7000 wrote:

I'm looking for any evidences or feedbacks from peoples owning or piloting
Maule aircrafts, especially the Star Rocket MXT 7 180.

I have an MX-7-160. The MXT-7 is a trike, so it will be a little easier to
handle. The cabin is a bit tight inside. The 180 has the best combination of
speed, capacity, and fuel economy of the Maule aircraft. It's also possible to
get a mogas STC reasonably.

As with all Maules, if it was made before 1996, check for problems with the
fabric and paint. After about 1998, the paint jobs were excellent. During '96
through '98, some planes were painted well and some weren't as Maule used up
their stocks of enamel, but it wasn't until they got a spray booth that the
paint jobs really got good.

Interior finish will be fairly plain, even if the original owner opted for
leather. Maules are basic, working aircraft.

Parts support from the factory is excellent and prices are quite reasonable.

Factory options that you should look for are the second landing light and
windows that open (at least for the pilot). Make sure the plane has sealed wing
struts; ones made after about 1995 will have them. Earlier aircraft may have
had them replaced; look for references to AD-95-26-18 in the logbooks. If the
struts have not been replaced, you're looking at yearly inspections, or about
$1,000 to replace them. Also check service bulletin compliance on older planes.
There are about 20 of them, and all of them are things that should be done in
my opinion as an owner. Maule is not in the habit of writing CYA SBs.

The reason '95 turns up so often in this post is that Belford Maule died in that
year. His family build aircraft to higher standards than old Belford did.

George Patterson
To a pilot, altitude is like money - it is possible that having too much
could prove embarassing, but having too little is always fatal.