I've been sitting home for a few days with the flu that's been going around these parts and of course I end up on the web looking at airplanes. I've been leaning towards a 180 as the best balance of short / rough field performance, cruise and cargo capability, they are nice birds, but the new Maule M9 sure looks tempting on paper. Has anyone here flown an M9? For what it's worth I've never flown a Maule, but have lots of time in Cessna 172's,182's and 206's and a bit of time in the 180. Regardless, I may be catching the Tail Wheel fever....

Things the M9 seems to have going for it:
- Better Takeoff & Landing numbers.
- Big Cargo door
- New vs 30-60 yrs old.
- Steel Cabin Structure should be more crashworthy than the Cessna.


Questions about the M9 compared vs a 180:
- Bigger cargo area?
- Better Handling?
- Crosswind Landing?
- Rudder Authority?
I compared the M9 to the 180A.

Category.................................Maule M-9.......Cessna 180-A...Category Winner
(Source: Maule).....(Source: http://www.pilotfriend.com/aircraft%20p ... a/2/19.htm)
Useful Load..........................1100 lbs..........1100 lbs...........Tie
Take Off, Ground Roll.............406 ft..............615 ft............Maule
Take Off over 50’ Obstacle:....791 ft.............1080 ft............Maule
Landing over 50’ Obstacle:.....900 ft.............1330 ft............Maule
Service Ceiling:..................20,000 ft..........21,500 ft............Cessna
Cruise (75% power):................137 kts.(TAS)....139 kts..........Cessna (barely)

Take that A model and put a Pponk in then check the numbers, and the final cost.
Gary

Remember maule specs are not usually at gross cessna always are.
That being said I had a chance to look a m9 over and it looks like the best maule yet, plus you get a lycoming 540 instead of an cont 470!

C180 all the way...

You can buy (or build) one hell of a 180 for new Maule $$$. When I am finished with my wagon, I will have a (just under) 1700 lb aircraft with a 3190 GW with 84 gal and a 6 hr range and a useful of 1500 lbs. With the Sportsman and Wing X the Maule wont touch it. If I Ponk the motor, forget about it. After all that, I would still have tons of gas money to fly up to AK and back before I was at the price of a stock Maule.

But Im biased...

bigrenna, have you ever flown a Maule?
My ol M6 never met a 180 that if dressed up the same ever came close to the same performance.

But I'm Biassed, Kinda 2 cheeked you know!!

GT

I was saying that for the price of a stock new Maule, you can have yourself one hell off a built up 180 and have cash left over.

Me too

ccurrie wrote:Remember maule specs are not usually at gross cessna always are.
That being said I had a chance to look a m9 over and it looks like the best maule yet, plus you get a lycoming 540 instead of an cont 470!

Ccurry, how'd the M9 cabin space and cargo space compare to a 180?

I've seen them do that with their other models, and it just seemed strange way to spec an aircraft 1/2 loaded, when all the other guys report their performance numbers at GW and Maule reported performance numbers lightly loaded. They must've cought enough grief for it, because, according to Maule, all these performance specs for the M-9 are at 2800 lbs., max gross

bigrenna wrote:C180 all the way...

You can buy (or build) one hell of a 180 for new Maule $$$. When I am finished with my wagon, I will have a (just under) 1700 lb aircraft with a 3190 GW with 84 gal and a 6 hr range and a useful of 1500 lbs. With the Sportsman and Wing X the Maule wont touch it. If I Ponk the motor, forget about it. After all that, I would still have tons of gas money to fly up to AK and back before I was at the price of a stock Maule.

But Im biased...

Bigrenna have you actually seen one with all those mods you mentioned and that an honest sub 1700 lbs empty weight? I have not, but regardless even if it weighs 1800, you'll have a very nice bird. I've had the same idea to build one up like that after seeing Kevin and a few other guys build up old 180's,182's and 185's. They are all very nice birds, that I'd love to fly.

Just saw this:
http://www.trade-a-plane.com/detail/Single+Engine+Piston/2013/Maule/M-9/1589841.html
The 260hp M9 is just around the corner. Might give that PPonked 180 a run for it's money...and its got that new airplane smell.

The nice thing about a new bird is it's never been landed hard, corroded or bent. My present airplane had hidden damage from a previous owner that cost me 5 months without a plane and $1,000's to repair. My plane is in great shape now, but I'm biased toward new after that experience.

4Whitey wrote:Bigrenna have you actually seen one with all those mods you mentioned and that an honest sub 1700 lbs empty weight?

