Maule thread

[hotrod180]

A couple Maule guys at my airport have installed new & improved door latch set-ups.
Seem to work pretty good.
If they're like most maule parts, they're probably priced pretty reasonably -- at least compared to cessna parts.

.... The last fuel valve I bought from maule was about $50. Add about $500 to that for a Cessna.....

I disagree... it's probably more like add $5K.

 

[BC12D-4-85]

I owned a M-5-235 for a bit. Had some fun flying and hunting with it. Taking off from inside the hangar must be Georgia style STOL.

Gary

 

[aktango58]

A couple Maule guys at my airport have installed new & improved door latch set-ups.
Seem to work pretty good.

I was quoted $400 to do the change over from old style.

I laugh at the concern over Maule original door latches. One longer piece of steel rod with a bend threaded, then a catch to hold the spring at the other end and file angle. Yup, built by a guy wanting farmers to be able to maintain. Might be simple and sound silly, but so much easier to replace and make work than some other companies latching systems.

I think there is more to the doors not fitting well to having doors not latch. The Seaplane kit I think helps that as the longhorns are stronger.

 

[Farmer Hank]

When I was in the Navy at Cecil Field I bought a new M4-220C. $15,000. When I did the walk around with B.D. I noticed the elevators didn’t line up with the stabilizers. He just put his knee under the right elevator and bent it to match. We took off from the ramp. Plane was rugged but had some kind of interconnect springs between the rudder and ailerons which made flying in turbulence difficult. Flight instruments were scattered all over the panel. I made a new panel and put everything into the standard six-pack configuration. Had two adventurous winters on Federal 2200 skis. Traded it for a 1971 Comanche Turbo 260. And later added a 1960 Super Cub which I put the skis on.

 

[hotrod180]

.... but had some kind of interconnect springs between the rudder and ailerons which made flying in turbulence difficult.....

I believe the ailerons are linked to a servo tab on the rudder,
maybe for feet-on-the-floor coordinated flight?
I believe the Piper TriPacer had a similar interconnect between the aileron & rudder for a similar reason,
no tab but maybe a bungee, which gets deleted when you convert them to t/w gear.
I'm surprised that Maule apparently still has that feature on their current airplanes--
it must be that most maule pilots don't mind it.

 

[skywagon8a]

I believe the Piper TriPacer had a similar interconnect between the aileron & rudder for a similar reason,
no tab but maybe a bungee, which gets deleted when you convert them to t/w gear.
I'm surprised that Maule apparently still has that feature on their current airplanes--
it must be that most maule pilots don't mind it.

The Tri-Pacer has two coil springs in the aileron/rudder interconnect system. In my opinion, they contribute towards an uncomfortable ride in turbulent air. They were removed in the Colt PA-22-108.

Without knowing the details of the Maule, it is likely that system is there in order to pass some of the FAA stability testing. Many short coupled airplanes have stability issues.

 

[BC12D-4-85]

My M-5 was feet on the floor and drive like a car (or truck) most days.

Gary

 

[mvivion]

If you own an older Maule (as in one of most any vintage that actually has a few hours on it) take a good look at top wing skins for smoking rivets.

MTV

 

[Sturgill]

I have owned a lot of nice aircraft. I also had a 1992 Maule. Worst airplane I’ve ever dealt with. Short coupled, ground-looping, SOB. F a Maule!

This is a turbine Maule my buddy is currently importing. Crazy.

 

[Hardtailjohn]

I take care of an M4-220C and an M5 that's been converted to an M7. The fit and finish may be a bit "utilitarian" but I really do like them both. Simple and effective, just the way things should be!
JH

 

[Dog]

I had several Maules over the Years and looking for a specific one right now again.

They are a bit coarse in build and quality control. The best maule one can buy is one rebuild by a good shop always has been and still is although they have got a bit better.

I always come back to the Maule. While I love my cub ( I will keep it as my retirement plane)

The maule is a just get the Job done Aircraft. It has enough fuel to fly 6 hour surveys without refuelling.

Or keep it light with one guy and Backpack will land on any reasonable cub strip but I get there at 140 MPH on 31s . Don't fool yourself if you do cub work you only do a cub load no more.

At the end of the day it is the cheapest aircraft I ever used commercially. At 13 gallons an hour it does 140MPH the cub does 90 on 8 gallons per hour. Same fuel cost for the same trip.

Parts are as cheap as a cub and the O 540 is bomb proved, the last engine did TBO +10% 2 times,

4400 hours without any issues beyond doing the mags every 500 hrs the od muffler and oil cooler.

The new owner won't sell it back to me for the same reasons it just flat out works for him too.

 

[Steve Pierce]

I think there is more to the doors not fitting well to having doors not latch.

I always had to file the notches in the old latches so you could open and close the door.

 

[thaefeli]

Never flown one. That being said, there was a M7 235 based here at RCV (7955 msl) for many years. Full leather interior, six seats, and crazy IFR panel. Heavy pig that only flew a few times before being sold.
Had a guy come over La Vets pass (10,500') in a M5 220 to look at a project. Said he had to circle three times to get enough altitude for the pass. Just him and his dad.
Then along comes a couple of guys in an M7 180 with all their camping gear and two mountain bikes. Spent a couple of days exploring around here. Loaded up and blasted off like 10K DA was nothing. I remember thinking "thats pretty bad ass!"

