One of the most stunning airplanes in the world, a mural-covered 1967 Mooney M20F, regularly flies out of Albert Whitted Airport in downtown St. Pete, piloted by Liam Hawkins.

The Mooney Anomaly is what the aircraft is commonly known as, and true to its sobriquet, this aircraft is a deviation from the norm in aviation. So much so that the Mooney Anomaly became one of the most famous planes in the world and will be featured as the focal point for the second largest aviation show, Sun ‘n’ Fun Aerospace Expo, next year.

A geometric design of prismatic color covers every inch of the plane short of the windows and propeller. “A piece of art that flies,” says Matt Kress, who painted Liam’s Mooney aircraft. Matt had never painted a plane before. About 10 years ago, Matt didn’t consider himself an artist. Now you see his murals climbing the city. And Liam, now a seasoned pilot, had a lifelong fear of flying.

Mooney Anomaly will be the focal point of Sun ‘n’ Fun Aero Expo next year

How does an artist who was not an artist, and a pilot who was afraid of flying, meet? At a bar, of course. The ‘Burg has a way of connecting the right friends. “When I bought the plane, Matt called it ugly”, Liam informs me. Like any good friend who calls your stuff ugly, Matt kindly offered to paint it. But he’d need a facility and aviation quality paints and prep.

As it turns out, aviation painters and finishers aren’t too jazzed about a third party using their workspace or mixing with their paint. Absolutely not, was the general feedback. But Ace Aircraft Refinishing wiggled their brow.

“The hardest part of painting a plane,” says Matt, “the surface area is not flat…[painting the belly of the plane] required me to lay on concrete…it took a lot of sweat, patience, and focus.”

After 5 weeks, Matt transformed the plain white (with a thin pinstripe) exterior into the prismatic head-turner it is. There’s little that compares to the Mooney Anomaly, and its unique juxtaposition of art and air has attracted attention. The Mooney Anomaly will fly to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, this July for the EAA AirVenture show, which boasted 677,000 air enthusiasts last year. In 2025, the Mooney Anomaly will spotlight the Sun ‘n’ Fun Aero Expo in Lakeland, with an expected 250,000 patrons attending.

“A year ago, could you imagine this happening?” asks Liam. “Never,” says Matt.