This 1988 Mooney M20L PFM Is a Formerly Porsche-Powered ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

1993 SOCATA TB-20 Trinidad [Courtesy: AirMart Aircraft Exchange and Brokerage]

Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1988 Mooney M20L PFM.

People who like cars as well as aircraft, and are old enough to recall the 1980s, will remember covers of enthusiast magazines featuring the latest Porsche 911 Carrera and the Mooney PFM, an airplane that used a version of the car’s 3.2-liter, air-cooled, flat 6-cylinder engine. The engine program caused a stir in aviation circles in part because the relatively small Porsche engine promised big performance with improved smoothness and fuel efficiency compared with traditional aircraft engines.

A few dozen Porsche-powered Mooneys found buyers, but the airplane never caught on with mainstream GA customers, who worried about potential teething pains with the new powerplant. Those skeptical pilots probably would prefer the aircraft for sale here, which received a Continental IO-550 engine through an STC that provides a significant boost in power and performance over the Porsche engine and traditional aircraft powerplants.

This 1988 Mooney PFM has 2,670 hours on the airframe, 717 hours since new on its Continental IO-550-N engine, and 51 hours on its three-blade McCauley propeller.

The panel features Garmin Flightstream 210, Garmin GNS 530W and GNS 430W GPS/Nav/Comms, GTX 345 transponder with ADS-B In and Out, GI 275 electronic HSI, GI 106 VOR/LOC/Glideslope indicator, Bendix/King KFC 150 autopilot with flight director, Davtron M655 digital OAT/PA/DA/volts, Castleberry electric attitude indicator, and VM1000 engine monitor.

Additional equipment includes Precise Flight speedbrakes, Monroy 88-gallon fuel tanks, oversize nose gear bushing and Mod Works low-profile gear doors.

Pilots looking for a high-performance four-place family aircraft with an interesting automotive story and a desirable engine upgrade should consider this 1988 Mooney M20L PFM, which is available for $159,900 on AircraftForSale.

If you're interested in financing, you can do so with FLYING Finance. Use their airplane loan calculator to calculate your estimated monthly payments. Or, to speak with an aviation finance specialist, visit flyingfinance.com.