 

[BC12D-4-85]

Piper wing and Georgia steel.....what's not to like? https://mauleairinc.com/

Gary

 

[Dog]

Never flown one. That being said, there was a M7 235 based here at RCV (7955 msl) for many years. Full leather interior, six seats, and crazy IFR panel. Heavy pig that only flew a few times before being sold.
Had a guy come over La Vets pass (10,500') in a M5 220 to look at a project. Said he had to circle three times to get enough altitude for the pass. Just him and his dad.
Then along comes a couple of guys in an M7 180 with all their camping gear and two mountain bikes. Spent a couple of days exploring around here. Loaded up and blasted off like 10K DA was nothing. I remember thinking "thats pretty bad ass!"

Like all aircraft they need enough wing to lift weight-- I would not want one unless they have the universal wing or better the old long M7 A model wing.

That makes all the difference in the world. The MX7 or M7 with the universal wing flies a bit nicer but the Old M7 long wing has the best performance.

 

[Formandfunction]

If I had a Maule it would be a long wing with the 180 frank. The 220 is a firecracker but the 180 runs 100%mogas,is super light,9gph and being built off the 220 platform it's damn near bulletproof.Back in the day before oil filters they gave it a 2000 hour tbo. Parts are also one phone call away if you don't mind paying for them though still cheaper than conti or lycoming.

 

[hotrod180]

....I would not want one unless they have the universal wing or better the old long M7 A model wing.....

There's a guy who posts on the backcountrypilot site,
he used to own a maule of some flavor which got flailed to death in a windstorm.
He replaced it with another maule,
I don't remember the particulars, but it has a shorter than normal wing--
don't recall if they're from a shorter-wing model or if it actually had the wings clipped.
Seems to be counter-intuitive to the way most folks use their maules,
but he seems to like it.

 

[isaac]

The factory has been putting out some nice Maules recently. They are now building the longest wing and flap again(longer than the universal setup). We have a 2018 long wing with airframes extended gear and 35s. It cruises at 130mph at high power settings on 35s. When not in a hurry I can back it off to under 10 GPH and still fly 100mph.
I love supercubs! I also love landing in places few or no others have ever been to. But I love even more going and sharing those places and adventures with my family. The Maule has allowed us as a family to explore very remote parts of Alaska and still land in some very short and rough places. Light it still goes in and out of all the sheep and caribou strips we used to access with Supercubs. Many of those strips are under 300 feet and a few are under 200 feet. Our Maule has the factory long range tanks and on fish surveys we have flown over 800 miles without refueling. I can still load our whole family in the plane and go fishing, hunting or camping. I have a lot of time in Maules and the only condition I have found that I always wish I had a cub instead of a Maule is landing in a turn to the right with obstacles at the touch down. It is hard to see that right tire in a Maule. The rest of the time I love that I can own just one plane and do everything I love but I can share it with my family.
Isaac

 

[bob turner]

Two hundred feet? I am impressed. I have never been in a Super Cub that could do that.

 

[DENNY]

Bob, you need to get yourself into some better cubs. I wanted to talk smack yesterday say Mauls can go where cubs do because cubs go to the longer maul size strips a lot. But in the back of my head a little voice said there is Isaac to think of!! He has next level skill with his Maul, I think he is in the 700 or more hours a year range (3 years to make TBO if I remember right) with who knows how many bush landings a day and he has been flying for a while. 2018 Valdez he had a 85 foot takeoff and 98 Foot landing. He may cheat a bit on the real short strips and use wind or slope to get in/out. I know I would. I met him and his family at Happy Vally on the haul road a few years back. Great people. I think he runs a workshop in the summer before hunting season, any maul driver wanting good training should attend https://www.godscountryaviation.com/off-airport-clinic.html.
DENNY

 

[aktango58]

He may cheat a bit on the real short strips and use wind or slope to get in/out.

That is not cheating, just good technique.

 

[Dog]

Thats right -- Use all that mother Nature provides you with to your advantage -- she is not always in a giving mood.

 

[Steve Pierce]

The factory has been putting out some nice Maules recently. They are now building the longest wing and flap again(longer than the universal setup). We have a 2018 long wing with airframes extended gear and 35s. It cruises at 130mph at high power settings on 35s. When not in a hurry I can back it off to under 10 GPH and still fly 100mph.
I love supercubs! I also love landing in places few or no others have ever been to. But I love even more going and sharing those places and adventures with my family. The Maule has allowed us as a family to explore very remote parts of Alaska and still land in some very short and rough places. Light it still goes in and out of all the sheep and caribou strips we used to access with Supercubs. Many of those strips are under 300 feet and a few are under 200 feet. Our Maule has the factory long range tanks and on fish surveys we have flown over 800 miles without refueling. I can still load our whole family in the plane and go fishing, hunting or camping. I have a lot of time in Maules and the only condition I have found that I always wish I had a cub instead of a Maule is landing in a turn to the right with obstacles at the touch down. It is hard to see that right tire in a Maule. The rest of the time I love that I can own just one plane and do everything I love but I can share it with my family.
Isaac

When Justin bought 574HB I watched some of your videos. You obviously know how to fly the Maule. He loves that plane and it now sports both logos, one on each side of the fin.

 

[Gary Raser]

I am planing to fly to AK in early to mid June and looking for someone with another plane to pair up with for the flight. I have a M-7 and the guy I was planning on flying up with can’t go this year. If anyone is interested in going please let me know.
Gary