TYPE: Five-seat lightplane/turboprop.
PROGRAMME: Introduced 1984 as M-7-235 Super Rocket (prototype N5656A; based on M-6-235 but with extended cabin and additional windows). In May 2000, Maule received first of an initial batch of 10 SMA SR305 turbocharged diesel engines, rated at 169 kW (227 hp), for installation in MX-9s.
CURRENT VERSIONS: Produced with short (M-5), mid-length (M-6) or long (A Model) wing span and engine/landing gear options as detailed below; short option deleted on 1999 versions, while piston-engined and turboprop/nosewheel aircraft have only M-6 wing from that year, the turboprop/tailwheel variants employing A Model wings. Designation prefixes are T = tricycle and X = short span.
MX-7-160 Sportplane: Four-seater, 119 kW (160 hp) Textron Lycoming O-320-B2D engine, Sensenich two-blade fixed-pitch metal propeller, and four-position flaps. One delivered in 1999, since when no further deliveries reported.
MXT-7-160 Comet: As MX-7-160, but tricycle landing gear; two seats standard, four seats optional. Previously known as Maule Trainer. No recent deliveries reported.
MX-7-160C Sportplane: As M-7-160, but spring aluminium landing gear. Available from 2000, but no reported deliveries by 30 June 2002.
MX-7-180A Sportplane: As MX-7-160, but 134 kW (180 hp) Textron Lycoming O-360-C4F engine. Two delivered in 2002 and one in the first nine months of 2003.
MX-7-180AC Sportplane: As MX-7-180A, but spring aluminium landing gear. Two delivered in first nine months of 2003.
MXT-7-180A Comet: As MX-7-180, but tricycle landing gear and four seats standard. Introduced and first production aircraft (N1002N) flown 1996; optimised for flight training schools. Total of 18 delivered in 1999, six in 2000, one in 2001 and three in 2002, and three in the first nine months of 2003.
MX-7-180B Star Rocket: 134 kW (180 hp) Textron Lycoming O-360-C1F engine, Hartzell two-blade constant-speed metal propeller and five-position flaps. Two delivered in 2002.
MX-7-180C: As MX-7-180B, but with spring aluminium main landing gear. Two delivered in 1999, two in 2000, one in 2001, two in 2002, and three in the first nine months of 2003.
MXT-7-180 Star Rocket: As MX-7-180B, but with tricycle landing gear. Previously known as Star Craft. One delivered in 1999, ceven in 2000, and two in 2001; no reported deliveries in first six months of 2002.
MX-7 Rocket: 153 kW (205 hp) PZL-Franklin 6A-350-C1R engine, McCauley two-blade propeller. Prototype was being test flown by second quarter of 1999. Engine may be offered as an option on Textron Lycoming O-360-powered models. No reported deliveries by October 2003.
M-7-235B Super Rocket: Five-seater; choice of 175 kW (235 hp) carburetted Textron Lycoming O-540-J1A5, low-compression Mogas approved O-540-B4B5 or fuel-injected IO-540-W1A5 engines; McCauley constant-speed propeller, five-position flaps; fuselage raised 7.6 cm (3 in) at trailing-edge of wing and baggage area moved aft 12.7 cm (5 in) to accommodate fifth seat; recommended for high gross weight short-field operation, and for floatplane operation. Eight delivered in 1999, seven in 2000, five in 2001, six in 2002, and three in the first nine months of 2003.
M-7-235C Orion: As for M-7-235B but with spring aluminium main landing gear. Sixteen delivered in 1999, 18 in 2000, 14 in 2001, 15 in 2002, and six in the first nine months of 2003.
MT-7-235 Super Rocket: As M-7-235B, but tricycle landing gear, four-position flaps and IO-540-W1A5 engine only. Four delivered in 1999, five in 2000, 16 in 2001 and 12 in 2002, and six in the first nine months of 2003. Civil Air Patrol approved purchase of 15 in glider towing configuration mid-2000.
M-7-260 Super Rocket: As M-7-235B, but 194 kW (260 hp) Textron Lycoming IO-540-V4A5 engine; McCauley two-blade constant-speed propeller standard, Hartzell and MT propellers optional. Seven delivered in 1999, one in 2000, four in 2001, one in 2002, and one in the first nine months of 2003.
M-7-260C Orion: As M-7-235C, but 194 kW (260 hp) Textron Lycoming IO-540-V4A5 engine; McCauley two-blade constant speed propeller standard, Hartzell and MT propellers optional. Eight delivered in 1999, seven each in 2000 and 2001, two in 2002, and three in the first nine months of 2003.
