Four-Seat Blunders...and Why They Failed

Tired of the same boring planes you see over and over again at the airport? Let’s learn about some well-intentioned 4-seat aircraft designs that turned out to be boondoggles (or at the very least, fell well below expectations from their manufacturers) It’s a tough business!
Darter / Lark Commander
These homely planes were brought to you by Rockwell, famous for their B1 bomber and Space Shuttle. Rockwell tried to take on Cessna head on by undercutting them in price, and failed spectacularly.
Mooney Mustang
Mooney was great at many things and has a reputation for fast, economical planes. But when they tried their hand at creating a pressurized Mooney, things didn't go as planned.
Ruschmeyer R90
Based off the french-designed Wassmer WA-40, german designer Horst Ruschmeyer created a beautiful 4-seater named the R90 that was not only fast, but quiet. Designed around german noise restrictions, he had hopes it could compete directly against the giants from across the Atlantic, but he was wrong.
Bellanca Aries
With a name going back nearly 100 years, Bellanca was known for their elegant and efficient line of planes. All built out of wood. So what was Bellanca thinking in building a plane that looked like a fast metal shoebox?
I don't own these clips. All rights are reserved to their respective owners. Creative common videos are also utilized. If your clip is included and you'd like it removed, please email me, and we'll address the matter right away. [e-mail]
Some of the clips used:
• M20 Comparisons
• Mooney M20 Takeoff
• Mitsubishi MU-2 [N228W...
• Beechcraft Bonanza His...
• High Altitude Flying a...
• Flying an UNPRESSURIZE...
• Piper PA-46-350P Malib...
• P-51 Mustang flypasts ...
• Thunderstorm Time Laps...
• Bellanca Aries T-250
• Bellanca Aries T250
• Bellanca Aries T250
• Bellanca Permagard app...
• Wright-Bellanca WB-2 "...
• 1930 Bellanca CH-400 S...
• 1929 Bellanca CH-300...
• Pinckney Aircraft Bell...
• AG-14, A Rare Bird!
• Anderson Greenwood & R...
• Beyond Safety: The Cro...
• Flying the Fuji FA200-...
• FUJI FA 200/180 Aero S...
• FA-200、エアロスバル、着陸
• Fuji FA200 Aero Subaru...
• Fuji FA-200-180 Aero S...
• Fuji FA200-160 - My fi...
• Flying the Fuji FA-200...
• Fuji T-3 Primary train...
• LM-1 "Fuji" takeoff
• Mattaya's WRX STI | CA...
• Subaru Car
• 2021 Subaru Ascent Rev...
• 2022 Subaru Impreza Re...
• 【空の名機】隼／NAKAJIMA Ki-43...
• Ike’s Bird - A little-...
• Aero Commander Takeoff
• 1968 AERO COMMANDER 50...
• Despegue Darter 100 Ca...
• 1968 Lark 180
• N5535M Arrival at 22I ...
• Aero Commander Lark 10...
• 1968 Aero Commander 10...
• 1967 Aero Commander 100
• Aterrizando en Camague...
• Lark Commander 180, N4...
• 1966 Aero Commander 200
• 06/25/2018 Landing and...
• A Day In The Life at E...
• Watch student pilot Ma...
• How to preflight the e...
• Getting Your Private P...
• Cessna 172 180HP short...
• Piper Cherokee 140 lan...
• Piper Cherokee 180 tak...
• B-1 Bomber In Action -...
• B-1 Bomber Full Afterb...
• Landing of a Space Shu...
• Thrush Commander 600 C...
• Off Airport / Gravel B...
• Ruschmeyer R90-230RG t...
• Ruschmeyer R 90 RG Z1 ...
• Flightsimtech GmbH Rus...
• D-EECR Ruschmeyer R90 ...
• Ruschmeyer R90 Anflug ...
• Flyby Ruschmeyer R90 ...
• Ruschmeyer R90 takeoff...
• A *rare* Ruschmeyer R9...
• Starting the new engin...
• D-EECR Ruschmeyer R90 ...
• RARE! Ruschmeyer R90-2...
• A rare Ruschmeyer R90-...
• Ruschmeyer R-90 230RG ...
• She's Back
• 4 blade prop Ruschmeye...
• Incredible sound - Har...
• Bonanza Takeoff
• Porsche Motor PFM 3200...
• Cirrus SR22 Air to Air