Haven't seen one yet, and I know all the controversy RE: weight. But it don't hurt to try.

We have A/C scales in the hanger to keep tabs as well as a small digi scale to track the small stuff. Right now Im 1680 lbs including 12 qts oil and unusable fuel. Thats with gutted interior, no back seats, and includes 8.5x10's and ABW TW. V Brace, WingX, skylites closed cell foam, extended baggage, Sportsman and RMD tips, so weight is coming back on, but then again the exterior is getting stripped next week and when I swap out the starter for a Skytec I should loose at least another 35. Reality is I will most likely come in between 1700 - 1750. I really don't care either way. Bottom line is its going to be damn light, or at least as light as it can be w/out sacrificing crazy comfort.

Rolling the dice...

I originally wanted a 206. I had the perfect partner, then he died at 46 years old. Couldn't afford a GOOD 206 with the hours on the airframe and avionics I wanted.

IMO with a 20-30 year old plane you will be dinking with stuff all the time. That's why I went with a plane with 90 hours on it.

I would still love to have a 206 and I still can't afford one the way I want it.

Cheers...Rob

OregonMaule wrote:I would still love to have a 206 and I still can't afford one the way I want it.

Cheers...Rob

What would you do with a 206 that you can't do with the Maule?

Zzz wrote:What would you do with a 206 that you can't do with the Maule?

Climb in and out of the f**king thing without getting a hernia!!!!!

Gump

GumpAir wrote:

Zzz wrote:What would you do with a 206 that you can't do with the Maule?

Climb in and out of the f**king thing without getting a hernia!!!!!

Gump

Hahahahaha!

GumpAir wrote:

Zzz wrote:What would you do with a 206 that you can't do with the Maule?

Climb in and out of the f**king thing without getting a hernia!!!!!

Gump

Hahaha. Ok you've got a good point there. Where does the spare tire go when you're all folded up in one of those things?

Fabric versus aluminum skin.

ho hum

For comparisons sake,
Fabric on a Maule is only the tail cone and tail surfaces.
4130 Roll cage, Maule, Monocoque aluminum Cessna
Most damaged items in a skirmish with solid objects are the extremities, aileron, wingtip, elevator and prop.
C182 and Maule prop same price new.
Aileron C182 $5610, Maule $824,
Rudder C182 $7059, Maule $907,
Horizontal stab C182 $15,712, Maule $780 X 2,

My M7-235 with IO540 235hp has 1000lbs useful with 2 blade Mac or 3 blade MT, does 160mph TAS, has 43 and 73, or 85gal tanks, takes off at full gross in 350feet and lands in less. Has 4 doors with 56" wide rear load access opening. Can fly doors off for film work, paradrops, supply drops. Can accommodate two 55 gal drums. Has 5 seats. Number 3, 4, and 5 seats all remove in 2 mins and can be taken along taking only 3" space laid flat.
260hp weighs 12lbs more.
420shp weighs less than 235 or 260. But fuel weighs more, but holds world time to climb to 10,000 for amphibs. 195mph TAS.

maules.com wrote:For comparisons sake,
Fabric on a Maule is only the tail cone and tail surfaces.
4130 Roll cage, Maule, Monocoque aluminum Cessna
Most damaged items in a skirmish with solid objects are the extremities, aileron, wingtip, elevator and prop.
C182 and Maule prop same price new.
Aileron C182 $5610, Maule $824,
Rudder C182 $7059, Maule $907,
Horizontal stab C182 $15,712, Maule $780 X 2,

My M7-235 with IO540 235hp has 1000lbs useful with 2 blade Mac or 3 blade MT, does 160mph TAS, has 43 and 73, or 85gal tanks, takes off at full gross in 350feet and lands in less. Has 4 doors with 56" wide rear load access opening. Can fly doors off for film work, paradrops, supply drops. Can accommodate two 55 gal drums. Has 5 seats. Number 3, 4, and 5 seats all remove in 2 mins and can be taken along taking only 3" space laid flat.
260hp weighs 12lbs more.
420shp weighs less than 235 or 260. But fuel weighs more, but holds world time to climb to 10,000 for amphibs. 195mph TAS.

Damn Jeremy I'm sold! Where do I get one

I think Maule deserves a lot of credit for staying in the hunt and trying to improve there planes to be a better backcountry/cross country performer, which I'm sure is no easy task when you have to deal with the FAA.
Gary

What does a new M9 cost