Hello all,

I am the proud owner of a Super Stison with a 200hp lycoming 0-360. This is my first TW airplane and I really enjoy flying it and it seems to give very good STOL performance. A Like most of us it always seems there is something better and I find myself recently looking at Maules mostly the M6 and Super Cubs. These seem to be the pinnacle of STOL aircraft.

So I was hoping some of you that have knowledge and experience could help me decide if it is better to switch gears and get something different.

I also do some float flying with the Stinson but oddly the same floats are certified for the Maule.

Thank you,

Jim

I'll come out and say it... just buy a 180. Ha!

They all suck. Id recomend and underpowered 172

Maule on wheels = good. On floats, not so good.

What do you like about the others better than the Stinson? I'd say it's more a matter of money.... is it worth all that extra money that you're going to spend, to get what you want or think you need? They're all very capable airplanes, but are you to a point that you need more capability in your plane than what you have? Doing a comparison of the Maule and Stinson is doable...but the Super Cub is a whole different type of airplane....apples and oranges!
John

NimpoCub wrote:Maule on wheels = good. On floats, not so good.

I respectfully disagree. Depends a little on the floats, but the Maules I've flown (one being an M-6) were great performers on floats.

Jimbo,

I presume your floats are EDO 2425s? Those are great floats, but you'll have a tough time finding struts for those floats to go on the Maule. I suspect they're out there, but expensive. New rigging would likely cost more than the floats are worth.

To your original question: The Super Cub is in a very different category than the other two aircraft you list. Unless you find one with the 2000 lb gross weight kit installed, the useful load is almost non existent on floats, once you put a pilot and gas aboard. Also, far less space inside for your "stuff".

If it were me, I'd probably go with the Maule, unless I really wanted to get extreme in short field stuff. I think after flying that Stinson, you'd really miss that big cabin and side by side seating......assuming you ever fly with someone.

MTV

Group,

The Stinson has an empty weight of 1,290 so I have a 880 payload on wheels and 754 on floats. It does seems to perform well and I may be in a situation where the "grass is always greener". But having not flown the others it seems the Maule and Super Cub get a lot of attention as STOL planes. When I am alone in the Stinson it can do some pretty impressive STOL work. Here in lies the problem I am really having a lot of fun with it and of course there has to be a better plane.....

If I had $200,000.00 I would go 180-185 If I had $50,000.00-$150,000.00 Maule I like newer avionics, engines, prop, interior and paint. If you buy a 30-40 year old Cessna you can Bank on never ending repair and upgrades. Usually right when you really want to travel.

I'll bet some of the guys here who have rebuilt Cessna 180-185s have gone north of $300,000.00 and it shows!!!

Cheers...Rob

Jimbo,

Bang for the buck, it's sure hard to beat a Stinson with added HP. I too am curious what more you seek (STOL performance)?

We all want carbon cub performance with C206 cruise and payload, J-3 fuel economy, and a price tag of a C150, but it just doesn't exist. What you have now will be hard to beat by any noticeable measure without a fat wallet.

Enjoy that old bird. The grass does get greener, but it takes a lot of money to maintain a golf course.

I have to agree w/ the folks above. The Stinson and Maule are different beasts than the Cub.

I have a M5-235C on floats and I have lusted after the longer wings of the M6 for better off the water performance.

At the end of the day, it is all about what mission(s) you have for your plane.

My M5 gives me over 900lbs useful on wheels and the whole side of the plane opens for loading. The M5 lands short but I am betting the longer wings of the M6 will give you shorter landings and I am certain will give you shorter take offs than the M5. I cannot comment on the TO and landing performance compared to a Stinson, but the extra ponies in the Maule should help but you have to feed them.

Have one for each mission?

Jimbo2601 wrote:.....
The Stinson has an empty weight of 1,290 so I have a 880 payload on wheels and 754 on floats. It does seems to perform well and I may be in a situation where the "grass is always greener"....... Here in lies the problem I am really having a lot of fun with it and of course there has to be a better plane.....

A 4-place airplane with 200hp weighing only 1290? It'll be hard to improve on that. My 53 C180 has 230hp, but weighs 1660 with oil & zero fuel: 15% more hp but like 28% heavier. A 235 horse Maule might be lighter but probably not a helluva lot so. Think I'd stick with the Stinson. A supercub is a different animal, being a 2-seater with a lot less baggage space than you're used to. Can you live with that?

It sounds like maybe you're just bored with your Stinson. If that's the case, go ahead & get something new. It'll be different but maybe not any better. Or if you can afford it, maybe keep the Stinson and buy or partner up with someone on a lighter, sportier to fly 2-seater.

The pawnee prop makes a gigantic difference with that engine airframe combination. It is certified with a less then ideal sensenich prop. Do you have he big mccauley? It would require a field approval if you wanted to be legal but is bad a im told.

Also the i have lots of time in a long wing m7 235 on aqua floats. Is is an amazing floatplane.

OregonMaule wrote:If I had $200,000.00 I would go 180-185 If I had $50,000.00-$150,000.00 Maule I like newer avionics, engines, prop, interior and paint. If you buy a 30-40 year old Cessna you can Bank on never ending repair and upgrades. Usually right when you really want to travel.