[@taxiway207]

Correction. Mooney still exists although right now they’re not building new aircraft and for the time being are just supplying parts for existing aircraft. They hope to restart production however in the long term.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Gotcha! I should have worded it like that. And man I hope they fire up production again.

[@stevelindley8386]

Can't wait to pay a million five for one. Well wait. 2.5 for the deluxe model.

[@taxiway207]

@@stevelindley8386 Ha! True!

[@calvinnickel9995]

They’ve been bankrupt like 5 times… lol.

[@taxiway207]

@@calvinnickel9995 I’m honestly surprised for how good their planes are.

[@57hound]

“Subaru” means “unite” in Japanese. It is also the Japanese name for the constellation Pleiades. Please note the logo of the Subaru automobile is a depiction of the Pleiades constellation.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Yup, I read about that too. I always thought their logo looked kinda out-dated but now I understand the background.

[@julianprice1587]

Aka the Matariki constellation, somewhat further south.

[@bearlemley]

Interesting. I didn’t know the Japanese word for the Pleiades.

[@patrickrameau]

My wife and I owned a Darter a few years ago, and we loved it. True, the cruising speed was closer to a two-seat Cessna 152 rather than a four-seat 172, but in nearly every other aspect we preferred it. We would tell people that it had "95% of the of what you're looking for... at 50% of the cost. Where we come from, that's called winning." Cheaper, with better visibility, and great handling.

[@skyboy1956]

The LARK was more comparable to the 172.

[@nilsmertens6253]

Hi, non pilot here. My first flight was on the Ruschmeyer R90. It's a one of a kind plane.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

That's cool you got to fly that!

[@skyboy1956]

The German airplane with an AMERICAN made Lycoming Engine ! !

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

@@skyboy1956 if you watched the video you’ll see they tried to go with a GERMAN engine. (Porsche).

[@skyboy1956]

@@aircraftadventures-vids yeah, key word is tried. Key result was failure. Mooney tried to use the the same engine. Also failed.

[@brianmerz6070]

I flew an American AA5B, which is a low wing, fixed gear, four seater with a sliding bubble canopy. It was a good handling plane.

[@nattybumpo7156]

Avionics tech here. This airplane is absolute Hell to work on. I hate them for that reason. Also the fuel tanks always leak, and the wing skins are so thin that they can easily be damaged with your bare hand. The canopies leak in the rain all over the front seats and panel. I would rather own literally anything else.

[@bravetiger2567]

@@nattybumpo7156also the fuel tanks don’t always leak and the skins on whatever tiger you had must have been fkd, ours our fine.

[@ChrisA7X89]

The Ruschmeyer R90 is such a beautiful plane. Only saw one once and never again ever since

[@petefroehling8704]

Didn't he make strange movies in the 60s

[@Kimoto504]

That and the Subie were the best of the bunch.

[@broko336]

weirdly enough, i saw one two days ago, which is right when this vid was uploaded

[@ralphkassing6821]

I actually flew the Mooney Mustang once. I delivered the airplane from LAX to DEN. It was a wild ride but what a beast to fly. I could see that if you owned one and got used to it, it would probably be fine.

