1 August 2008
Following the announcement earlier in the week that Rolls-Royce is <a href=’http://www.flyer.co.uk/news/newsfeed.php?artnum=770′ target=’_blank’>launching a new turboprop</a> – the RR500 – Mooney and Rolls-Royce have signed a Memorandum of Understanding which could lead to a new turboprop aircraft from Mooney.
Mooney said that the scope of the project would include “exploration of using the RR500 as an alternative fuel (Jet A) powerplant to complement the current Mooney product line.” The airframe which hey are looking to use is the existing Mooney M20.
Mooney’s Dennis Ferguson, one of the signatories on the MOU, said, “The RR500 turbine introduced this week by Rolls-Royce represents the next step in our exploration of alternative fuel power for personal aircraft.
“The rugged Mooney airframe is uniquely suited to accept the power of the Rolls-Royce engine and we’re very excited about working with Rolls-Royce to examine to the possibility of bringing a Jet-A powered Mooney turboprop to the market in the future.”
