7 January 1980: In response to a challenge, Alan W. Gerharter, Chief Flight Instructor of Logan and Reavis Air, Inc., Medford, Oregon, flew a four-place, single-engine Mooney M20K, N231LR, serial number 25-0025, from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Washington National Airport (DCA) in 8 hours, 4 minutes, 25 seconds.
This qualified as a new Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) and U.S. National Speed Record of 486.20 kilometers per hour (302.11 miles per hour).¹
Gerharter had beaten the previous record held by a Malvern Gross, Jr., ² flying a Cessna T210, N5119V, by 3 hours, 3 minutes, 23 seconds. When Gerharter arrived at DCA, Gross was there to meet him.
Gerharter had made temporary modifications to the Mooney for this flight. He had two 25 gallon (94.6 liter) fuel tanks mounted in place of the rear seats, bringing the airplane’s total fuel capacity to 122 gallons (462 liters). The right front seat was removed and two oxygen tanks installed. In an effort to reduce aerodynamic drag, he removed the boarding step at the trailing edge of the right wing.
Waiting for advantageous weather, Alan Gerharter took off from SFO at 6:49 a.m., Pacific Standard Time, 7 January 1980. He climbed to 25,000 feet (7,620 meters) and adjusted his power settings to 75%. Though he had meticulously planned a Great Circle Route, electrical problems caused his primary navigation system and autopilot to fail, so he had to navigate by magnetic compass and clock as he made his way across the country. The airplane used 103 gallons (390 liters) of fuel during the flight.
The Mooney M20K was marketed as the Mooney 231, a reference to its top speed of 201 knots at 16,000 feet (4,877 meters), or 231.3 miles per hour (372.25 kilometers per hour). The M20K has a Maximum Structural Cruising Speed (VNO) of 200 miles per hour (321.9 kilometers per hour), and a Never Exceed Speed (VNE) of 225 miles per hour (362.1 kilometers per hour). The airplane has a maximum operating altitude of 24,000 feet (7,315 meters).
The M20K was certified in 1979, 24 years after the original M20 entered production, and it was produced until 1998. The M20 series continued in production with follow-on models until 2008.
Mooney M20K N231LR was issued an Airworthiness Certificate on 27 December 1978. It is currently registered to a private party in West Sacramento, California.
¹ FAI Record File Number 13854: Speed Over a Recognised Course, 486.20 kilometers per hour (302.11 miles per hour), 7 January 1980. Current Record.
² FAI Record File Number 965: Speed Over a Recognised Course, 352.36 kilometers per hour (218.95 miles per hour). FAI Record File Number 966: Speed Over a Recognised Course, 384.03 kilometers per hour (238.63 miles per hour). Both records were set 1 January 1977.
© 2023, Bryan R. Swopes
With a strong tail-wind?
Thank you for this article I KNOW this man!
I was so excited to read of Al’s flight and his record he is an amazing man and a good friend..
I was my husbands flight instructor and trainer.
I am confused. If the Mooney M20K, marketed as the Mooney 231, in reference to its top speed of 231 mph, and maximum operating altitude of 24,000 ft; then how could it set a Speed Record of 302.11 mph at 25,000 ft?
An understandable question, Harris. The airplane’s top speed is Air Speed, the speed with which it is moving through the air mass surrounding it. The speed record is Ground Speed, the speed with which the airplane is crossing the ground. If the air mass is moving (wind), as with a Tail Wind, then the speed of the air mass’s movement is combined with the airplane’s Air Speed, resulting in a Ground Speed that is higher than the Air Speed. Conversely, if the airplane is moving in a direction opposite to the motion of the air mass (head wind), the air mass’s motion, its Wind Speed is subtracted from the airplane’s Air Speed, resulting in a Ground Speed lower than the Air Speed. With cross winds, the angle of the wind direction to the airplane’s course has to be calculated to give Ground Speed. Aircraft speed records are always in Ground Speed. In the United States, many long distance speed record attempts are from west-to-east, as the air mass generally provides a tail wind, thus a higher Ground Speed. Shorter records are flown around a circular or triangular course, or require multiple runs in opposite directions, then averaged, to try to eliminate the effect of wind. Certifying authorities, such as the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) or the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) establish the specific rules to set a record. . . The Maximum Operating Altitude (MOA) is established when the aircraft is certified by the FAA: “Sec. 27.1527. Maximum operating altitude. The maximum altitude up to which operation is allowed, as limited by flight, structural, powerplant, functional, or equipment characteristics, must be established.” MOA is an ADMINISTRATIVE limitation, not a PHYSICAL one. It may differ from Service Ceiling, which is the density altitude at which the airplane can no longer maintain a rate of climb of at least 100 feet per minute (0.51 meters per second). Absolute Ceiling is the highest altitude at which the aircraft can maintain level flight.
Thank you Bryan for the explanation! Now I understand!!
Never mind. I didn’t consider the jet stream!