Mooney's M10T proof-of-concept aircraft made its maiden flight in the USA yesterday.
Test pilot Len Fox flew the aircraft for 15 minutes over Chino, California, making basic flight manoeuvres and verifying data.
The M10T is a new single-engined, three-seat trainer powered by a Continental CD-135 diesel engine. It is constructed largely of carbon fibre and has a projected cruise speed of 140 KTAS.
“The flight was a tremendous milestone for the M10 program,” said Jerry Chen, CEO of Mooney International. “Our team of engineers have been working very hard to reach this day, and we are excited to have achieved this milestone in 2015, just one year after announcing the M10 program at Zhuhai Airshow in China.”
Mooney's engineers expect to have the M10T certfied in the next two years.
The company also plans to produce the M10J, which is a higher-powered retractable version expected to cruise at 160 KTAS, aimed at the private owner market.
More information on the M10 range is on the Mooney International website.