[@Paladin1873]

As a kid I took a ride in a brand new Aero Commander 100 Lark in the mid 1960s when my Dad and a friend flew up from Florida to visit an old service buddy who worked at the plant. He gave us a full tour of the facility, which had been bought by Rockwell and relocated to Albany, GA. They were in the process of renaming everything to reflect the new ownership. In addition to the Lark, they were attempting to build the Aero Commander 200 (Meyers 200D), but he told us the plane was not well suited to mass production techniques and as a result they had to sell them below cost ($35K) to compete with the Beech Bonanza. Before we left I was given a large poster of the Lark which I hung on my bedroom closet door for several years. Like the company, it's long gone now and just a fading memory.

[@chuckcawthon3370]

Excellent Presentation all around. Well Done Sir.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Glad you liked it, and thanks!

[@larrysmith6603]

I've flown 172, AA5 Tiger , Piper warrior . Loved the Grumman above all else but these 4 seat singles have noticeable performance drop with two pax in back ! I liked flying with just one in the R/H seat .

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Yeah, you could argue most of the 4-seaters out there are in fact 2 with luggage. (unless you skimp on fuel)

[@geraldscott4302]

I got my license in 1982, in a Cessna 150 and two Cessna 172s. I currently have a 1974 Cessna 172M, with the original panel. I love the looks of the high wing Cessnas. I also love the visibility. You can look out the side window, and see what is below you. In a low wing plane all you see is the top of the wing. The high wing Cessnas are also much easier to get in and out of, which is important to me because I am 65 and have arthritis.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Once i got my license, most of flying was in the M

[@arthurbrumagem3844]

The low wings are a lot easier to fuel - at 75 I enjoy that capability. Cardinals are the best for getting in and out imo

[@mattpaulson1044]

When having verbal battle over what plane was best with all my flyboy chronies, an instructor once told us the following to shut us up: ‘Every airplane design is a compromise’. Nuff said…

[@arthurbrumagem3844]

@@mattpaulson1044 great advice

[@Gizmo4PS]

I fly two seaters. At least in Europe, in two seater market, tecnam is the omnipresent company. Looking forward seeing a bit more diversity

[@TheJustinJ]

What? Europe has dominated the LSA (EU Ultralight) category. There must be ten options. And half of them can do almost 200ktas.

[@daszieher]

There is way too much diversity. It would be better to have just a couple of manufacturers churning out much higher numbers to drop unit prices.

[@drifter503]

I would love to see one of those Mooney mustangs in person. Great video as always bud

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Thank you!

[@rescue270]

I've seen two of them.

[@SteveD328]

I actually have time in one of them, there were 2 of them on the North Little Rock Airport (KORK) for a while back in the 80s. I gave a guy a couple of biannual flight reviews in one. It was indeed heavy, but i thought it flew pretty nice. Also Mooney built 36 of them.

[@BobbyGeneric145]

It looks like an Antonov!

[@tonymetalfan]

I do like the way the Aries looks. I am a fan of the boxy 80's styling

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

There's always something for everyone!

[@michaelhoffmann2891]

As for Rockwell Commanders, you didn't mention the 112 and 114. While hardly run-away successes, they did produce some 1000+ of them, and they are quite good aircraft (albeit not trainers, but rather complex/high-performance). Also, one could argue that the Ruschmeyers were simply ahead of their time, and today the legacy is very successfully carried on by Diamond (yes, I know they're Austrian not German).

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

I've been called out on omitting the 112/114 but the story wasn't focused on Commander aircraft per se. Plus, you could argue it was moderately successful (while the Darter /Lark were not)

[@kamakaziozzie3038]

I love the cartoon spring sounds 😀 they are in the perfect spots

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

At least someone likes em (lot of curmudgeons around here don't, lol)

[@jimbower9268]

I had my first series of flying lessons in a Darter Commander in 1970. My first solo was in December of that year. It was the only airplane I ever flew, so I had nothing to compare it to. In later years, when I flew Cessnas, I appreciated their electric flaps, differential braking, and better performance.

[@SoloPilot6]

14:55 -- uh, no . . .only Bellanca WINGS were wood. The fuselage was steel tubing, with a fabric covering.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Oops, good catch.

