The Mooney M-18 "Mite" is a low-wing, single-seat monoplane with retractable, tricycle landing gear.

[1][2] The Mite was designed by Al Mooney and was intended as a personal airplane marketed to fighter pilots returning from World War II.

[2] The Mooney Aircraft Corporation built a total of 283 Mites in Wichita, Kansas, and Kerrville, Texas, between 1947 and 1954.

The first seven were powered by belt driven,[4] modified 25 hp (19 kW) Crosley automobile engines, but these proved to be troublesome.

[2][6] The market for the single-seat M-18 was limited, so Mooney later developed the four-seat M-20 to appeal to aircraft owners with families.