E-flite/Horizon Hobby Maule M-7 1.5m
This versatile aircraft makes it easy to step up to STOL
E-flite recently introduced its 1.5m rendition of the M-7, which captures the distinctive lines and multirole character of the full-scale Maule. It’s available without a receiver as a Plug-N-Play (PNP) version or with an AS3X/SAFE receiver as a Bind and Fly (BNF) Basic version, which is what I review here. Both come with landing gear and floats as well as a factory-installed power system and servos. Despite the highwing design, the Maule isn’t made for beginners, but with the SAFE system, it is easy for low-time pilots to transition to a higher-performance aircraft.
UNIQUE FEATURES
The 1.5m Maule is an injection-molded foam model that arrives needing minimal assembly. The manual is excellent and clearly documents all the steps required to get it into the air, including specific programming instructions for most Spektrum radios.
The Maule comes with a full array of goodies. Fixed bush-style landing gear are standard equipment, but floats are also included in the kit—not as an extra cost option. In addition, the floats include a servo-operated water rudder and a Y-harness to connect it. Once the floats are assembled and the retaining hardware is tightened down, converting between fixed gear and floats takes mere minutes and involves only eight screws and a servo connection. I installed the rear float brackets and screws so that I didn’t lose track of them.
Also included is an LED lighting system that features red and green navigation lights as well as two bright landing lights. The flaps are functional and give the model the short-takeoffand-landing (STOL) performance that the fullscale plane is famous for.
As with most BNF models, the Maule arrives with all its control surfaces hinged and the servos installed. It comes in a visible white and bright red scheme, and all the decals are applied at the factory. The screws that make up most of the hardware package are all M3 socket-head screws, including the wing, landing gear, and spinner bolts. The only Phillips screws are two that hold the stabilizer struts to the tail and one that retains the tailwheel steering tiller.
The power system consists of a 15BL brushless motor swinging an 11x7 propeller and powered by a 40-amp speed control.
Battery options are either the ubiquitous 3-cell 2200mAh LiPo that most of us have several of or, for more zip, the stock power system can run a 4-cell 1800 or 2200mAh. Everything is mounted and plugged in; the only work left to do is install and tighten the propeller and spinner.
The Maule comes with a Spektrum AR636 receiver, which includes both AS3X stabilization and SAFE (Sensor Assisted Flight Envelope) Select Technology. Depending on how you bind
the receiver, you can take advantage of SAFE technology where the bank and pitch angles are limited and the Maule becomes extremely easy to fly. With SAFE enabled and the switch selected to SAFE Select mode, the model will recover to level flight simply by releasing the sticks. In AS3X mode, the Maule reacts like normal AS3X mode and is capable of full aerobatics.
The great detail mention goes to the snap-in scale radio antennae. They can be removed quickly; I store them in my field box because they would otherwise inevitably be broken off. Other scale details, like fuel caps and vortex generators, round out the look.
IN THE AIR
The Maule can be transported fully assembled in many vehicles, and the wings are removable if you drive a compact car. The Maule is small enough to fly in most parks or baseball fields and, when it’s equipped with floats, will handle similarly sized ponds. The bush-style tires have no problem on the grass runway at our field, and ground handling is excellent.
Flying off water with the Maule is a thrill! The water rudder is a big help for positive control and tight turns while taxiing and keeping things straight during takeoff runs in the water. The additional weight and drag of the floats aren’t much of a factor, even on 3S, as the Maule is as nimble as ever. The lights make doing lazy splash-andgo landings at dusk a great way to relax at the end of the day, and the Maule looks great while doing it.
GENERAL FLIGHT PERFORMANCE
Stability: Whether in SAFE or AS3X mode, the Maule is stable and simply goes where you point it, wind or no wind. The airframe design is such that I strongly suspect the PNP version would perform similarly, even with a nonstabilized receiver. Tracking: The Maule tracked well in the air with either wheels or floats installed. The large tail surfaces keep things smooth.
Aerobatics: Even on 3S, the Maule is an agile model and exhibits plenty of power for large loops. It will even hover at just over half power, with some reserve to pull out. The large fin and rudder mean that it will do knifeedge with ease.
Glide and stall performance: Stalls are gentle, and with the flaps down, I had it nearly stationary in a mild breeze. Landing without flaps, it comes in fairly quickly, but drop the flaps and it lands at walking speed and stops in just a few feet on paved surfaces and nearly instantly on grass.
PILOT DEBRIEFING
The Maule is another great-looking release from E-flite with flight performance to match its looks. The included floats can be installed quickly, so it’s like buying two models in one! The modest battery requirement makes the Maule a great value, given the high performance level. It’s easy to assemble and transport and, with SAFE enabled, can be flown by just about anyone.