[@Flies2FLL]

For years in Vero Beach, we could see across the field and in a hangar was "A Big Mooney". That was one of the few Mooney Mustangs, and the wealthy owner never got it flying. I heard from a local FAA designated examiner that he simply would not spend the enormous amounts of money it took to get it airworthy, yet refused to sell it.

[@martingarciagarcia3739]

Such a pity that some of these didn't work out.

[@alexmelia8873]

The M22 Mustang was technically a 5 seater. But the Mooney M20L with the same Porsche PFM engine as the Ruschmeyer would’ve been another good highlight

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Definitely, that’s an amazing story in itself, the PMF mooney.

[@mikehopkins8350]

Loved my Darter. Had a little over 1300 hrs in it. Now have a Mooney M20F.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

A slightly different experience, I bet? Didn't mean to sound like I'm slamming the Darter, I love rare planes.

[@ThePorkyPilotShow]

Shout out to Wellesbourne EGBW in that first clip, used to fly with take flight.

[@charliemonster42]

The only airworthy Aries is at my home airport - Livermore, CA. Still owned by the original owner, he loves the plane and enjoys the attention it gets. Very cool plane.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

That's awesome! I'd love to see it.

[@charliemonster42]

He had it out flying today, actually! Thought of your video. I’ll see about getting some video of it

[@julianprice1587]

Very good video, really interesting. I half expected to see the Grumman Traveller and Robin DR400 too.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Thanks! Grumman series of 4-seaters were quite successful, if you put the family together.

[@bradalgra8088]

Another great episode. Thanks Richard! Missed you at Airventure last week.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Yeah this year looked an amazing turnout of interesting planes (and people!). Hoping for next year...

[@Legionshost]

The Wing Derringer would be a good subject for s video.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Agree. And at 00:18 it makes a very brief appearance...

[@rescue270]

​@@aircraftadventures-vids All two of them.

[@ArgetalianAviator]

I love how you added goofy sound effects

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Thank you!

[@JStryker7]

The sound radials produce is glorious…

[@beyondmiddleagedman7240]

My dad bought a 200 Commander new and I eventually learned to fly in it. N2998T. Fantastic airplane.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Awesome! If you have some time check out my video on the 200. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYC9pI2Ijb2pfJY

[@DanielaHltb]

every tip you shared is a gem, thanks for being so generous!

[@DennisGentry]

The Mooney Mustang wasn't a success on its own, but lessons learned contributed to the Mooney 301 (prototype only) and TBM 700 (the M stands for Mooney) and later TBM aircraft.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Very true!

[@triskellian]

Pretty neat presentation of rare private airplanes! In my hometown airport in Southeast Texas, we have an owner flying his Bellanca Aries T250. We'll see it every year during our small fly ins. Also, another local pilot owned a Bellanca Viking. I got to fly it as my first complex/high performance plane!

[@yucannthahvitt251]

13:00 Grumman owners have an answer to that question.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Tru dat!

[@bravetiger2567]

I was literally about to reply with this too lol. AA5 and AA1 operator here ;)

[@jmwintenn]

turn that AG-14 into a single seat and you've got a little porsche in the sky. that thing looks slick.

[@vyironszenithx4197]

LOVING the GA content! Great video!

[@cstacy]

I flew a later model Commander 114, and it was my favorite. I think the type had been acquired by Beechcraft by then. I loved having 2 doors, and it performed great. Better and nicer than the Piper Cherokee 180s and Arrows that I mostly flew back then (late 80s).

[@officialbritishtaxpayer5609]

I really like your good humoured approach to this video. Subscribed and looking forward to more.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

More forthcoming!

