Hi,

I have spent time searching and reading the forum and I am not finding much information on the early M4-145. (it may be user error).

Can anyone shed some light about the performance of the M4-145

Takeoff And Landing Distance - Light (1/2 Tanks 1 person) and Fully Loaded?
Real world cruise speeds?
Typical Useful loads?
Climb performance?

Shortest strip you would fly one into?
Rough strip performance?

All the usual info.

It is greatly appreciated, and I thank you for your time.

Edited to change 135 to 145. Because typing is hard...

I'm curious too. I have not heard of the 135. I know of the 145hp Maules. Running a Continental O-300. But I have not flown in one myself. I'm guessing under powered with payload and passengers.

It turns out typing is hard. I meant M4-145. I don’t know where I got 135 in the brain.

Never seen one, never flown one. Probably does ok, but doesn’t quite hold up to the iconic performance of a Maule. Probably a decent light cruiser though with two people max on board.

I met a guy at Johnson creek ID. with a M4-145 several years ago. He was flying solo and said he did some of the backcountry airports in the area. He sounded very mindful on the performance of the O-300 engine. And said there were places he would not take it. He loved the plane and owned it for many many years so I think he knew it well.

M4-145 (S) (T) (C) models were Maules first production airplanes.
First 10 I think had rag wings. Wing tips were rounded initially.
Continental O300 fixed pitch, 7.2 gah, 125 mph, 4 seats, 40 gal useable.
4 seats but not out of Tahoe on a hot day, prop can be tweaked for more climb/shorter takeoff, at expense of speed.

I have M4 #9 with the round rag wings. Older motor so places I used to go I can't and won't go now. But when motor was strong with a wood 80/42 prop.
Light - 2 people and their gear I could do 400'
Heavy - 1000lbs useful so had to haul fuel or something else heavy - 900'
With that prop if I could get to 95mph I was happy
Light - 1500 fpm climb
8gph I figured since I'm always going this way and that way looking at stuff
I have it on 26" wheels and a baby bush wheel on back
Oversized Landis 3000 for winter ski flying along with a tail ski - don't sink in at all
I have had 4 people in there and used to put 5 of us in when my kids were little - had a 3 place bench made for the rear seat
Mine only has the single rear door but can still get a 55 gallon drum in there
Its been a great plane for 22 years now - motor just getting old and tired
Any other questions - just give me a PM

Perk

To those that scoff and say it isn’t enough horsepower, I think Cessna built over four thousand 172’s with that horsepower. It’s all about what you need it do and how you are going to use it. Still, I do admit I have all ways felt better with a margin of extra power!

I know it will not haul what the M7 will, but I have a '48 170 with the same engine that is a hoot.

https://youtu.be/sy9OvS1WhR8