Experimenter is a magazine created by EAA for people who build airplanes. We will report on amateur-built aircraft as well as ultralights and other light aircraft.
Issue link: http://experimenter.epubxp.com/i/96284
In addition to David's help, other Maule Air employees helped with the project as well. Quality inspector Wayne Frasier took a special interest in the clippedwing project. He shared Maule's wing manufacturing process with David and Chuck and discussed ideas about skin thickness. Wayne was open to the design changes David Wright had come up with. "That's what experimenting is all about," he told them. Not only did Wayne openly share processes, concepts, and jigs, he was intrigued with the clipped-wing concept as a future product offering. "This might be something we'd like to do," he said. When the application for airworthiness certificate had to be notarized, another member of the Maule Air family helped out. June Maule, D.B.'s wife for 51 years, had run the procurement department and then owned the company after D.B. died. She notarized the application shortly before she passed away in 2009. David and Chuck did some experimenting with other aircraft components along the way. They had planned on using an Innodyn engine, a turboprop that has an innovative, one-basic-moving-part design. The engine had been tested on a Van's RV-4 and PV-6AT, along with a P-18 Super Cub. Chuck built a mock-up engine and mounts before realizing that the engine was not going to be available anytime soon. As David reports, "We took our losses—mostly Chuck's loss—but it was a big letdown." They ended up using a 300-hp Lycoming O-540, David said, "because it would do what a standard 235 or 265 Maule would do, and the extra horsepower would compensate for the clipped wings." They chose a beta MT three-blade prop that has reverse-pitch capability. "The MT would be great for floatplanes," David said. "The plane wouldn't drift after landing or on start-up." Finally, in 2010 the plane was completed and ready for inspection. David had lots of evidence that they had built the airplane: 570 pictures and the 51-percent checklist. When the builders totaled up their work, Chuck had built 54 percent of the airplane. Power for this homebuilt Maule is a 300 hp Lycoming O-540, with an MT Propellers three-bladed prop. EAA EXPERIM ENTER 31