Thinking about a Maule?.

[grubbat]

Thinking about a Maule?.

After enjoying the RV-3 for a while and now soaking up the RV-6a, I find myself looking over at my hanger pal?s Maule 180C. Yes we can both take off in ~400ft but he is able to do it with a passenger and still clear the trees. Yes we both can land in ~400, but he can do it with a passenger with a load of cargo and stuff.

When we go on trips looking for a grass field to land or pancakes to eat, either I back it down to 110mph or head on alone and wait for them to show up. Flying at 110mph is ok but my -6a is begging for the magic Carson number. I brag on how fast I can get there and eat up all the pancakes before they get there and he tells me he is tired of going fast and enjoys going slow and soaking up God?s creation along the way. He gets to go fast during his day job. I change the subject.

When debating safety stuff, he is quick to remind me that being upside down on the ground is difficult in a RV vs a Maule. I quickly come back that I don?t intend to be upside down but his point is made deep in my brain. Vern?s friend had an upside encounter a couple of miles north of me at KFFC in a -6 so I concede that my tip-up may not be better upside down than his high-wing truck. My Maule friend points out that Maule?s don?t have in-flight break-ups at the same frequency of RV?s. I am quick to come back that my nose-wheel insurance is ~$800.00 per year and his tail wheel Maule is around twice that. He changes the subject.

At the end of the day, my current mission is a two-place-almost-do-everything RV6a, but a pickup in the sky is temping.

Looking around I see on one side of the hanger that ready-to-fly-low-and-slow-pickup truck-Maule. On the other side of the hanger, on a lonely table all by itself, I see those Bearhawk plans begging for attention along with 2000hr - 3000hr plus building time. At my age, 2000 hr is eternity.

And then I look at my RV and I wonder out loud when Van?s going to get in the low-and-slow-utility game. After pondering this for a while and dozing off staring at the bearhawk drawings, I put those drawings away and climb in the -6a for an evening of smooth flying. I?m glad I?m flying instead of building. The thoughts of selling my -6a for a Maule fade away as I get lost high above the trees and admire the sunset one more day at 6000ft.

Thanks for a great design Van?s. Now, get started on that high-wing-pickup-truck so I can sell my bearhawk plans?..

[TomVal]

Give Walter Smith a call. I will PM you his contact info. He has an outstanding low time Maule that he would like to sell.

Once he sells it he will be in the market for a RV12.

Regards,

[MauleDriver]

Interesting thoughts.

I flew a MX7180a for about 12 years. Sold it almost 2 years ago when I finished my '10. I have to say I love my '10 and would never go back.... but there are a lot of sweet memories there.

That said, the Maule flies like a truck compared to the '10 let alone a '6. Trips are long at 110knots (I could get 113 when the engine was fresh but she dropped down to 110 by 1600 hours), but the scenery is great. We've taken 4 with bags from NC to FL in the Maule but we knew each other really well. On the other hand, 2 people and an obscene amount of stuff can be hauled in and out of just about anywhere. With the back seats out, "Oh sure, we'll bring the Christmas tree and the dog with us". It's not just how much it can carry but the size of the door hole!

I remember someone trying to sell me on building a Bearhawk. Looking at the numbers and the configuration I concluded the Bearhawk is a Maule (helmet on). Hopefully it's a bit more nimble simply due to the lack of certification but the Maule is rock stable and easy to fly once the tail wheel thing is worked out.

Our mission is travel and the '10 is better than we ever could have expected. But if we were mainly doing burgers and sight seeing, we'd really miss the Maule.

If you really want to screw up your mind, and perhaps your hangar mate's, take the Maule up with any one of the doors off. It's legal for that. Open cockpit flying at it's best. At 7:00am on a cool calm morning it's just too nice.

Nice Maule dreams!

[Neal@F14]

I'd rather have a Glasair Sportsman than a Maule.
First of all, it's an E-AB like an RV... cruise speeds almost getting up to RV-9 speeds, takeoff and land in very short fields, and still haul around quite a bit of stuff. If Van ever designs a highwing, he should have the Sportsman square in his sights as the competition to beat.

[jdeas]

If you want to camp car style (Iron skillets etc) the Maul is the way to go but the fuel burn really hurts.

Rather fly the 7 with hiking gear!

[868RM]

I am currently working on Glassair sportsman 2+2 and have my Maule for sale. Neither are a replacement for our RV 8a.The Maule's are a fun airplane of a different type compared to a RV. Ron

[N941WR]

Originally Posted by grubbat

Thinking about a Maule?.

?..

I'm right there with you. My son has outgrown the baggage compartment of our -9 and I've been looking at / dreaming about four seaters and the Maule is on the list.

[rv8bldr]

There is a Bearhawk on Barnstormers right now for $55K

[Jrskygod]

I've owned two Maules. a 78 and then an 80 M5-235C. Put over 800 hours on them. Always wanted more power and speed!!! Take off and land on a dime when you learn how to do it properly, almost scary but the power pulls you through. 14 gal/hr fuel burn, mostly 93 auto gas, 24/24 sq. 7500' yields 140 mph. Put 66 gal in it, 4- 200+ pounders and go. An amazing plane. Its just a newer version of a piper pacer with a metal wing and a few improvements. Fit and finish are austere, seats suck, but you can land it anywhere and you can get it out too. You will learn to use your feet real fast. It's basically a 50's airplane with a big motor but fun to fly. I still miss mine sometimes. I do love my RV9, it is an amazing plane, and fits my mission perfectly 90% of the time, but there are those days when I want to land in that clearing or ranch road I see down there and can't because I'll tear up the wheel pants and those itty bitty tires will catch a hole or rut and flip me on my head.

PS: If you decide to buy one, go all the way for the big motor. If you don't you will wish later that you did - I promise that.

[Dmadd]

Stop thinking... :-)

As long as the wind is straight down the deck, it's "OK"... Crosswinds however...
not so much...

Originally Posted by grubbat

Thinking about a Maule?