title: Maule M-7
text: # Maule M-7
  
  The Maule M-7 is a family of single-engine light aircraft that has been manufactured in the United States since the mid-1980s.
  
  ## Design and development
  
  Based on the Maule M-4, it is a high-wing, strut-braced monoplane of conventional configuration, available with tailwheel or optional tricycle wheeled undercarriage and frequently used as a floatplane with twin floats. The basic M-7 has a longer cabin than its predecessors the M5 & M6, with two seats in front, a bench seat for up to three passengers behind them, and (like the M-6) an optional third row of "kiddie seats" at the rear. Extra cabin windows can be fitted if the "kiddie seats" are to be used. The MX-7 uses the same fuselage as the M-6,which is a modified M5 fuselage but the same wing span as the M-5, and incorporates the increased fuel tankage, Hoerner-style wingtips and five-position flaps designed for the M-7.
  
  The M-7 family has been produced both with piston and turboprop engines.
  
  ## Variants
  
  ### M-7 series
  
  **M-7-235 Super Rocket**
  
  
      Similar to M-6-235 with lengthened cabin. Tailwheel undercarriage and Lycoming O-540 engine
  
  **M-7-235B Super Rocket**
  
  
      Same as M7-235 including Oleo-Strut main landing gear.
  
  **M-7-235C Orion**
  
  
      Same as M7-235B but with sprung aluminum main landing gear and Lycoming IO-540 engine.
  
  **M-7-420 Starcraft Turboprop**
  
  
      M-7-235 with Allison 250 turboprop engine
  
  **MT-7-235 Tri-Gear**
  
  
      Super Rocket with tricycle undercarriage
  
  ### MX-7 series
  
  **MX-7-160 Sportplane**
  
  
      M-6 fuselage with M-5 wings. Lycoming O-320 engine
  
  **MX-7-180 Star Rocket**
  
  
      MX-7 with lengthened cabin. Optional third row of seats with windows. Lycoming O-360 engine
  
  **MX-7-250 Starcraft**
  
  
      MX-7 with Allison 250 turboprop engine
  
  **MX-7-420 Starcraft Turboprop**
  
  
      MX-7-235 with Allison 250 turboprop engine
  
  **MXT-7-160 Comet**
  
  
      MX-7-160 with tricycle undercarriage
  
  **MXT-7-180 Star Rocket**
  
  
      MX-7-180 with tricycle undercarriage
  
  ## Specifications (M-7-235B)
  
  Data from manufacturer and FAA
  
  General characteristics
  
  * Crew: one
  * Capacity: four passengers
  * Length: 23.67 ft (7.21 m)
  * Wingspan: 32.92 ft (10.03 m)
  * Height: 6.33 ft (1.93 m)
  * Empty weight: 1,549 lb (703 kg) typical, equipped
  * Gross weight: 2,500 lb (1,134 kg)
  * Fuel capacity: 40 U.S. gallons (150 L; 33 imp gal) usable (standard)
  * Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-540-J1A5D six cylinder, horizontally-opposed, air-cooled aircraft engine, 235 hp (175 kW)
  * Propellers: 2-bladed Hartzell Propeller HC-C2YR-1BF/F8468A-6R constant speed propeller
  
  Performance
  
  * Cruise speed: 147 mph (237 km/h, 128 kn) maximum structural cruising speed
  * Stall speed: 49 mph (80 km/h, 43 kn) flaps down
  * Never exceed speed: 182 mph (293 km/h, 158 kn)
  * g limits: +3.8/-1.5 g
  