Maule M-5

The Maule M-5 is an American four-seat cabin monoplane designed and built by the Maule Aircraft Company.

Design and development

The M-5 was a development of the earlier Maule M-4 with improved STOL performance. It has a 30% increase in flap area and enlarged tail surfaces.

Two prototype M-5s flew in 1971, one powered by a 210-hp (157kW) engine, the other with a 220-hp (164kW) engine.

The M-5 is a steel-tube and fabric high-wing braced-monoplane with a cantilever tailplane with a single fin and rudder. It has a fixed-tailwheel landing gear and an enclosed cabin with two rows of side-by-side seating for a pilot and three passengers. The aircraft entered production in 1974 and was named the Strata Rocket and the Lunar Rocket. A generally similar M-6 Super Rocket was also developed with a 3-foot-longer (0.91 m) wingspan and more fuel capacity, smaller ailerons and larger flaps.

Variants

M-5-180C

Initial production variant with a 180-horsepower (134 kW) Lycoming O-360-C1F engine, more than 94 built.

M-5-200

One aircraft modified with a 200-horsepower (149 kW) engine.

M-5-210C Strata Rocket

180C with a 210-horsepower (157 kW) Continental IO-360-D engine in a revised cowling, 206 built.

M-5-210TC Lunar Rocker

210C fitted with a turbocharged 210-horsepower (157 kW) Lycoming TO-360 engine, 10 built.

M-5-220C Lunar Rocket

210C fitted with a 220-horsepower (164 kW) Franklin 6A-350-C1 engine, 57 built.

M-5-235C Lunar Rocket

210C fitted with a 235-horsepower (175 kW) Lycoming O-540-J1A5D engine, more than 379 built.

M-6-235C Super Rocket

235C with a 3-foot-longer (0.91 m) wingspan and more fuel capacity, smaller ailerons and larger flaps, 136 built.

Specifications (M-5-235C Strata Rocket)

Data from The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Capacity: 3
• Length: 23 ft 6 in (7.16 m)
• Wingspan: 30 ft 10 in (9.40 m)
• Height: 6 ft 2½ in (1.89 m)
• Wing area: 157.90 ft² (14.67 m²)
• Empty weight: 1400 lb (635 kg)
• Gross weight: 2300 lb (1043 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-540-J1A5D flat-six piston engine, 235 hp (175 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 172 mph (277 km/h)
• Range: 550 miles (885 km)
• Service ceiling: 20000 ft (6095 m)

References

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. 
• Simpson, R.W.. Airlife's General Aviation. England: Airlife Publishing. pp. 190. ISBN 1 85310 104 X. 
• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing. 1985.