MT-7-260 Super Rocket: As MT-7-235, but 194 kW (260 hp) Textron Lycoming IO-540-V4A5 engine; McCauley two-blade constant-speed propeller standard, Hartzell and MT propellers optional. Three delivered in 1999, two in 2000, four in 2001, and one in 2002.
M-7-420AC: M-7 fuselage with long-span wings, 313 kW (420 shp) Rolls-Royce 250-B17C turboprop, spring aluminium tailwheel landing gear. One delivered in 1999, none in 2000, one each in 2001 and 2002, and one in the first nine months of 2003.
MT-7-420: As MT-7-260 but with 313 kW (420 shp) Rolls-Royce 250-B17C turboprop; FAA certification granted 6 January 2003.
MX-9: M-7 with 169 kW (227 hp) SMA SR305-230 Diesel engine and LoPresti cowling; max take-off weight 1,270 kg (2,800 lb). Fuel capacity 322 litres (85.0 US gallons; 70.8 Imp gallons); estimated range more than 869 n miles (1,609 km; 1,000 miles). Prototype (N305SR) first flown on 18 July 2003; public debut at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 29 July 2003 at which time it had completed 18 hours' flying time. Estimated cost US$200,000 (2003).
CUSTOMERS: Total of 970 produced by mid-2003, plus 908 of earlier M-5 and M-6 series. At 17 April 2001 Maule's order's backlog stood at 100 aircraft, of which 10 were for SMA SR305-powered MX-9s.
COSTS: MX-7-160 US$105,000; MX-7-160C US$110,400; MX-7-180A US$110,850; MXT-7-160 US$114,600; MX-7-180AC US$116,150; MXT-7-180A US$120,400; MX-7-180B US$123,500; MX-7-180C US$128,800; MXT-7-180 US$134,600; M-7-235B (O-540) US$139,600 (IO-540) US$147,750; M-7-235C (O-540) US$145,800 (IO-540) US$153,950; M-7-260 US$158,400; MT-7-235 US$160,200; M-7-260C US$165,200; MT-7-260 US$170,850; M-7-420AC US$450,000; MT-7-420 US$470,000. (All 2003; standard equipment)
DESIGN FEATURES: Rugged, STOL utility aircraft. High constant chord, wing braced by V-struts; mid-mounted tailplane; large sweptback fin.
USA 35B (modified) wing section; dihedral 1°; incidence 0° 30'; cambered wingtips standard.
FLYING CONTROLS: Conventional and manual. Ailerons linked to rudder servo tab to reduce adverse yaw; trim tab in port elevator; rudder trim by spring to starboard rudder pedal; flap deflection 40° down for slow flight (further setting of 48° down on all except -420), 24° down, o and 7° up for improved cruise performance; underfin on floatplane and amphibious versions.
STRUCTURE: All-metal two-spar wing with dual struts and glass fibre tips; fuselage frame of welded 4130 steel tube with Ceconite covering aft of cabin and metal doors and skin forward of cabin; glass fibre engine cowling.
LANDING GEAR: Non-retractable tailwheel or nosewheel type. Maule oleo-pneumatic shock-absorbers in narrow track main units on MX-7-160, MX-7-180A, MX-7-180B, M-7-235B and M-7-260 models; wide chord main units standard. Maule steerable tailwheel. Cleveland mainwheels with Goodyear or McCreary tyres size 7.00-6, pressure 1.79 bar (26 lb/sq in). Tailwheel tyre size 8x3.5-4, pressure 1.03 to 1.38 bar (15 to 20 lb/sq in). Cleveland hydraulic disc brakes. Parking brake. Oversize tyres, size 20x8.5-6 (pressure 1.24 bar; 18 lb/sq in) optional.
Provisions for fitting optional Aqua 2200 and 2400, Baumann 2720 or Wipline 2350 and 3000 floats, or Baumann 2750A or Wipline 2350A and 3000A amphibious floats (also available on some tricycle models). Float option available for MX-7-160, MX-7-180A/B/C, M-7-235B/C, M-7-260 and M-7-420AC. Ski option available for M-7-235B.