[@tatojanc]

Another great video 👏👏👏👏

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Thanks, Tato! 👍

[@MyFabian94]

Fitting the Birddog Wing to the Civilian Models was the Move that made Cessna the Leader in the "Platzgeier" Market. In a Market full Plain a Split-Flaps those Fowler Flaps gave it such widespread utility from 2 to 7 Seats and 90 to 150kts all using the same Wing albeit slight differences in Washout and Fuel Capacity, that they basically could do no wrong after that.

[@drumswest5035]

Very interesting video, i enjoyed it.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@rescue270]

The Mooney M22 Mustang did not use a Continental engine. It actually used a very weird Lycoming TIO-541 engine similar to those found in Beechcraft Dukes.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Correct, in fact I corrected myself on the video right at the time I mentioned it. (I didn't want to re-record my voiceover again).

[@tonylam9548]

Just for information, for a light plane, the propeller generate about half the noise or more. The engine can easily be muffled, just like a car down to almost nothing. You will not even have to bother with a muffler if you have a turbo downstream of the exhaust gas, the turbo is an effective muffler. The other way Rotax used was to gear down the engine and slow the prop, and add blades.

[@robertgary3561]

That’s why in the new Cessnas our max govr rpm is only 2400 rpm. Because most noise comes from the near supersonic blade tips.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Agree 100%, and that's how the R90 was designed. Slow, 4-blade prop. There are exceptions of course, like the old augmented Lycomings which were WAY louder than props, but otherwise yes the props are the main noise makers.

[@tonylam9548]

@@aircraftadventures-vids No matter how loud piston engines are, they have to take second place to turbine when you consider noise. The straight through turbines like Garrett in some Cessna Conquest are the worse. If one is at your local airport at ground idle, just about everything within 200 ft have to stop, because you cannot hear anything. This is where a PT-6 is superior and I feel the slight loss of efficiency are worth it. The worse are the early engines in the 60s.

[@quantomic1106]

I don't think anyone can compete with Cessna. Their name is so deeply ingrained in aviation that every non-aviation person thinks every small plane flying around is a Cessna.

[@bleiben1]

My dad had a Mooney Mustang when I was a kid…. Not only was it pressurized, but it was fast for a single engine piston…

[@downwindchecklist6567]

The Subaru is actually very nice to fly. Also great for aerobatic and very good for UPRT. Very docile and flies like a low wing 172. It has also very sturdy landing gear which is great for grass runways.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

It's a pleasant-looking design, plus I'd love a big canopy over me.

[@solefinder3708]

@@aircraftadventures-vids Yep, the large canopy kind of gives it that 'Jetson''s' cartoon space buggy feel and look.

[@TheSportFlyer-xy6sn]

I love the Lark, Higher useful load than a 172, a little slower but more room inside if you are over 6". You can get them at about 2/3 the price of a 172. Edit: not slower, but uses a bigger engine to go same speed as 172.

[@dannyphantom1232]

Great video as usual!!! 👏🏻👏🏻

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Thanks, bud!

[@Gizmo4PS]

Great as usual! But 172 is still omnipresent

[@bearlemley]

In the late 70’s product liability insurance shot up by THREE orders of magnitude! It seem the US legal system allowed the US ambulance chasing attorneys mine gold from the manufactures. In 78, Product Liability Insurance was $56.00 for every serial number from one manufacturer, and by 1991 the same insurance was $72,000.00 and rising. How could anyone make an IFR 4 place for less than $50k when suddenly the PLI cost more than the plane? If you wonder why you have to fork out over $400k for a 4 place single, this is the reason. This is the reason very few aircraft are selling in what was the largest market in the world and why flight training is so costly. ‘Well, airplanes must be getting more and more dangerous than? ‘ Nope, the accident rate continues to drop as well as the number of mechanical failures per/1000 nautical miles. (For new planes) pilot error remains the number one cause accidents. The US legal system is allow to ignore these fact and extort millions from the manufacturers insurance companies who have to raise their rates to pay for liability cases. All the plaintiffs have to do when suing everybody involved, is to name the manufacturer at least one percent at fault. Then when a $30 million judgment is handed down it goes to the deep pockets as pilots don’t have any money.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Sadly, all correct. It killed also killed lot of amazing designs that were established, like the Cessna 210.

