Quick synopsis of my install of VG's on my Maule.

The kit is 695.00 + shipping from http://www.microaero.com/

Took me about 2 hours to paint them and another 1/2 hour of clean up etc. to get them ready to install. Install took me three hours. The kit comes very complete and instructions are easy to follow. The people at M.A. are very nice and easy to work with.

As far as performance, I haven't compiled any data yet but will update this thread when I get a chance. My impressions are numerous. First thing I noticed was how quickly the tail wanted fly. It seemed like the tail came up maybe 3 mph sooner? Rotation seems crisper and the airplane will climb out of ground effect more solidly ( no mush ). Something that I read in the propaganda was a smoother ride in turbulence which didn't really make sense to me but you can really feel it. The bumps just aren't as sharp. As far as slow flight goes, first thing I did was to get to altitude, pull the power and haul back to stall. The M4 never really had a break that you could feel it was more like a buffet and was easy to keep level while stalled. Well, now with the VG's there is no buffet, the plane stays level with no hint of a wing drop. I even made slow, coordinated turns both directions with the yoke all the way back and power at idle. The rate of descent was 600fpm and my avg speed via gps (360-180/2) was 32kts. (The airspeed indicator was at the bottom and of course stall light steadily lit) Departure config stall was also boring with just a hint of wing drop, tap the rudder and your back to level, the deck angle is fairly wicked. I am still working on my approach speed. I keep whittling it down and currently am "over the fence" at 52mph with just me and full fuel. I still seem to have too much energy and seems to hang in the roundout without the sink I used to get. With just me and full fuel I tried adding a little bit of power as used to be the normal Maule procedure during round out but it's just not needed. We'll see at gross. The tail seems to stay responsive and you don't really feel "loose" during deceleration.

I realize a lot of this means nothing unless your a Maule driver, most of it has no data for backup and is just my "feel" of the plane.

I'll try and keep posting results as I get a better handle on things. Especially approach speeds at different loadings, crosswind characteristics etc.

I personally think it's 695.00 well spent. Oh, 337 cost another 40.00 for the paperwork by my a&p.

Mark

Thanks for the report, I'm waiting on a set for my PA20-150.

Very wise decision doing this install. VG's do great things for the Maule wing (or Piper since they're almost identical airfoils) and I wish I'd done mine a long time ago. Probably the biggest performance enhancement you can do to the Maule for the cost.

Did you read my article in the Pireps section?

Doug,

I read it months ago and should have added mine on to yours. Went back and read it through again today and it pretty well dovetails my report. The VG's make an already STOL aircraft just that much more capable. As I eluded I have really only scratched the surface of the performance enhancement of this mod. I really need to do a lot more flying to find the optimum airspeeds and configurations. For instance, flaps up stall is reduced 13%. I want to try a few 1 notch and no flap landingss just to see how the airplane performs in that configuration. So many experiments, so little fuel dollars...

Mark

Mark and Doug, How right you are about the virtues of the VG's for the old M-4! I have now "crossed over" as of this weekend and while only having a little time in the plane Friday evening (weather issues...) What a difference. Thanks for the posts on this from you both. Doug, the end caps for the glue was a good idea. Read your post a couple of times, helped a bunch.
I was especially impressed with how quickly it wanted to fly. I was expecting an improvement but it fairly jumped off the field.
My only regret is that I wish I had done this earlier!

Last time I talked to Charlie, they would paint these in any color you wanted saving you the hassle and time. Do they not offer this anymore?

Yeah, they still do it, but it costs extra, and I'm a tightwad.