Battson wrote:
From a purely theoretical point of view (because it would be dangerous to try) could you not just pull back as you raise flaps, increasing the angle of attack for the whole wing as the incoming flap reduces it?

Yes it appears that technique should be able to maximize the theoretical performance, if you could. execute the transition precisely enough

That's what I do on a "normal" takeoff. Once over 100' & pushing 60 indicated, I gently bleed off the flaps in one motion & correct with elevator & she keeps on climbing until I pull back to about 22-2300 RPM. This is not max angle, just normal TO.

I would add: Just be careful... Look at the span of the flaps on the Maule. The big engine Maules have enough power to take off with full flaps. The rectangular wing acts like it is high on crack with the flaps down; lots of lift with a high coefficient of lift on 3/4 of the wing. However, the aerodynamic characteristics of the wing change with flaps down. You no longer have the safety valve of a wing-root-first stall. 3/4 of the wing will be happily flying when a tip stalls (if you get too exuberant with the AoA). If this happens, the stall unzips quickly to the root without the courtesy of a buffet and there you are: close to the ground, high AoA, max torque, high deck angle, slow speed... not a good place.

If you are after a lot of Y without much X, probably a good idea to obey the min speed mentioned in the POH for obstacle clearance TO. It may seem conservative, but the alternatives may be scary. In fact, if the scenario above were to happen, the only good thing might be that it would all be over BEFORE you had time to be scared.

crazedpilot wrote:

denalipilot wrote:Normally I try to avoid abruptly going from one detent to the next. The handling is smoother when I ease it from one to the next.

Yea... but that 'leap' that it does ripping on full flaps and getting your bushwheels up off the pavement is sure a good feeling

What is this pavement you speak of?

Interesting thing about the later torque tube Maule flap system is that they automatically retract some as you speed up, thus lessening drag. If you start the takeoff roll with the prescribed 24 degrees then at about 40mph feel the flap lever upwards, the sweet spot of best lift with least drag can be felt and observed. It is before the next notch of 40 degrees and varies with weight and speed so holding the lever in the right hand around the 35 degree area you can feel for the greatest advantage while looking at the approaching obstacle.