[@ivandenisovich6005]

Very interesting and entertaining. Always thought the Aero-Subaru was a rather neat machine. Great video, keep up the good work!

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Thanks!

[@rescue270]

Looks kinda like a Zenair homebuilt.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

@@rescue270 I does actually!

[@Paladin1873]

I'd like to see a review of the Windecker Eagle, Rockwell Commander 112, Culver Cadet, Bellanca 14, and Piper PA-14.

[@genxpilot69]

Love that Ruschmeyer R90! (7:50)

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Cool looking plane!

[@SM-wt8gd]

Excellent video. Thank you for making it!

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Thanks for watching!

[@SteveD328]

The Bellanca Viking had a wooden wing, the rest of the airplane was tube and fabric.

[@leedaero]

For Part 2 add the Windecker Eagle which was certified.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

I actually did a video on the Windecker last year, it's part of a compilation video on rare planes.

[@fantabuloussnuffaluffagus]

I would have liked to see the Windecker Eagle on this list.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

I covered it in another list video from last year.

[@randykelso4079]

Please tell us about the Temco Swift aircraft.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

That's actually my next video! Stay tuned (am hoping for Friday....)

[@michaelspunich7273]

Very good documentary.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Thank you!

[@AB3-74]

Cessnas and Pipers only? Here at my location, It used to be Zlin. And now Diamond has dominated for some time.

[@user-bl5lm9mu8k]

Thanks for sharing

[@soundknight]

Forward swept wings create unusual flight behaviours.

[@AZREDFERN]

Imagine losing a head gasket at 10,000’

[@fantabuloussnuffaluffagus]

Better at 10,000 than 500.

[@steveturner3999]

No mention of the Rockwell 112 and 114.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Nope, there were more Rockwell models but the video focuses on the 100 series. The 112/114s were moderately successful actually.

[@arthurbrumagem3844]

For 22 yrs I have enjoyed my Archer. Flown all over the US ( other than the SW which I have no interest in )

[@clydekawasaki1703]

I’ve flown the Super Viking, 690 Commander and wish more of them were manufactured. But one of my dream airplanes that I have never flown is an MU-2. Guess I’m just gonna have to be content with my Super Swift.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Well hold on the next video....the story behind the Globe Swift!

[@rescue270]

@@clydekawasaki1703 I'm told that, in order to be truly proficient in the MU-2, you need to fly one on pretty much a daily basis. They are not very forgiving in an engine-out scenario.

[@ReflectedMiles]

Most of the successful brands you mentioned have failed, too, sometimes more than once. The common single-engine and light-twin GA referred to in the video is not exactly a sustainable, profitable, "happening" market for most applications. Cessna's bread-and-butter, for example, is in bush planes required for life or work in the outback and in large, turbine-powered versions operated as fleets by cargo operators, not in common, public GA. If that was all they had, they would be barely hanging on or defunct like the others that have been dependent on the latter market.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

That's true, it's a niche. But you can also argue that general aviation in general was much healthier in the 60s/70s and could sustain more manufacturers, which is nearly impossible today. And Cessna's bread and butter and flight school trainers, not bushplanes.

[@ReflectedMiles]

@@aircraftadventures-vids Give Textron the choice between flight-school sales and multi-use (not cargo-only) Caravan sales outside the US and watch what happens….

[@michaeldickerson9428]

The mustang had a turbo Lycoming, not a Continental.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

You are correct, in fact I read it was related to the Duke engine. (I realized my mistake but didn't want to re-record my voiceover)

[@marks2166]

Cool video

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Thanks!

[@KevinKearney]

You skipped over the Rockwell Commander 112/114 a 4 seat low wing

[@ADAPTATION7]

I wasn't aware that Mooney went bankrupt. Oh well. I guess another one bites the dust.

