My first tail-dragger and my first high-performance airplane was a Maule M-6. Though I had no other tail-dragger experience with which to compare, I would say the Maule was a bit daunting in my first few hours of training and familiarization. But with over 300 hours in that airplane, I found it very satisfying to fly and to own.
In May 2003, I traded 644SL to Johan Pieterse of Maule Mods Inc. in exchange for an M-7-235C to be refurbished at some future date. The job ran into a number of delays (don't they all?!), including 100-year floods in southern California and in Caldwell, Idaho where Maule Mods is now located. I finally got the plane to Seattle in February 2005.
This Maule flies well and is superbly outfitted, including some special modifications such as top-hinged pilot and co-pilot doors which really improves access to the cockpit. I am very happy with the spring steel gear; the wider track seems to improve ground handling. The weight penalty might discourage hardcore backcountry pilots, but I mostly fly solo with my dog, so the useful load is adequate for my needs.
----------------
To any taildragger pilots residing in or passing through the northwest, please consider stopping in at Paine Field (PAE), Everett, WA, home of the Boeing widebody assembly plant and future home (2005) of a new Museum of Flight. I love my Maule, but I'd welcome the chance to swap rides with any other taildragger pilots to see just how much I really don't know about taildraggers.
And if you happen to be residing in Washington, please ask me about Washington Pilots Association (www.wpaflys.org) and about getting involved to join us in our mission of safeguarding general aviation in the Pacific Northwest.
Kirk Kleinholz
Edmonds, WA
|