The Mooney M20V Acclaim is the fastest certified piston single ever built — a turbocharged, near-240-knot cross-country machine that turns long trips into short ones. Exhilarating to own, it's a performance airplane that rewards proficiency.
Key takeaways
- Fastest piston single: ~240-knot cruise at altitude.
- Higher-value single: $360,000–$750,000 by generation.
- Performance-priced insurance — training and time-in-type matter.
About the Mooney Acclaim
The turbocharged Acclaim (Type S and Ultra) pairs high-altitude capability with the efficient Mooney airframe. The late Ultra adds a composite door and refined cabin. It's the top of the Mooney line.
As a fast, turbocharged, retractable single, it expects real transition training. Mooney is out of production, so buy on condition and records; the specialist network supports the fleet.
Ownership Considerations
- Fuel: ~15–18 gph at high cruise — efficient for the speed.
- Insurance: higher than a docile single; sensitive to time-in-type.
- Systems: budget for turbo and retractable-gear maintenance.
- Maintenance: use a Mooney specialist.
What to Check When Buying a Mooney Acclaim
Focus the pre-buy on engine time since overhaul (with compression and borescope checks), avionics generation, damage history, and complete logbooks; older airframes warrant a careful corrosion inspection. Use a type-experienced shop — lenders typically require a pre-buy before funding.
Financing a Mooney Acclaim
As a piston single, a Mooney Acclaim typically finances with 15–20% down and terms up to 20 years for a well-qualified buyer, with engine time, avionics, damage history, and your credit driving the rate. Insurance rises with performance and low time-in-type and must bind before funding. Jaken Aviation is a brokerage, not a lender — we shop your loan across a national network of aviation lenders. For rates, worked examples, and how to apply, see the resources below.
Prices and financing figures in this article are illustrative for the 2026 market and are not offers of credit. Jaken Aviation is a licensed aircraft financing brokerage — a division of Jaken Finance Group — and does not make loan decisions. All financing is subject to lender approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Acclaim really the fastest piston single?
Yes — the M20V Acclaim cruises near 240 knots at altitude, the fastest of any certified production piston single.
Is it hard to insure?
It's priced on performance — expect transition training and meaningful time-in-type for the best rates.
How much down?
For a well-qualified buyer, 15–20% is common.
Ready to Finance a Mooney Acclaim?
Get a fast pre-qualification and let us compare offers across our lender network for your aircraft.
Get Pre-Qualified