[@rescue270]

@@ADAPTATION7 I've lost track of how many times Mooney has gone bankrupt.

[@smark1180]

Wut?

[@M_MTsc]

With the Grumman Tiger you could also open the canopy in flight. It was faster, more roomy and easier to fly than a 172. Shame it failed as well.

[@tfarris7113]

Failed? How?

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

I wouldn't say a production run of over 3,000 AA-5s was a failure. Obviously not even close to Piper or Cessna, but pretty respectable.

[@ditto1958]

The Tiger was a fairly successful airplane.

[@calvinnickel9995]

The Cessna Cardinal sold over 4200 units and was considered a failure by Cessna with a mere ten year production run, requiring numerous modifications (Cardinal Rule to fix the gear, wing, and stabilator, 180 HP mod, constant speed prop, and eventually 200 HP and retractable gear) plus forced Cessna to restart production of the 172 and modify it to accept the 150 HP Lycoming that was inadequate for the Cardinal.

[@tfarris7113]

@@calvinnickel9995 yeah but no canopy you can open in flight, so... who cares?

[@davidmartin1012]

An intercooler effects the density of the intake air to the engine after leaving the hot turbo. Nothing to do with increased cabin temperature.

[@AC-jk8wq]

Psssst…. Mooney is still around… supporting the existing owners with spare parts and services. Not building new planes. Mooney Mustang’s next step was the M30 and became the predecessor of the joint project with a French manufacturer… and built the Tarbes Mooney aka TBM700… much bigger and more expensive than an ordinary four seater…. Saying Mooney isn’t around anymore, is just untrue… Saying Mooney doesn’t currently build new planes would be more accurate…. 😃

[@terryboehler5752]

Nice. Bellanca Viking was ALL wood?

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Well at least the most important part...the wing.

[@terryboehler5752]

@@aircraftadventures-vids steel tube fuselage.

[@fjp3305]

Good video

[@mp-xt2rg]

Mooney mustang did just fine. They are still being built highly sought after. Maybe you have heard of the tbm line of aircraft. The m in tbm stands for Mooney and the tbm 700-900 are built on the Mooney mustang.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Not quite right. Yes on the TBM part but it was based on the Mooney 301, a creation by Roy Lopresti. That plane eventually morphed into the TBM series of turboprops. Not the Mustang.

[@soundknight]

Moral of the story: Bad companies with good employees produce bad commercial aircraft without reading the market and soon learn to feed at the trough of public money. Thereby the government becomes it's CEO with a bloated civilian command chain underneath.

[@timduggan1461]

The Cessna 172 is the most produced 4-seat airplane .

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Indeed it is.

[@allwinds3786]

No Navion?

[@terrystonitsch6569]

Navion is a great handling plane and fast enough if flown correctly.

[@CarlGlassmeyer-jj5qw]

Wnen you speak of aircraft with a sliding canopy, you forgot American aviations aa1 2 place, aa5 the 4 place and the aa8 twin.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

True, it's not the only one, but those were comparatively successful designs.

[@CarlGlassmeyer-jj5qw]

@@aircraftadventures-vids I owned both an AA 1 and an AA 5. Really fun aircraft. The AA 8 was a really underpowered dog.

[@rotol]

Society killed the 4 seaters. Family then was 2+2 and all within healthy weights.

[@CountCraigula]

You forgot the Rockwell commander.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

I didn't, just that the main focus of the video was on the 100 series. The Commander (if you referring to the 112/114) did pretty well actually.

[@CountCraigula]

@@aircraftadventures-vids The 112 and 114 was what I was referring to ,yes. Thats a really cool airplane. Unfortunattely it was unerpowered. We have a local pilot who owns a beautifull 114. Looks brand new. He has an uprated engine and prop. Says it has transformed the airplane from mediocre to outstanding.

