Mooney M-18 Mite

The Mooney M-18 Mite was developed in the late 1940s as a small, economical personal aircraft. Unlike later Mooney designs, it featured fixed landing gear and modest power. The model was intended to attract new pilots to the brand.

1950 Mooney M-18C © David Miller

Overview

Mooney United States ICAO: M18 1947–1954 Active $3,000 (1947)

Mooney M-18 Mite — two-seat light aircraftThe M-18 first flew in 1948 during Mooney’s early years of production. It adopted a low-wing configuration and compact fuselage with side-by-side seating. The aircraft was designed to offer efficient cruise performance with relatively low horsepower.Power typically came from a Continental piston engine producing between 65 and 85 horsepower. Cruise speeds ranged near 100 knots (185 km/h). Maximum takeoff weight remained below 1,200 pounds (544 kg), reflecting its lightweight construction.The Mite saw limited production before Mooney shifted toward more powerful retractable-gear designs. Today, surviving examples are rare and valued by enthusiasts. The aircraft represents the starting point of Mooney’s performance-oriented lineage.

Live Fleet Activity (M18)

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Specifications

Units
Engine
1 × Continental A65
Engine type
Piston
Power
65 hp · 48 kW
Avionics
—
Wing tips
No winglets
Seats
1
Crew
—
Cabin width
—
Cabin height
—
Cabin length
—
Exterior length
18 ft 1 in  ·  5.50 m
Tail height
6 ft 3 in  ·  1.90 m
Fuselage diameter
2 ft 9 in  ·  0.85 m
Wing span
26 ft 10 in  ·  8.18 m
Baggage volume
—
Gross weight
—
Empty weight
—
Max takeoff weight
800 lb  ·  350 kg
Max landing weight
800 lb  ·  350 kg
Max payload
250 lb  ·  100 kg
Fuel capacity
10 gal · 0 L · 0 kg (AvGas)
Max cruise speed
120 kt  ·  138 mph  ·  222 km/h
Maximum speed
—
Cruise speed
—
Approach speed
37 kt  ·  43 mph  ·  69 km/h
Range
382 nm  ·  440 mi  ·  710 km
Fuel burn
—
Ceiling
19,400 ft  ·  5,900 m
Rate of climb
1,090 ft/min  ·  6 m/s
Takeoff distance
1,000 ft  ·  310 m
Landing distance
1,000 ft  ·  310 m
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1950 Mooney M-18C

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Operational Context

The design of the M-18 Mite aimed an exceptionally low operating cost aircraft. It is mostly built of wood covered in fabric, with a wing spar made of spruce and plywood. The aircraft is also fitted with a distinct safe-trim system that connects the wing flaps to the tail trim system and fits the horizontal stabilizer angle automatically during the deflection of flaps, decreasing or removing pitch changes while the flaps are being lowered. In 1947, the aircraft took to the air for the first time. A total of 283 M-18 Mites were built in Wichita, Kansas, and Kerrville, Texas facility from 1947 to 1954.

The Mooney M-18 Mite is a single-seat trainer with a capacity of 118 kg. It has an external length of 5.5 meters, an external height of 1.4 meters, and a fuselage width of 0.85 meters. It has a tail height of 1.9 meters and a retractable tricycle landing gear with a wheelbase of 1.2 meters. The low wing has a wingspan of 8.18 meters and a wing area of 8.8 square meters. It has an empty weight of 236 kg, a gross weight of 354 kg, and a maximum takeoff weight of 354 kg. The fuel tank capacity is 12 US gal.

The aircraft is powered by a single Continental A65 engine. It is a four-cylinder, horizontally opposed piston engine with one intake and one exhaust valve per cylinder, updraft carburetor fuel system, wet-sump oil system, and an air-cooling system. The engine is rated at 65 hp thrust.

The M-18 Mite has a maximum speed of 120 knots, a cruise speed of 109 knots, and a stall speed of 37 knots. The maximum range is 382 nautical miles. It can fly up to 19,400 feet and can climb at a rate of 1,090 feet per minute. The takeoff and landing distance is 305 meters.