Littlecub wrote:

......check with guys here who have them.

Dammit, Gump, some of us that don't have to sell are very comfortable in our denial! Might have to check with a realist!

Back to the M-4.
STARTING in taildraggers is the best way to make sure a "pilot" finishes training and not an "airplane driver".......
IMHO.
Be sure to have someone who knows tube 'n fabric planes REAL well do the pre-buy for you. Fabric problems after the purchase is bad enough, but 'if', when you go to replace fabric, you find you have to replace a bunch of rusted tubes, too, well, that is not what you want!
Sounds like a good price if it is in 'actual' reasonable shape. After reading my comment above, you will probably 'discount' my opinion on price!

lc

maules.com wrote:The M4-220 has metal wings, so no issue there. The tail feathers are cheap to replace if needed and the tailcone is originally covered in Razorback which is tough stuff and very many of the M4s are still safely covered in it.
The hard paints of the day were prone to cracks.
The M4 145, 210, or 220hp will make a good primary trainer with excellent forward visibility, four doors, four seats, double baggage door (51"), 40 or 63 gallon fuel.
The early 145hp did not have copilot brakes but many have been updated.
She could accomplish PPL, conventional (taildragger), complex (cs prop and flaps), high performance (over 200hp) all in the same airplane plus have good speed and stol performance for Dad.
Jeremy

z3skybolt wrote:Stinson v/s Maule,


The Stinson handles like a Mercedes....the Maule like a Jeep. And ......I love my Maule which I have owned for over nine years. Like others have said previously; little airplanes aren't worth much now but $20 grand for a 220 H.P. Maule just doesn't sound right.

bob

smorgan99 wrote:
Good thoughts on the difference, not sure of the real condition of this plane, been outside for sometime i expect and is a 1969 was is a repo

z3skybolt wrote:Well,

My son who is about to turn 25 learned to fly riding around with me from the time he was a baby. As time went by we graduated to a 260 hp Skybolt and did lots of flying together. I wanted him to be proficient so we hired a friend to give him professional instruction in a C-150. At the age of 13 I soloed him. Well....I rode along as baggage: slid my seat back and closed my eyes. He made 3 perfect touch and go landings without a single comment from me.

Then I had a friend teach him in a Stinson....something closer to the Skybolt in performance. Later on we bought a Maule M-5-210-C about the time he turned 16 and had legally soloed. I then transitioned him into the Maule. He flew it perfecty and still does. A couple of times he has almost let it get away from him in a crosswind but managed to recover safely.

Not really an example of learning in a Maule....but he had zero problems transitioning. Every time we fly together I am amazed by his skill. He has a private with instrument rating and 250 hours, flies only a few hours each year but seems to maintain proficiency with ease. All about youth I guess.

Go for it!

Bob

OregonMaule wrote:

smorgan99 wrote:
Good thoughts on the difference, not sure of the real condition of this plane, been outside for sometime i expect and is a 1969 was is a repo

I learned all my TW stuff in my M7 235HP, after the beginning of a ground loop on lesson 3 it has never happened again.

The Franklin 220HP is a sweet engine BUT!!! parts are an issue.

Good backcountry plane for you Scott.

Anything you buy that has sit, not pickled, be prepared to overhaul the engine. Not saying it will happen, just mentally and financially be prepared. Get it for a price that an overhaul won't make you upside down in the darn thing. Another option, agree on a price, on condition, tear down and fix anything not right right.

Even if it runs perfect, it might not be perfect.

I know a little about this.

Thanks Rob, yeh the ground loop is the fear. I get the whole sitting around deal, have two stories about that, we can chat about them hopefully when i meet you on the 10th. Thanks for your thoughts.

Good day...Rob

smorgan99 wrote:

cstolaircraft wrote:right now I am training in a C-170B so I don't see why a tail wheel would be a problem. I think that it will make a better pilot out of you.

just my 2 cents

Reuben

Thanks, so you had no time before starting in a tail wheel?