than M20C)

• Cruise: 155 KTAS at 7,500 ft (75% power)
• Climb: 1,125 FPM at gross
• Fuel burn: 10.5 GPH cruise (efficient for 200 HP)
• Range: 610 NM with reserves at 52 gal fuel
• Useful load: 1,000 lbs

The M20E is the fastest pre-201 short-body Mooney -- 5-7 knots faster than the same-engine M20F due to lighter weight and shorter fuselage.

Certificated limits changed at S/N 690001

The frontmatter V-speeds describe the early M20E — S/N 101 through 670062, the 1964-68 airplanes, which are 1,267 of the 1,474 eligible airframes. TCDS 2A3 Rev 58, Section VI states two different sets:

All figures are knots, taken from the certificate's bracketed knots column; it states them as "True Ind." — true indicated airspeed, not CAS. On a 1969-1975 M20E, Vne is 174, Vno is 152 and Vfe is 109, so a pilot moving from an early airplane to a late one gains ten knots of redline and twenty-two knots of both Vno and flap speed. The early set is stored because seven M20Es in eight are early airplanes. This is the same 1969 cut, with the same two speed sets, as the M20C carries.

The certificate's gear-extended limit is 104 knots (120 mph) on every M20E and is placarded; the catalogue has no field for Vlo/Vle, so it is recorded here only. Fuel is 52 usable gallons across the whole run — the M20E has no serial split on fuel, unlike the M20C and M20D.

M20Es typically trade $10,000-$25,000 above equivalent M20Cs due to 200 HP advantage and fuel injection.

Universal Mooney pre-buy applies. M20E-specific:

1. IO-360-A1A cylinder condition: Borescope all four cylinders. Continental cylinder issues common at mid-time.
2. Fuel servo and injector condition: Fuel servo overhaul: $1,500-$2,500. Periodic injector cleaning required.
3. Manual gear (early) vs electric (late): Verify Johnson bar (1964-1968) operation -- improper rigging causes gear failures. Electric gear (1968+ M20E) trade $5,000-$10,000 above Johnson bar examples.
4. Tail rust and corrosion: Steel tube tail structure prone to rust if hangar storage history has gaps.
5. Fuel bladder condition: 50+ year bladders may have seam deterioration; replacement $4,000-$6,000.