Maule Goes Jet-A, Too, And Adds LSA

Maule appears equally bullish on selling diesels, and it will be marketing in the U.S. This week at OSH, Maule debuted an M-9 fitted with SMA’s SR 305-230 aerodiesel, which was first certified in Europe a while ago and is now poised to make inroads in the U.S. Like the Diamond, the Maule diesel’s appeal is theoretically long range and lower operating costs. With 85 gallons of Jet-A aboard, the diesel M-9 appears to deliver on the range claims. Maule says it will fly more than 1,000 miles on a single top off. Maule is at www.mauleairinc.com. Another surprise on the show line was a new sport aircraft from Maule, a light taildragger powered by a Rotax 912S. It’s called the M-4-100 and Maule hopes — but isn’t certain — that it will qualify under the new Light Sport Aircraft certification standards. If it does, Maule thinks it will sell for between $70,000 and $80,000. Price for the M-9 diesel model is set at “about $200,000” according to Maule, a premium of some $50,000 over the gasoline-powered equivalent.