Well now its a couple of months since the Deb left and the new Maule arrived.
If only Mr Beech had met Mr Maule what a fine aircraft they could have made.
In summary.
First flight the flaps retracted on take off stripping the mechanism.
Day 2 the fuel boost pump failed.
The panels fit like they were thrown at it from 20 feet.
All this aside,
The Maule M5 235 is a beast of a machine short field and a load of fun. It has only 1600 hrs TT and 1500hrs to run on the engine and prop.
We are reworking the fibreglass cowls to get a neat fit, cutting and reinforcing where needed and proposing a new paint scheme, with new red leather interior, I have bought 29" bushwheels, double puck brakes and VG's.Fitting the 40 degree flap mod in the next week or so.
Here is the scheme before and a mock up of after, not a Beech but should be a mighty fine Maule

I'll surely look forward to a ride in her, if such shall be my lucky fate, November next!

Looking forward to it Spike

I have been tempted a couple of times to buy a Maule when good opportunities came around. One was a M7-180, the other a M7-235. Both times, sanity prevailed and I realized that I had neither a hangar nor any use for the aircraft

They look great from about 50ft out. Once you step up close, they look like they were put together by a homebuilder who was still practicing. In addition, the older ones look like someone spray-painted them with a rattle-can. Now the poor fit&finish dont reduce the usefulness of the plane, you just scratch your head when you realize that someone paid the equivalent of a house for one.

I dont remember, does the 235 burn mogas ?

The saying around here....Maule, built for farmers by farmers.
I love the big opening door. Insurance rates on Maules are usually the highest of any of the bushplanes.

Very nice, John.

I'm looking forward to the videos.

I drove down to the factory and flew one with Ray Maule. I had a great time and the plane was reuseable when I got done flying her. I was thinking a Maule or Stinson would be my first plane but as fate would have it I found my Deb.

I still have a soft spot for the Stinson. I like the look of that plane and the time that it came from.

Good luck to you and your new plane.

Russell

Always thought my Tripacer was an ugly Maule. Never flew a newer one, rode in the earliest one. More power made them run from the rest.
California Highway Patrol used them for a while.
You want regret the Maule. Keep us posted.
MC

Hey John,

Certainly different than the Deb.
Been into your strip yet?

Why the "bush" tyres, planning on some remote trips?

I sure love my Bo, for lots of reasons & missions, but the Citabria is still
much more fun for a qick ride, in shorter fields, and especially on floats.

Enjoy!

Scott is right the fit and finish matches my Massey Ferguson tractor, its a toss up which one is better.
However, we can do something about that, with a handy fibreglass guy and some care.
Near where we live is the Coorong River with areas of wide sand bars, full of wildlife and an absolutely beautiful part of our country. Not too far away is the Flinders Ranges again a great visit.
These places have some great off airport landing opportunities, its time for some different flying. I always wondered what those pedals on the floor were for, now I absolutely know.
The insurance was the same as the Deb 2% of the hull value.

You'll love the Bushwheels. If anything they turn a bad landing into a mediocre one.

I'd love to have a Maule as a stablemate for my V tail, and if I did, there would be no one at the places I'd land to complain about the fit and finish. Maybe a stray moose.

My previous (first) airplane was an M5-210. I bought it as a basket case naively thinking I'd restore it over a year or so. It ended up taking me six years. Life, job changes, move, etc got in the way. I did the majority of the work myself under A&P supervision, including the fabric and paint. I enjoyed it and learned a ton, but certainly could've bought a flying airplane for the same money or less.

The fit and finish was indeed pretty crude, especially the doors. I was able to improve the look and feel somewhat, but I'd still call it a pickup truck. Fun airplane, but certainly not a Beechcraft.

What's the purpose of the sewer pipe, visible in the top photo in the tail section? Is it a fishing pole or ski tube?

Fishing rod tube.