1953 Mooney Mite M-18LA

The M-18 Mooney Mite was the first production aircraft to carry the designer’s name, Al Mooney. The Mooney Aircraft Corporation built a total of 283 Mites in Wichita, Kansas, and Kerrville, Texas, between 1947 and 1954. The first seven were powered by modified 25 hp (19 kW) Crosley automobile engines, but these proved to be troublesome. Production shifted to the M-1 powered by the four-cylinder, 65 hp (48 kW) Lycoming 0-145 powerplant. The original Crosley-powered Mites were recalled and retrofitted with the Lycoming engines. The little airplanes quickly gained fame for their performance and economy, with the promise of two miles per hour for every single horsepower available, Something modern production aircraft are still trying to match!