Mooney Makes Surprise First Flight Of M10T

Mooney made the first flight of its cool looking little two-seat M10T trainer from Chino, California, last week, an event announced on its Facebook page. The all composite design still looks like a Mooney, thanks to its distinctive forward-canted tail design, but it's really an all-new airplane. Importantly, it features a diesel engine, the Continental CD-155 that will make it a natural in the training market, especially internationally, for the ready availability of Jet-A fuel and for the engine's famously efficient burn rate. The concept was announced just a year ago at Zhuhai, China, airshow. Certification is expected in 2017. A companion model, a retractable gear version with a hoped-for 170-knot cruise speed and a 1,000 nautical mile range is also in the works.