Maule MXT-7-180 Star Rocket

Wilco Aviation is pleased to present for sale the Maule MXT-7-180 Star Rocket, registration G-CROL an excellent example of this respected aircraft.Currently based at our facility at Henstridge Airfield in the South West of England, it is available for viewing by appointment.The Maule MXT-7-180 may not be the sleekest or fastest aircraft, but it offers the reliable short-field performance typical of the Maule range, all at a relatively modest cost. Crucially, it avoids the more demanding ground-handling characteristics of taildragger models.The tri-gear Maule marked the company s first move into direct competition with mainstream four-seat, fixed-gear singles. Introduced in 1991 around the same time as the AGAC Tiger it didn t revolutionise the market, though few designs have in recent decades.Notably, Maule remains in business and continues to produce the MXT-7-180, unlike AGAC.Several factors have contributed to Maule s continued success. One is its niche appeal. Compared with the similarly powered Tiger, the tri-gear Maule offers almost identical useful load. Although slower, it provides significantly better short-field performance, climb rate, service ceiling, and range.Structurally, the aircraft closely resembles its taildragger counterparts, featuring a tube-and-fabric fuselage with metal wings and stabiliser. The forward fuselage, from the rear of the doors forward, is also metal-skinned.The landing gear differs substantially: instead of the taildragger s shock-absorber main gear and steerable tailwheel, the tri-gear model has aluminium leaf-spring main gear and an oleo-strut nose gear. Interestingly, the nose gear adds no measurable drag compared to the conventional gear arrangement.The tri-gear Maule s wing is roughly three feet longer than that of the MX-7 taildragger, effectively sharing the same design as the M-6. The increased span allows for larger ailerons and flaps.Factory pilots recommend a short-field take-off technique of accelerating to