Air Compare: Grumman AA-5 vs. Mooney M20 Series

Moving four seats from point A to point B as quickly and efficiently— as possible.

Jason McDowell

Wednesday, August 23, 2023 at 12:25 PM ET

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[Credit: Jim Stevenson]

Key Takeaways:

The article compares the Mooney M20 and Grumman AA-5, two distinct general aviation aircraft developed during the competitive 1960s-70s market for efficient four-seat cross-country travel.
Despite serving a similar mission and sharing comparable overall market values, they feature significant design differences (e.g., retractable vs. fixed landing gear, cabin access) and stark contrasts in ownership costs, particularly with Mooney having substantially higher insurance premiums.
Both aircraft types are lauded for delivering an excellent balance of speed, fuel efficiency, and ease of ownership, making them strong contenders for "greatest-knot-per-dollar" value in the four-place certified aircraft segment.

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During the 1960s and 1970s, general aviation was bustling. Fuel was inexpensive, disposable income was relatively plentiful, and airplanes were selling well. Bolstered by various wartime production surges, manufacturers were well-equipped to satisfy the market’s demand, and competition among general aviation aircraft manufacturers was intense.

This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine

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