I know this has been discussed before but I was at the Air Show in Arlington Washington today and ran into another Maule pilot. He has an M-5 235 with 31 in tires. He had flown in from south east Washington state. I asked what his cruise speed was and he said 120 knots or so is average. I am astonished! I see the magazines and read the specs but just figured that these numbers were at optimum conditions at altitude. I have my M-5 210c with a stock Mculley constant speed prop. I fly around at 105 to 115 MPH!! I figured this was due to my big 8.50s . I usually don't fly above 23 squared and will pull back to 22 sometimes. How could my plane be so much slower. Should I be at a higher power setting? I have flown around 24 square give or take. and there is not too much different. certainly not 120 knots. I might hit 100 knots. What am I missing. I do have a little heavy right wing. maybe rigging? maybe the prop? Anybody have an idea?
Thanks
I have a 1975 M5/210C with stock contstant speed prop and 8.5 tires. I usually cruise 24 squared rop and am full IFR with all the antenna's. I fly around 2000-3000 msl. I figure on a solid 115 knots groundspeed year round. Sometimes a smidge faster, sometimes a tad slower.
WOW. That is indicated but verified with ground speed on the GPS. It is typical for me year round. When I run 24 square I am at 115 MPH. I will review the links
Maule igan: Are you looking at indicated airspeed or a GS reading from a GPS? You might have an inaccuracy in the airspeed indicator partially to blame. My M5-235 (with 7:00-6 "toy" tires) with easily cruise in the 115 to 120 knot range and I verify it on the GPS. I have to throttle back some in turbulence to stay out of the yellow arc on the air speed indicator. The tire size MAY make that big of a difference but it's doubtful... I would check airspeed calibration and look at rigging maybe.... Good luck..
For the most accurate speed tests you need to be doing a true airspeed calculation.
Remember from the ppl days with that e6b? Some GPS have that feature too.
Plug in altitude, ALT setting, temp and indicated speed. Read true airspeed and use those values to compare at different altitudes.
I can confirm my M5-210c cruises at 120 knots @ 24 squared
Just completing my cross country part of my ppl licence and the time elapsed ground speed and air speed calculate perfectly
Fantastic little aeroplane can't believe my luck in selecting a Maule for my first aircraft. Crikey nearly bought a Cessna lol
Flash
flashgordon wrote:.......................
Fantastic little aeroplane can't believe my luck in selecting a Maule for my first aircraft. Crikey nearly bought a Cessna lol
I get just a hair under 120 MPH up to about 3500 ft indicated and the same ground speed on the gps and I have big tires which slowed me down about 10 MPH when I put them on....so I guess I'm about the same as everyone with the IO 360...that's at 23 squared... and we fly Maules guys.. so what's with the Knots....
. I usually don't fly above 23 squared and will pull back to 22 sometimes. How could my plane be so much slower. Should I be at a higher power setting? I have flown around 24 square give or take. and there is not too much different. certainly not 120 knots. I might hit 100 knots. What am I missing. I do have a little heavy right wing. maybe rigging? maybe the prop? Anybody have an idea?
