List of Real World Performance Specs

[Skiermike]

I've searched the forums and there's bits and pieces here and there, but can we get a thread going of real-world operating specs?

It would be really interesting to hear *actual* data based on the way you *actually* fly.

Year
Type of Maule
Engine Type
Any Major Mods
Empty Weight
Typical Cruise Settings & Altitude
Typical Indicated Airspeed
Typical Fuel Burn
Typical Load
Typical takeoff and landing distance

For me, the answer to all the above is:

None

Because I have no plane! Looking to change that again soon...

[andy]

This chart shows comparisons between various Maule models. http://maulepilots.org/forums/viewtopic ... &start=105

It doesn't give you the performance data that you're looking for but it's useful in comparing the models.

There are so many variations and options that there's no easy way to come up with performance specs other than what Maule puts on their website. Here's what I use for my 1986 MX-7-180 based on 18 years of ownership: http://www.maulepilot.com/mauleperformance.pdf

[snaproll]

I've been playing around with numbers in my 1980 M5-235 (O-540). 21" bush wheels and extended heavy gear. I recently ran these tests at just under 500 lbs of pilot, stuff, and fuel. I used the three leg online GPS calculator to determine true airspeed so no guarantees there. Fuel flow was determined running 75* rich of peak.

2500' MSL at 23* - 21/2100 - 105kts - 13 gph

4000' MSL at 19* - 21/2100 - 109kts - 13.5 gph
4000' MSL at 19* - 23/2300 - 115kts - 16 gph

6000' MSL at 12* - 21/2100 - 111kts - 13.5 gph
6000' MSL at 12* - 23/2300 - 122kts - 16 gph

8000' MSL at 10* - 21/2100 - 115kts - 13 gph

10000' MSL at 10* - 20/2100 - 115kts - 13 gph

Based on input from other Maule pilots and from these numbers I'm now running 21/2100 and burning closer to 12 gal than 13 at 6,000-7,000' MSL. Without fuel injection the JPI jumps around enough that I figure I'm in the ballpark. I'm flight planning at 110kts and 12.5 gph and finding that to be pretty close. At that I can flight plan about 4.5 hours + 30 minutes and plan to cover approx. 500 miles. Much longer than I actually want to be in the airplane.

I'd be interested in numbers from other folks. I suspect I'm not leaning as aggressively as other pilots.

[ajak]

Hey Skiermike,

Get a Maule soon - life is short!

For the last couple of years, I've been using 13 gph as a planning figure, but after recently installing an a digital JPI EDM-900 I'm finding that I'm getting peak EGT at (approx. at about 3000' MSL) at around 10.5 gph. I usually set 22" MP, 2200 rpm, and lean to about 10.5 gph (best econ), and see about 105 kts IAS. That's with long wings, VGs, extended landing gear, and 29" AK bushwheels.

As far as TO/LDG distances - I try to maintain 45 mph IAS on final (light - just me, about 20 gal fuel, and about 70 lbs of stuff in back), or 50 mph if heavier, on short final. Today, with about 10-15 kts of wind (45 degrees F at near sea level), I was seeing groundspeeds of about 35 kts on on final. T/O and Ldg distance were each less than 200' on smooth gravel. But as others have pointed out before, Maules are so individualized that performance may significantly vary from plane to plane, even for the same model. Same airplane, carrying 3 passengers, and 70 degrees temp with a bit more fuel, I'd personally want to have at least 1000 ft available and would expect to use about 700 ft of it.

AJ

[Skiermike]

Everyone seems focused on takeoff and landing distances, but that's not my primary concern. How are you guys climbing out (in terms of fpm)? Most of the strips I'd be operating out of are quite long, but surrounded by big terrain. I'm curious with a -210 or -235 when loaded with, say 75% of your useful load, what kind of fpm would you be seeing climbing through a DA of around 7-8k'?

[ajak]

Well, that might because takeoff and and landing distances are what you asked about in your first post. I'll let you know what kind of climb rate I see in my M-6-235, if I ever climb that high.

[Skiermike]

Good point.. Hah!