Maule Doors

[Lowflybye]

If I understand correctly, a Maule can be legally flown with one of the front doors removed. I have heard from some others that they have flown with both front doors removed and had no problems. I have a friend with a M5 that has removed both front doors as well as the rear door and said he has not had any problems in that configuration either.

I like to take air to air photos and the idea of being able to remove the rear door is very apealing, but is it legal? I would also like to remove the 2 front doors and leave the rear one on during the summer, but is that legal?

[MikeW]

Check your flight manual carefully. There should be a section in there about flight approved with doors removed. In my manual it is towards the front and lays out which doors can be removed and the flight limititations that go along with that configuration. I know mine can be configured with the rear door off but check carefully regarding the front doors.


Mikew

[maules.com]

You can fly with one front door off or one or both rear doors off. If you fly with the forward rear door off only, then be sure to tape the baggage door catch so that an errant sleeve or camera strap etc cannot hook on it by mistake. The airplane will fly with both front doors off but if you return to land and there is a crosswind blowing, you will have crossflow air through the cabin and the root ends of the wings lift is severely compromised.

[Sam Rutherford]

How easily do the doors come off/go on?

Sam.

[maules.com]

Two hinge nut/bolts/pins per door.
If flying with the right middle door off only, then Ductape over the baggage door knob to prevent a rear passenger sleave from catching on it and opening it.

[Sam Rutherford]

Is the lateral air movement (through the cab if both doors off) different to the situation on other aircraft with doors off - ie Champ, Aeronca etc.?

Was just wondering!

Thanks, Sam.

[maules.com]

As long as the Pilot's door is on and swing window closed then there is no lateral air movement.
If doors are set for lateral air movement, a crosswind landing or slip will be badly compromised.

[eeairshows]

In regards to slips with both front doors off:

Is this a Maule idiosyncrasy? Because of the flaps? I've flown other side by side airplanes with both doors off and noticed no ill effects in any flight regime, including slips. However, none of the airplanes I slipped with both doors off had flaps, and none were Maules.

I'm in the market for an M4-C.... and I'm also a huge fan of door of summer evening flights so this is very interesting to me. I also wander if there are mods for swing up or down windows that can be opened in flight.

Thanks!

[maules.com]

There are kits available to install swing up to the wing windows on the front doors.
If landing or taking off in any airplane, it is best to take advantage of maximum lift.
The fuselage acts as a ventral fin helping direct the air fore and aft across as much of the wing as possible for best lift.
In the case of a crosswind, air crossing through the cabin will compromise best lift at the wing roots.
A crosswind landing is a slip.
Maule's placard suggests removal of either front door, or removal of both rear doors which are on the same side.

[Hottshot]

I have had the back doors off for video and picts, we use the other Maule with the Seaplane doors to do the same just be sure you are below 120mph.... (I think)

Here is a shotr vid

http://www.vimeo.com/3696042

[bluemaule]

I fly with both front doors off regularly. It's great on a hot summer evening and makes for good pictures.

[BUZZ]

Wup,

Nice footage you have inspired me to take the doors off next summer and get the camera rolling!

[YELLOWMAULE]

Now Nick,
If you'd bother to fly when you come to Valdez, you could put that idea to some real purpose. Tsk tsk.

[Maule of Romania]

Flying with Maule without rear door, great !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWF6NhD5enM
or
http://www.vimeo.com/16209239

Calin

[N949JH]

Make sure and vacume out the moose hair and fish scales before you try this or you'll find yourself IFR in the cockpit when all that stuff goes airborne from the unexpected breeze on takeoff.