Airmail

mxt180 · Post by **mxt180** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 7:41 pm

I was on a horesback hunt in Idaho in '99 and one of the guides had problems with his boots. They radioed down to the airstrip and the next day a Cessna flew over and dropped a new pair of boots to us below. It all seemed to all work out pretty well and was a memorable experience to be on the receiving end.

Some friends of mine go on a camping trip a few hours from here every year and I thought about dropping off some provisions in a similar manner just for fun. Does anyone have any such experience with a Maule? Is it safe to do without impacting the tailfeathers? I'm in an MXT-7-180.

UP-M5 · Post by **UP-M5** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:57 am

yep, works great. it really helps to have swing open front windows.

TomD · Post by **TomD** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 4:59 pm

Unless I am mistaken, it is perfectly legal to fly a Maule ( M5 at least ) with the front door removed ( simple two bolt removal). A little noisy and breezy but ideal for dropping things, like your headsets etc.

Attention FAA lurkers, this is all hearsay.

TD

a64pilot · Post by **a64pilot** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 5:02 pm

things are dropped all of the time, a shipping box, the long ones with a ribbon streamer to stabalize it works well.
Just dont get so wrapped up in the drop, you forget to fly the airplane, it happens

Duane · Post by **Duane** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 5:20 pm

It is legal to fly any Maule with EITHER front door off. as long as the other one is on. or you can remove both rear doors as long as front doors are on..and i've done some photography with the rear doors off and its supprisingly none windy

TomD · Post by **TomD** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 5:42 pm

It is legal to fly any Maule with EITHER front door off

In that case, I can say that I have had my right front door off to participate in a flour bombing contest and even the light paper cups w/ tail fins easily cleared the tail feathers.

TD

UP-M5 · Post by **UP-M5** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:04 am

its a little chilly to be flying around with the door off here, in the winter.
thats why i prefer swing up windows. i also prefer to have a bombadier doing the drop if possible.
but do watch your headset and/or glasses when the door/window is open.

TomD · Post by **TomD** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:36 am

its a little chilly to be flying around with the door off here, in the winter

Alaska in winter without a door??? I bet it would be chilly!

My M5 is chilly even with all the doors and windows closed. One good thing is the air circulation "feature" of my M5 keeps the Carbon Monoxide danger down.

TD

mxt180 · Post by **mxt180** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:12 pm

Thanks for the posts. Can't wait to make the drop.

Airmail

Airmail

drops

Front door

Door off

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