Maule owners - questions....

[satpak77]

For those Maule owners out there (and those with Maule time), please provide the pros/cons of owning one. Any fabric problems? Reliability issues? AD's to watch for? Etc etc

seems like a fairly good deal for the money for a 4-place airplane, to be used primarily on VFR daytime trips of 300 NM or less in distance.

Mid-90's models can be easily purchased for below $85,000 all day long.

thanks for the info

 

[Lead Sled]

Have a thorough prepurchase inspection done, including a title search.

Find a good experienced Maule instructor and get a thorough checkout. (That's the hard part.)

Keep it in a hangar.

Don't believe the performance claims - they're not as fast as they claim.

Wear ear plugs.

Have Fun.

'Sled

 

[RightPedal]

I had a 1972 M4-220 and I loved it. When I bought this airplane I think I had about thirty total hours of tailwheel time all in a cessna 170. The owner, an instructor, and I did maybe an hour of touch and go's the day of delivery. He signed me off and down the road he went. I had no problem with it, in fact I thought it was easier to handle than the 170.
The Franklin motor was to me one of the best engines I ever sat behind. Never failed me one time and in six years it cost me a mag harness, a set of intake packings and a set of engine mount rubbers. At 75% power it indicated just over 140mph and 11gph at low altitude. At 55% I got 130mph and 9.5gph.
This thing was more fun than a hot chick. With 10gal of fuel and solo I could be airborne in 300ft and full stop in 150ft, on hard surface. Maule may not be the prettiest thing out there but they are built rock solid. It's sort of like having jeep that flys. I wish to have another one some day.
Check out http://www.maulemods.com/phpbb2/index.php?sid=453d030dfde7500637b30defe3c848ee

 

[propsarebest]

The M4 is the best model- has a rounded tail.

I have a buddy that has a M4-210C, with a TCM 360-210 hp.

Its a friggin blast- get the partoller doors, they are well worth the price.

be sure that the AD for the lift struts has been complied with abd get a friggin hangar! fabric dun like it outside.

 

[sky37d]

I did my primary instruction in an MXT7-180, with constant speed prop. After getting my license, I rented it for a while, until it left the flight school. I'm 6-3, and abt 200. On long flights, 4 hours, it gets a little small.

It was a joy to fly, faster than 172's or warriors, climbed like crazy, needed no runway to speak of, and was just a ball.

I also flew one on floats, did my one and only water landing.

 

[C425Driver]

This thing was more fun than a hot chick.

nevermind...

 

[KVNY]

We use a Maule as our tow plane. Its a beutiful aircraft. Flying without head phones and with the windows wide open is a blast... just dont do it too often if you value your hearing... . Theres a story about a Maule towing a glider out-climbing a clean 182, lol. That thing is awsome.

 

[MVSW]

The University that I went to had 12 Maules. We had MXT-7-180 and 160's. They are hard to get into to but a blast to fly. You can take off the doors and see really well. We didn't have any problems. They can take off in like 425ft. And if you can land a tricycle gear Maule then you can land ANYTHING!!! Get one...THEY ARE GREAT!!!

 

[satpak77]

ok lots of good info thanks

yeah my "mission profile" is 2 adults 2 kids and VFR day 300 mile trip every other weekend with luggage.

on non-trip weekends, local flying for 1-2 hours

I would assume the Maule burns 6-8 gallons an hour, with 73 gallon tanks, I think the above load is possible with 50% fuel (36 gallons), still giving me 3.6 hours endurance at 10 GPH worst case scenario

 

[sky37d]

The University that I went to had 12 Maules. We had MXT-7-180 and 160's. They are hard to get into to but a blast to fly. You can take off the doors and see really well. We didn't have any problems. They can take off in like 425ft. And if you can land a tricycle gear Maule then you can land ANYTHING!!! Get one...THEY ARE GREAT!!!

Oh, yeah, forgot that part. On the MXT-7-180, the demonstrated crosswind is 12 MPH (not KTS).