In 1953, Al Mooney took a railroad man's vocabulary and a wizard's eye for efficiency and built the M20. First flown September 3, 1953, and certified August 24, 1955, the low-wing four-seater wrung 170 mph from a humble 150 hp Lycoming—speed and economy in one sleek package. The early wooden-wing models gave way to all-metal construction under Ralph Harmon, and the "Johnson Bar" manual gear lever (a nod to Al's railroad days) became a Mooney trademark. Over 11,000 produced across three production runs, the M20 family proves that clean lines and clever engineering never go out of style.