[@timduggan1461]

I grew up flying airplanes, eventually ending my career as a Captain at United Airlines. This video has many errors. I grew up flying GA. MANY Cessnas of course. Bonanzas and even Aero Commanders.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

I'm open for critiques. Can you start listing out the errors?

[@darrylday30]

The aero subaru reminds me of the Grumman Tiger.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Someone mentioned it looks like a Zenair...so I guess a Tiger + Zenair mix.

[@kn4cc755]

Darter is so bad? How about another basic trainer of the day, the Piper Colt AKA Milk Stool. Glide ratio of a cinder block and all the comfort of a outhouse.

[@manfredalbrechtfreiherrvon4042]

Beechcraft supremacy, Been flying a Doctorkiller since 2006.

[@maxsmodels]

Luscombe

[@streptokokke1003]

8:50 „decibals“? Really?

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

So they said, lol.

[@Cruiser777]

That Rockwell Commander was a total failure the hi wing one

[@smark1180]

Wut?

[@fobbitoperator3620]

Response to thumbnail statement: When you put 4 fat people into a small 4 seat plane, carnage will result. This is the actual reason why this plane failed...

[@jamesbulldogmiller]

@5:05 USAF Lockheed C-121 Constellation. hardly a business jet

[@danobrien3601]

why don't they make planes pilots like instead what of corporates like ? miss those planes

[@silasmarner7586]

deciBELS, not deciBALS.

[@thecitizen49]

Never feel sorry for anyone who owns an airplane.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Why, are they bad, evil people?

[@mrcat5508]

@@aircraftadventures-vids no, their rich and he’s jealous

[@michaelparker7720]

Can't feel sorry for somebody who gets to fly their own plane to wherever they want, whenever they want....mostly. It can be an expensive hobby, but if you are even somewhat mechanically inclined you can build your own for way less...bonus :)

[@DblIre]

Attend EAA Airventure, you'll see MANY aircraft owners who aren't rich, just different priorities (flying).

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

@@DblIre I’d go even further and say many are poor after a bad annual.

[@maxsmodels]

Good designing, bad timing.

[@bjs2022]

Failure. The noun.

[@vickystella-thesisters6545]

👍🏻

[@larryweitzman5163]

The bird I remember most recenly seeing in the Anderson Greenwood Aires T-250. I saw it several times at PVF where I was based. Yeah, it was supposed to be fast, but not 180 kts and it didn't handle that well, nothing like a V-tail Bonanza. And it wasn't very pretty. There is an old adage in aviation, if it looks good, it usually flies good. Just think of all the great good looking airplanes. DC-3,4,5,6&7, P-51, Spitfire, A/B-26, Comanche, Bonanza and I could go on. Weird doesn't fly so good. You had plenty of those in your video, like the Hanza Jet,

[@larryweitzman5163]

I meant to talk about the Hansa jet with its "weird" forward swept wing. It had a huge cabin, but underwhwelming perofrmance and was known as a ground lover. Only about 43 were built.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

I spotted one in Munich at the Deutche museum back in June. I also did a writeup on the Hansa on my instagram account recently.

[@larryweitzman5163]

@@aircraftadventures-vids Yes, I even wrote a column a few years back a few years ago about how weird doesn't seel and used the Hansa Jet as an example. Being an underpowered pig didn't help. It's one of the earlier bizjets that failed along with the Corvette (French) in the mid 1960s. I think the Honda Jet even with their huge backing is having its own problems especially with its querky over the wing design. There are time share type operators going under as we speak. Hard to compete with the Phenom 100/300 the several Citations and a few others. Perhaps the best small/midsize bizjet on the market is the Astra SPX, G100 and the later G150 (a widebody version of the G100). for under $2Mil, you get .80+, 3,000+ nm, and a stout airframe and an almost stand up cabin.

[@constitutionallyweird6812]

Ok now to stop procrastinating