I need to be flying, now. Might throw in the towel on all other build projects due to available time. That’s a bigger conversation we can have over a cup of coffee.

So I’ve grown a wandering eye…looked at a few wagons. We all know that market and what you have to spend to get into a decent keeper. Plus, I dunno…i kinda identify with steel tube fuselages more for some reason. Cessnas are just too perfect.

For 25 years i’ve had friends with Maules and they loved them, and I’ve done quite a bit of right seat time. Why not?

My mission is 85% solo flying on floats and skis with occasional shoulder season wheel time. Need big baggage to haul my video and camping gear.

The other 15% is taking the family with for day trips or cabin overnights within 2 hours of home.

I’m attracted to the 180hp MX7 universal wing models (post ‘93) for the reported flying characteristics and price but the paper says for floats and rear pax ya need 235hp. I live at 1370 MSL and rarely exceed 3500 MSL in cruise but summers can get warm & humid. My neighbor has a MX7-180 on wheels that we might take for a ride this weekend, maybe that’ll answer that. Gross weights on are the same or close i think on MX7-180B and M7-235B. Certified float models available are a sticky point.

Anyway, thinking out loud and throwing some mud at the wall. I could also just buy a Tcraft and go pound the lakes solo for a few years taking one pax at a time.

“Just Do It”!!!!

But remember what the gearheads always say… “There is no replacement for displacement”

You can always pull power back when you have it. I have a friend out here in Utah with a high DA underpowered Maule, and he is definitely limited where he can get out of with a passenger and camping gear.

Edited to add: A Maule is similar to a BH 4 Place, and a 180HP 4 Place is underpowered in the Mountain West. Just keep that in mind if you want to fly out west again.

Just finish the Bearhawk already! But I get it, there is zero chance I could finish a build right now. My own BH isn’t complete, I can’t even find time to change the oil in my car.

Maules are cool, that’s what I would buy. Based on my own experience, recognizing that I’m not a “bigger is better” guy, I’d suggest an O540 variant. Without a doubt you will want the power for hauling a family even if you’re not on floats.

Do it!! Maule's are cool!

Everyone is so obsessed with having the "best" plane. Meanwhile its the dudes in tri-pacers and 120's who are out there racking up hours and adventuring.

Having a plane in front of your house is the dream. Seems like you've got the setup for it.

25 years later & everybody is still saying "Just buy a Maule" Maybe they were saying that for Good reason, they are a great performing airplane & one of the best bang for the buck airplanes in the fleet. Don't think you would regret your decision!

If you can just get something to fly now, do it. Maule is a great choice, but you know that. I don't have the float experience, though I desire it madly... is a 180 enough on floats for that setup?

I've flown Maule M-4 (IO-360), M-5 (235), M-6 (235), M-7 (235) and M-7 (180) on floats. I wouldn't back away from even the short wing Maules, but if you can find an M-6 235 on floats, that's kinda the sweet spot to me. I'd steer away from the 180 hp airplanes for floats....but, even the M-5 235 does fine on floats with three or even four up.

Don't plan on four up and much gas, though. ALL Maules are kinda short on useful load when on floats. Plenty enough to get it done, mind.

And, believe me, most Maules will offer lots of opportunities to tinker some.....

In other words, just do it.....you aren't getting any younger.

Coming from a short wing piper, the maule will feel right at home, but better takeoff and climb performance, plus the big door! Definitely go 6 cylinder. The long wing m6 we had is the one airplane I wish we hadn't "moved up" from.

highroad wrote:Coming from a short wing piper, the maule will feel right at home, but better takeoff and climb performance, plus the big door! Definitely go 6 cylinder. The long wing m6 we had is the one airplane I wish we hadn't "moved up" from.

Yes, good memories with that airplane. Was that the stock M5 wing? Or had it been swapped out for universal?

Zzz wrote:

highroad wrote:Coming from a short wing piper, the maule will feel right at home, but better takeoff and climb performance, plus the big door! Definitely go 6 cylinder. The long wing m6 we had is the one airplane I wish we hadn't "moved up" from.

Yes, good memories with that airplane. Was that the stock M5 wing? Or had it been swapped out for universal?

Yes, great memories, I had forgotten about that little short you put together!

X-ray is a M5 fuse with the 33'5'' "turbine wing". Maule put this wing on the mid 80's to early 90's m7's, and also the turbine maule, according to Jeremy's website: http://maules.com/chronology.html

I believe this is the set up that God's Country Aviation is having maule build them, except with a M7 fuselage. Greg Millers bushwhacker was also similar to x-ray, I believe, M5 with the longest maule wing swapped on. The longest, "long wing", has longer span flaps, and the ailerons chord is extended to help get the roll back, compared to the 32'11'' universal wing.

