Maule Or Husky?

[silvereagle]

I am in the market for an aircraft with some character and one which is capable of getting in and out of farm/short strips. So far I have considered the Maule and the Aviat Husky. Before I go any further, I would appreciate your wise council.

I don't need all the pros and cons of owning an aircraft (I already have one) but I would like some honest views of people who have operated similar or indeed own one of the types mentioned.

Also, I could offer some very interesting swaps if we could somehow fly your Maule/Husky together.

[Ojuka]

I came close to buying a Husky A-1B. Don't go for the A-1A, the A-1B has several advantages but which at the moment I can't remember! Huskies are not generally aviable on the used UK market, and a new one is around the £95k mark. A Super Cub 150hp will do much the same job for £35k.

The Maule is a better all rounder with four seats, side by side seating and room for baggage. The 180hp Maule is a good all rounder, but for good load lifting and extra short field performance consider the 235hp.

The Maule cannot compete with the Husky for short field performance. A Husky will get in and out of 200m fields with ease but is quite spartan and utility based because of this. The Maule needs about 300m to be comfortable and is more of a tourer.

I would recommend www.aviationconsumer.com for full owners reports and flight tests of these models.

[Flyin'Dutch']

We operate a Maule M5-235 out of a 400m farmstrip.

Maules are a bit of an acquired taste. They will do exactly what you want of them providing you are absolutely on top of the little beastie. Performance is great and the big advantage over say a Cub is the extra space and cruise speed.

I have never flown a Husky yet but since they are a direct Cub derivative I suspect they fly and handle nicer than a Maule. (Cubs of course being the gold standard to measure anything else by! :D )

You can fly the Cub/Husky with the door open whereas with the Maule you can only fly it with the side window open or the door off.

A Maule is more cost efficient from a purchase point of view than a Cub, and Huskies are only available new or nearly new.

The O-540 on hours though does little to make for cheap fuel bills :}

Although you can read all sorts of horror stories about Maules the insurance came in very competitive despite some of the group having no tailwheel experience and nobody having experience on type at the time.

Drop me a PM if you want to come up for a taster

FD

[Whipping Boy's SATCO]

I had a go in a Husky A1B and was most impressed (took-off in about 100ft with a 10 kt headwind). A modern day Cub with impressive performance. Chat to the UK distributor (pm me if you want his details) and I am sure he will be most accomodating.

[OldMauleMan]

Hello

A friend has just sent me your message.

I thought that you might be interested to hear that, after 15 years of very enjoyable Maule'ing, my co-owner and I have decided to offer our Maule M5 for sale when it comes back from its C of A , hopefully in a couple of weeks.

We have done a lot with it until recently, whilst the length of a strip is important we have been to more interesting places, e.g landing on a strip on the side of a hill and out again - one way in the other way out.

Whilst I have never been in a Husky I do not see how you can compare a full four seater with a tandem two seater. We have done a lot of flying in Super Cubs which is really all a Husky is - a modernised Super Cub.

If you would like to send you a photo and details.

I have not used Prune before and cannot see any option to add attachments

Regards

John Rayment

[email protected]

[KCDW]

You can't attach piccies John, you need to point to a piccy on a website. Somewhere on this site are the instructions.

[NearlyStol]

Most for the money is the Maule. Get a proper one with the wheel at the right end, and if you can afford the fuel burn, the -0-540 Lycoming is as near bulletproof as you can get.
Having had M5 and MX7 models, the former (and older/cheaper)
I would rate having the best aileron authority.
Buy a sound airframe if you can, with updated avionics, the U.K. has an excellent recover-repaint specialist who can make then look like new.
Happy flying!

[silvereagle]

Thanks chaps, this is just the sort of advice I need. Can anyone direct me to a POH or similar which I can view via the web? I'd like to read into it more before I make any moves towards purchase.

What sort of figure are we talking about per hour (I have no hangarage or landing fees to pay)? Let's say based on 100 hours a year.

[Flyin'Dutch']

The POH for the Maule is so pitifully thin that I am quite happy to photocopy ours and stick it in the post for you if you are serious about procuring one.

The insurance was very cheap (I think I already alluded to that) so you would only need to allow for that then an engine/prop fund (depending on the size and CSU/fixed pitch) and the fuel and 50/100/150 inspections.

Send me a PM if you want more detailed information and specific costs.

FD

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

I have never flown a Husky yet but since they are a direct Cub derivative I suspect they fly and handle nicer than a Maule. (Cubs of course being the gold standard to measure anything else by! )


For fun or for handling? Never flown a Husky or Maule, but I've plenty of L4 and Supercub time. The L4 in particular is a lovely fun machine (if you are not in a hurry), but neither exactly sparkles in the handling stakes IMHO. For that, try a Chippy, Yak52, or Jungmann. ;)

SSD

[Daysleeper]

I guess you know the vicious side of the Maule
MX-7. Its a great machine with the wind in front of you but its a bit murderous for the unwary in a cross wind.
I enjoyed trundling around in my old company's one, its a comfy interior and the reflex flap setting is good for a few extra knots.

One other thing, with the flaps down the back seat passengers cannot open their door and will have to climb out over the seat backs or wait till you put the flaps up. Which is fine untill you crash one with the managing director in the back. Luckly there were some burly firemen around to extract them but its just a thought. :sad:

They rebuild well though. Ours had the gear ripped off, wing tip bent up right hand flap removed by the fire service and the prop dinged/ engine shock loaded. Only took a couple of months to repair and it was good as new.

Oh and no it wasn't me. :}

[Flyin'Dutch']

One other thing, with the flaps down the back seat passengers cannot open their door and will have to climb out over the seat backs or wait till you put the flaps up.

Not a great feature but you do at least get a door in the back.

Very few other 4 seaters have this.

FD