I'll bet some of the guys here who have rebuilt Cessna 180-185s have gone north of $300,000.00 and it shows!!!

Cheers...Rob

It all depends on how far you want to go. We bought our 180 on floats for 22,500. We are in the process of stripping it now for repaint but all told, we are going to be into it for under 65,000. That's new paint, complete OH on engine and prop, new mags, carb etc. buying landing gear and wheels / brakes, new skins on the stab, elevator and ailerons, new trim cables and chain, new pulleys yada yada... Interior we are keeping pretty sparse to save weight and we are doing 90% of the work ourselves and not going to a glass panel.

This being said,the useful load on our 63 180 is damn near the same as the Stinson you have now so I dont see much of an upgrade unless your wanting to fly faster.. but getting there is 90% of the fun for me.

I'd carefully consider Matt's advice because he used to fly a big engine Stinson, shopped Maules and now flies a C180. If it were me I'd fly the Stinson; when I got bored I'd do some mods and fly it some more. The only reason I'm not currently a Stinson owner is because of the bulkhead between the baggage and the cabin; I wanted something that I could haul long stuff in.

I have Matt's Stinson (in pieces though) and I'll tell you my plan when I get to you point, adding that I've flown the others, and the Carbon Cub as well.

My intent is that when I want something more or different, I'll be keeping the Stinson and finding another plane for the hangar to fill that desire.

akavidflyer wrote:

OregonMaule wrote:If I had $200,000.00 I would go 180-185 If I had $50,000.00-$150,000.00 Maule I like newer avionics, engines, prop, interior and paint. If you buy a 30-40 year old Cessna you can Bank on never ending repair and upgrades. Usually right when you really want to travel.

I'll bet some of the guys here who have rebuilt Cessna 180-185s have gone north of $300,000.00 and it shows!!!

Cheers...Rob

It all depends on how far you want to go. We bought our 180 on floats for 22,500. We are in the process of stripping it now for repaint but all told, we are going to be into it for under 65,000. That's new paint, complete OH on engine and prop, new mags, carb etc. buying landing gear and wheels / brakes, new skins on the stab, elevator and ailerons, new trim cables and chain, new pulleys yada yada... Interior we are keeping pretty sparse to save weight and we are doing 90% of the work ourselves and not going to a glass panel.

This being said,the useful load on our 63 180 is damn near the same as the Stinson you have now so I dont see much of an upgrade unless your wanting to fly faster.. but getting there is 90% of the fun for me.

$42,500.00 for
New paint, COMPLETE OH engine, buying landing gear and wheels / brakes, new skins on the stab, elevator and ailerons, new trim cables and chain, new pulleys yada yada... Interior we are keeping pretty sparse to save weight and we are doing 90% of the work ourselves and not going to a glass panel.

This is an example of extreme talent in shopping and doing your own work. If you have the time and talent you can save a truck load of cash!

I'm not sure your accounting and math skills are as good. hahaha I'm kidding. I use the same math when I'm trying to convince my wife of what I need for the Maule.

Cheers...Rob

OregonMaule wrote:

akavidflyer wrote:

OregonMaule wrote:If I had $200,000.00 I would go 180-185 If I had $50,000.00-$150,000.00 Maule I like newer avionics, engines, prop, interior and paint. If you buy a 30-40 year old Cessna you can Bank on never ending repair and upgrades. Usually right when you really want to travel.

I'll bet some of the guys here who have rebuilt Cessna 180-185s have gone north of $300,000.00 and it shows!!!

Cheers...Rob

It all depends on how far you want to go. We bought our 180 on floats for 22,500. We are in the process of stripping it now for repaint but all told, we are going to be into it for under 65,000. That's new paint, complete OH on engine and prop, new mags, carb etc. buying landing gear and wheels / brakes, new skins on the stab, elevator and ailerons, new trim cables and chain, new pulleys yada yada... Interior we are keeping pretty sparse to save weight and we are doing 90% of the work ourselves and not going to a glass panel.

This being said,the useful load on our 63 180 is damn near the same as the Stinson you have now so I dont see much of an upgrade unless your wanting to fly faster.. but getting there is 90% of the fun for me.

$42,500.00 for
New paint, COMPLETE OH engine, buying landing gear and wheels / brakes, new skins on the stab, elevator and ailerons, new trim cables and chain, new pulleys yada yada... Interior we are keeping pretty sparse to save weight and we are doing 90% of the work ourselves and not going to a glass panel.

This is an example of extreme talent in shopping and doing your own work. If you have the time and talent you can save a truck load of cash!

I'm not sure your accounting and math skills are as good. hahaha I'm kidding. I use the same math when I'm trying to convince my wife of what I need for the Maule.

Cheers...Rob

Trust me, my partner is as anal as it gets when adding up receipts.. from every jug of oil or every $5.00 pack of rags bought for the project he has it in the folder and accounted for down to the penny.. I am of the mind set that I dont want to know final costs, it scares the crap out of me on every project I do from boats to planes to snowmachines.. I just spend what it takes and keep an eye out for good deals unless I need the parts tomorrow.