I have a 2002, 180 Hp MX7-180C (spring gear) Maule with the universal wing that has taken me everywhere I've wanted to go. I bought the spring gear version because it has about 2' wider stance on the mains than the oleo gear variant. It uses the same engine mount placement as 540 powered Maules, so there is a rear CG issue (caused by losing the weight of 2 cylinders and more crankcase up front. I can't carry 2 adults in the back seats and stay within my CG limits even though I'm still well within my gross weight capacity. My empty weight is 1496, so I have a 1,004 lb useful load. I'm considering a titanium tailwheel spring to shift the CG slightly forward. It isn't a big weight difference, but the moment arm is looooong. Because I have a rear biased CG, and a smaller prop than the 235 Hp versions, I'm more comfortable wheel landing the plane than I would be with the bigger engine versions. Before buying my Maule, I got 2 hours of dual with Ray Maule (back in 2012 or 13). He said I should never wheel land a Maule. I could kick myself now for not asking more questions - like why not? I assume he was talking about the slightly nose heavy variants of the plane spinning larger props. I've been to many of the strips in the mountain west without any trouble and I've flown the plane all the way across the country 4 times. I'm currently based at sea level in a relatively cool environment (Puget Sound) and the plane is tremendous here. I had to watch CHTs when flying across the Midwest and Southwest this summer, but lowering the power, flattening the prop and running a bit rich kept everything in spec and didn't affect performance enough to matter. I was hauling luxury camping gear for AirVenture and all the clothes and goodies I needed for visiting family on the east coast before the big show, so the plane was full and heavy. The ease of removing the back seat (just pull two fast pins) and the barn door rear access makes getting big, awkward gear in and out of the plane a breeze. I often fly to the San Juan Islands for rides on my bicycle, and that is easy peasy with the Maule. The Maule isn't the best plane for anything, but it handles a wide range of missions better than most planes out there and for quite a bit less money than some competitors. It's also cheap to maintain with Maule parts being QUITE a bit cheaper than parts for a Cessna or Beechcraft. Have you priced something simple like a C-180 door handle lately? Try $1,100! You can practically buy a whole Maule door for that amount. Many of the Maule components (like the cigarette lighter/charger) actually have a NAPA part #. So, if you want to do as much as possible for as little money as possible (including purchase price, operating cost and maintenance cost), a Maule is really hard to beat. If you want the best plane for any one thing, you'll have to spend a LOT more money and will find that you've given up lots of other capabilities to excel at your one goal. I seriously looked at building before buying my Maule and some careful spreadsheet calculations suggested I could buy a plane cheaper than I could build one unless I spend a lot of time scrounging for second hand parts and avionics. I like flying more than scrounging or building, so my choice was easy. I have NO regrets.

mtv wrote:I've flown Maule M-4 (IO-360), M-5 (235), M-6 (235), M-7 (235) and M-7 (180) on floats. I wouldn't back away from even the short wing Maules, but if you can find an M-6 235 on floats, that's kinda the sweet spot to me. I'd steer away from the 180 hp airplanes for floats....but, even the M-5 235 does fine on floats with three or even four up.

Don't plan on four up and much gas, though. ALL Maules are kinda short on useful load when on floats. Plenty enough to get it done, mind.

And, believe me, most Maules will offer lots of opportunities to tinker some.....

In other words, just do it.....you aren't getting any younger.

In terms of serious STOL performance with a lightly loaded aircraft, there's a really big difference between that short wing and the long wing, I feel sure you'd agree?

I find the M5 is a great machine, but it does need a fair bit more room at the short end, compared to the longer wing M5 or M7 which I think is a universal wing.

Zzz wrote:Anyway, thinking out loud and throwing some mud at the wall. I could also just buy a Tcraft and go pound the lakes solo for a few years taking one pax at a time.

I think you need a decent overseas holiday to help you relax and reflect on the options. Maybe do a little Bearhawk backcountry STOL to get those mental juices flowing

You wont do it

Perfection is the enemy of profitability….and also flying time….at age 73 I cherish any day I can go get air under my ass….the clock ticks….that wonderful late afternoon flight you were unable to take is gone…want to see others pass by….as a Dad your job is to make memories….how are you doing…your considering an airplane…pieces and parts…if you make a bad choice or a better option comes along …sell it…you are analyzing this like the decision to get a Screaming Eagle tattoo on your back…that one is worth serious thoughts…just do it

It is fun to see a new post and so many responses in the same day -and it is about Maules!
If your flights with family don’t require strips under 600-800 feet the 180 hp with universal wings will do it as long as there aren’t much for obstacles. They do fly nicely. You will find they need about twice as long of take off roll as landing when loaded.

If you can find a nice 235 HP ( my favorite is the A model )you will be able to get out of anywhere you can land.

I now have some kids out of the house. I am so glad I took out a loan young to get a plane that I could take my family out in and build memories, rather than wait until I could pay in cash after my kids were all gone.

I hope you find a good one that brings you and your family a lot of joy.

I got all excited for you Zzzz when I saw the post. I had just seen a Maule in the area for sale and after starting to respond, look it up. Unfortunately it is a 1994 MX7-160 HP version. I had thought it was a 180HP. Straight east of me 40-50 miles. You may have already seen it though on MP.

I don't think you can go wrong with a Maule for your mission specs, and I'd say it would be a great fit.

However, since you already have the Bearhawk, would it make sense just to pack it up, truck it down there and do a builder-assist and just 'get-er-done'?
https://www.bearhawkaircraft.com/build-assist

Either way, I think you need to do less tinkering with projects and more flying.

Cheers!

WWhunter wrote:I got all excited for you Zzzz when I saw the post. I had just seen a Maule in the area for sale and after starting to respond, look it up. Unfortunately it is a 1994 MX7-160 HP version. I had thought it was a 180HP. Straight east of me 40-50 miles. You may have already seen it though on MP.

I saw that one. The price was right. Needs an engine upgrade for sure.

Well, a friend has an O-360 for sale.

mtv wrote:.... most Maules will offer lots of opportunities to tinker some.....

Zane, no offense meant, but my advice is to disregard this comment.
Watching from the sidelines, IMHO your propensity to "tinker" is why you aren't flying.
Buy a Maule, fly it, and confine your tinkering to your BH project.
Or your Pacer project, or your home improvement projects, or.....