Stepping Up
After years of fun with this unique airplane it is time to step-up into something bigger. A bittersweet occasion to even contemplate selling this plane, but as the family grows so too must the aircraft! You will simply not find a better M20F or M20G on the market anywhere within a 10 year span of this plane's manufacture date. With over $90K invested in this aircraft within the last 4 years alone, N3293F is in-effect a like new aircraft. 5215 TT, 89 SFNW, 89 SPOH, new panel, new interior, full complement of speed mods, speed brakes, new paint, with full & complete logs inclusive of factory blue-prints and flight-testing records (this is serial number 1 after all!). All logs are available for inspection on-line and may be found on this website after contacting the seller/broker for login credentials.
Odd Beginnings
In 1967 Mooney continued to crank out M20E and F models and make improvements (electric gears, panel upgrades, range and speed alterations, etc.). Enter N3293F. It started its build-cycle intended as yet one more F model and was fitted with the extended fuselage, long-range tanks (64 gal), and a fuel-injected, 200HP lycoming IO-360-A1 engine. However, somewhere late in the production process and after flight testing had begun on 93F, Mooney executives decided to introduce the world to a mid-tier model that would fit between the shorter-body E models, and the upper-end M20F model which sported around 4" of increased leg-room for the back seat passengers. This new mid-tier model would be billed as the M20G Statesman, and would feature the same extended fuselage & interior as the M20F, but with a de-rated engine and smaller tanks to appeal to the "economically minded".
Though having the larger 64gal capacity fuel tanks and sporting a nice IO-360, 200hp engine, 93F was summarily returned to the factory production hangar, fitted with a 180hp O-360 Lycoming, and sent out the door to market the brand as serial number 1 for the M20G (SN: 680001 where 68 represents the year of manufacture). What is unique about this aircraft is that the log entries for this plane clearly illustrate the fact that this plane not only was intended to be an F model, but it was flight tested as such. Conversion entries are clearly marked illustrating the shift to the G and the move to a new serial number (see logs for more).
Fortunately the plane was allowed to keep its long-range tanks which made converting the plane back to an M20F in easy. In 1994, LASAR corporation, having an STC for the M20F conversion, refitted N3293F with it's rightful engine, a 200hp fuel-injected, Lycoming IO-360, and a most unusual Mooney was returned to it's F-model roots.
How 93F Flies Today
This Mooney was purchased in Northern California and has remained here for its entire life. It is currently based at KDVO (Gnoss Field) just North of San Francisco & the Golden Gate Bridge, and is flow between 100-150 hours each year. The new paint matches it's 1968 scheme exactly, and draws attention and accolades everywhere it is flown. The new panel, engine, overhauled propellr, modern avionics, and interior make it an extremely capable and comfortable long-range IFR platform. The plane is meticulously maintained, and no expense has been spared to ensure that it will remain as a classic example of a pristine Mooney for years to come.
Magazine Covers & Accolades
1968 - Plane & Pilot - Cover
1968 - AOPA - Cover
1973 - Plane & Pilot - Cover
MAPA - Award winner