03/31/2024. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "In late 1963, Mooney Aircraft Inc. (Louis Schreiner Field, presently Kerrville-Kerr County Airport) acquired rights to assemble, market and service the Mitsubishi Mu-2 in North America. In 1965, Mooney established a MU-2 assembly line at a San Angelo, Texas, factory. Major components shipped from Japan to San Angelo factory were assembled, and equipped with engines, avionics, and interiors. After painting and flight testing, the completed aircraft were delivered to customers.

While marketed as a Mitsubishi Model Mu-2D, the pictured aircraft with c/n 116 was registered as a Mitsubishi Model Mu-2B-10, initially as N862Q, later as N77TM. In bi-annual FAA registers (January 1 and July 1, 1964 to 1978), thirteen entries can be found regarding the photographed aircraft in a ten years' time frame, 1969-1978. Most likely the aircraft has been leased several times.

The first N862Q entry, found in the January 1, 1969 issue, indicates the pictured aircraft was completed between July 1, 1968 and January 1, 1969. Note the dates below are the issue dates of the related bi-annual register issue, the actual entry in the FAA register might have been made up to six months earlier."

N862Q N77TM

1969 Jan. 1 1969 Jul. 1 1971 Jul. 1 1972 Jul. 1 1973 Jan. 1 1973 Jul. 1 1974 Jan. 1 1974 Jul. 1 1975 Jul. 1 1977 Jan. 1 1977 Jul. 1 1978 Jan. 1 1978 Jul. 1 1978 Jul. 1  to 1986 Sep. 9 1996 Nov. 1999 Mar. 31

Mooney Aircraft, San Angelo, Texas Metropolitan Mooney Inc, Teterboro, New Jersey Princeton Aviation, Princeton, New Jersy M.A., Milwaukee, Wisconsin Turner Manufacturing, Roseville, Michigan Turner Manufacturing, Roseville, Michigan Joseph T. Barta, White Plains, New York Worcester International, West Boylston, Massachusetts Worcester International, Hayward Heath, Sussex, UK Aerotech Sales, Purchase, New York Joseph T. Barta, White Plains, New York Allmand Brothers, Holdrege, Nebraska Midway Motor Lodges, Waukesha, Wisconsin 1986 Sep. 8   no data Waterlines, Wilmington, Delaware broken up for spares at Lake City Airport, Florida registration cancelled