M-20C Ranger

About the M-20C Ranger

The Mooney M-20C Ranger is a single-engine, low-wing monoplane featuring retractable tricycle landing gear and a four-seat cabin. It suits pilots seeking an efficient, propeller-driven general aviation cruiser that balances cross-country speed with predictable handling. The airframe utilizes a steel-tube cabin structure mated to an aluminum skin and semi-monocoque aft section, powered by a single horizontally-opposed piston engine driving a variable-pitch propeller.

Representing the most successful design by Al Mooney, development began after the company relocated its operations, culminating in its initial maiden flight and subsequent airworthiness certification. Early production models featured wooden wing and tail structures, later replaced by all-metal configurations following service directives regarding moisture durability. Production cycles spanned multiple decades, punctuated by corporate restructuring and temporary suspensions before resuming under new financial ownership.