Maule M-7 Explained

The Maule M-7 is a family of single-engine light aircraft that has been manufactured in the United States since the mid-1980s.

Design and development

Based on the Maule M-4, it is a high-wing, strut-braced monoplane of conventional configuration, available with tailwheel or optional tricycle wheeled undercarriage^[1] and frequently used as a floatplane with twin floats. The basic M-7 has a longer cabin than its predecessors the M-5 & M-6, with two seats in front, a bench seat for up to three passengers behind them, and (like the M-6) an optional third row of "kiddie seats" at the rear.^[2] Extra cabin windows can be fitted if the "kiddie seats" are to be used. The MX-7 uses the same fuselage as the M-6,which is a modified M-5 fuselage but the same wing span as the M-5,^[2] ^[3] and incorporates the increased fuel tankage, Hoerner-style wingtips and five-position flaps designed for the M-7.^[4]

The M-7 family has been produced both with piston and turboprop engines.^[2] ^[3] ^[5]

Variants

M-7 series

M-7-235 Super Rocket

Similar to M-6-235 with lengthened cabin. Tailwheel undercarriage and Lycoming O-540 engine

M-7-235B Super Rocket^[6]

Same as M7-235 including Oleo-Strut main landing gear.

M-7-235C Orion

Same as M7-235B but with sprung aluminum main landing gear and Lycoming IO-540 engine.

M-7-260

M-7-235 with Allison 250 turboprop engine

MT-7-235 Tri-Gear

Super Rocket with tricycle undercarriage

MT-7-260

MX-7 series

MX-7 Rocket

M-6 fuselage with M-5 wings. Lycoming O-320 engine

MX-7-180 Star Rocket

MX-7 with lengthened cabin. Optional third row of seats with windows. Lycoming O-360 engine

MX-7-180A Sportplane and Comet

MX-7 with Allison 250 turboprop engine

MX-7-420 Starcraft Turboprop

MX-7-235 with Allison 250 turboprop engine

MXT-7-160 Comet

MX-7-160 with tricycle undercarriage

MXT-7-180 Star Rocket

MX-7-180 with tricycle undercarriage

References

Book: Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1985–86 . 1985 . registration . Jane's Publishing . London . 9780710608215 .
Maule develops turboprops . . 2 May 1987 . 2008-12-27.
Private Aircraft Buyers' Guide . . 15 March 1986 . 37–48 . 2008-12-27.
Book: Simpson, R. W. . Airlife's General Aviation . 1995 . Airlife Publishing . Shrewsbury . 1-85310-577-5 .
Book: Taylor, Michael J. H. . Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation . 1989 . Studio Editions . London . 0-7106-0710-5.
Book: World Aircraft Information Files . Bright Star Publishing. London . 1-156-94382-5 .

Notes and References

Web site: Standard Equipment – MX(T)-7 Series and M(T)-7 Series Maule Aircraft. 17 June 2012. Maule Air. Maule Air. 1 January 2012.
Simpson 1995, 242
Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1985–86, 448
"Private Aircraft Buyers' Guide" 1986, 39.
"Maule develops turboprops" 1987, 16
World Aircraft Information Files, File 901 Sheet 08