Photograph:
First Maule M-9 in Australasia, VH-VRF (c/n 36001c) at Camden, NSW in 2013 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Touring and utility monoplane
Power Plant:
One 175 kw (235 hp) Lycoming IO-540-W1A5 six-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.03 m (32 ft 11 in)
- Length: 7.21 m (23 ft 8 in)
- Height: 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
- Wing area: 15.39 m² (165.6 sq ft)
- Cruising speed at 75% power: 254 km/h (158 mph)
- Stalling speed, full flaps: 74 km/h (46 mph)
- Take-off ground roll: 124 m (406 ft)
- Landing over 15 m (50 ft) obstacle: 274 m (900 ft)
- Service ceiling: 6,096 m (20,000 ft)
- Empty weight: 771 kg (1,700 lb)
- Useful load: (499 kg (1,100 lb)
- Loaded weight: 1,270 kg (2,800 lb)
History:
The M-9 series was introduced to the Maule range of aircraft in 2003 and was offered with four engine options, one of which was the SMA SR-305 diesel engine providing 172 kw (230 hp), this model, known as the M-9-230 being first shown at the EAA event at Oshkosh in 2007. This model continues in production alongside the other models.
Normal power plant is the six-cylinder Lycoming IO-540-W1A5 engine providing 175 kw (235 hp) driving a 203 cm (80 in) McCauley three-blade constant speed propeller. The aircraft may be fitted with a tailwheel undercarriage, skis, floats, or amphibious floats. The fuselage of the aircraft is of 4130 chromoly steel truss structure, the wings, flaps and ailerons being of all metal and, like the fuselage, the tail and tail control surfaces are covered with Ceconite.
One of the differences between the M-7 series and the M-9 series is the fuselage, being 7.62 cm (3 in) higher and 12.7 cm (5 in) longer in the cargo area, the increase in the volume to 1.18 m³ (42 cub ft) thus permitting the installation of an optional, removable 5th seat; an increase in gross weight of 136 kg (300 lb), and structural reinforcement including a reinforced mounting tube for the tailwheel. The aircraft is designed as a multi-mission aircraft, in the cruising configuration being able to carry four adults, 45 kg (100 lb) of luggage and more than four hours of fuel; or carry two adults, 113 kg (250 lb) of equipment and more than seven hours of fuel.
The first example of the M-9 series arrived in Sydney in mid-2013, an M-9-235 becoming VH-VRF (c/n 36001C) in September 2013. Later it was flown to New Zealand where it became ZK-VRF on 9 December 2015.