POWER PLANT: One flat-four or flat-six engine as described under Current Versions, driving a Sensenich two-blade fixed-pitch or Hartzell two-blade constant-speed propeller (three-blade McCauley propeller optional on 175 kW; 235 hp and 194 kW; 260 hp models); or Rolls-Royce 250-B17C turboprop with three-blade, Hartzell HC-B3TF-7A/T10173F-21R constant-speed feathering and reversing propeller in -420 models. Piston versions have two fuel tanks in wings with total usable capacity of 163 litres (43.0 US gallons; 35.8 Imp gallons). Auxiliary fuel tanks in outer wings (standard on all 1999 models), to provide total capacity of 276 litres (73.0 US gallons; 60.8 Imp gallons). Turboprop versions have total fuel capacity of 322 litres (85.0 US gallons; 70.8 Imp gallons). Refuelling points on wing upper surface.
ACCOMMODATION: Four or five seats according to model, as described under Current Versions; individual, adjustable front seats; non-adjustable, rear seats. Dual controls and three-point shoulder harnesses standard. Baggage compartment, capacity 113 kg (250 lb), aft of seats; cargo capacity with passenger seats removed 349 kg (770 lb). One front-hinged door on port side; three doors on starboard side, forward and centre doors hinged at front edge, rear baggage door hinged at rear edge to form double cargo door providing an opening 1.30 m (4 ft 3 in) wide to facilitate loading of bulky cargo; aircraft may be flown with doors removed. Accommodation heated and ventilated.
SYSTEMS: Hydraulic system for brakes only; electrical system powered by 60 A engine-driven alternator; 12 V battery (24 V battery on turboprops).
AVIONICS: Standard SP-3 VFR package comprises Garmin GNC 250XL GPS/com (GNC 420 upgrade optional), GTX 327 digital transponder, PS Engineering PM 1000II four-place intercom. IFR-4 package comprises GNS 430 GPS/nav/com, GNC 250XL GPS/com, GI-106A CDI with GS, GTX 327 digital transponder, PS Engineering PMA 7000B stereo audio panel. IFR-4KX package deletes GNC 250XL and adds Bendix/King KX-155-42 nav/com/GS and KI-209-01 VPR/GS indicator. IFR-5 package adds second GNS 430 to IFR-4 package. GNS 530 replacing one GNS 430 optional in IFR packages. Optional avionics upgrades include 28 V system for IFR packages, Century NSD 360A-15 or 360A-26 non-slaved/slaved HSIs replacing one GI-106A in IFR packages; S-TEC System 20, System 30 or System 50 autopilots and heading bug directional gyro; Insight Strikefinder SF-2000; Bose Headset X; Light Speed Technologies Twenty 3G ANR headset; and fifth-seat microphone and headset jack. All avionics packages include Narco AR-850 remote altitude encoder, Bendix/King KA 33-00 cooling blower (KA 33-01 optional), ELT, pilot and co-pilot PTT switches, radio master switch, and broadband antenna; IFR packages also include second broadband antenna, marker antenna and triplexer.
Instrumentation: Standard equipment includes full gyro panel/vacuum system comprising attitude and directional gyros, electric turn co-ordinator, VSI, OAT gauge and suction gauge; ASI; altimeter; compass; audio/visual stall warning indicator; CHT gauge; tachometer; electric fuel gauge, manifold pressure gauge (constant-speed propeller models only); fuel pressure gauge; oil pressure and temperature gauges; ammeter, and clock. Options include TAS indicator, carburettor air temperature gauge, hour meter, and KS Mix-Mizer EGT probe.
EQUIPMENT: Standard equipment includes instrument and dome lights, auxiliary cabin heater, auxiliary fuel pump, auxiliary power plug, heated pitot tube, vinyl seats with velor inserts, vinyl cabin side panels, cloth velour cabin headliner, cabin soundproofing, cabin overhead speaker, window vents, cabin steps, cargo tiedowns, smoke-tinted windscreen, windscreen defroster, landing light in port wing, navigation lights, wingtip strobe lights, seven fuel drains, tiedown rings, airframe powder coating, wing corrosion proofing, and standard external paint scheme in Glacier White or Dune White base colour with single-colour trim. Options include dual-caliper brakes, dynamically balanced propeller, engine heater, leather seats and interior trim, four-point shoulder harnesses for pilot and co-pilot, Oregon Aero seat cushion system for pilot and co-pilot, two-position middle seat, colour co-ordinated instrument panel, landing light in starboard wing, Precise Flight pulselight, Micro Dynamics Inc vortex generators, dual tailplane struts (for glider towing), ground service plug, fuselage grab handles, Halon fire extinguisher, Schweizer or Tost glider tow/release kit, aircraft towbar, observation door, camera port, observation window, skylight, co-pilot's swing-out window, smoke-tinted cabin windows, and additional external trim colours.