AVSIM Freeware Aircraft Package Review The Maule M7-260

So, you think great freeware aircraft packages are dead!

Individuals like Mikko Miliniemi, Steven Grant, Ian Grant, and Aaron Swindle are household names to those that frequently download various Flight Simulator files, plus you add the names of Kari Virtanen, Tomas Foosnes, and Gerd R. Nehr and this team has recently released, as freeware, what just may be the best single engined bush aircraft ever. 

Their choice of the Maule M7-260 is ironic in that I personally know that at least two of the program managers at Microsoft (Game Simulations Division) are Maule owners, so if Microsoft did not include the Maule as a default aircraft, then these fellows have surely corrected that oversight and have truly done it justice with this release. 

The Maule is generally known as a homebuilt, though turnkey versions are available and this Maule FS design team have thought to included 9 different versions or liveries, including 2 amphibians, 2 different tail-draggers (each with different gear strut assemblies), 1 tundra tire equipped model, 1 fitted with tri-cycle gear, and 3 outfitted with skis.

 Installation and documentation!

After downloading the monster file (just under 59MBs) installation is easy, straight forward and once installed, you are given as good a set of documents covering all aspects of this FS aircraft package as you could ever hope for with a payware package. It truly amazing this package is free! The documentation includes an Aircraft Operations Gguide, User Manual, proper aircraft check-list, and a complete manual on the use of the Apollo Radio gear. Many of the commercial add-on distributors would do well to learn from this, as one could not wish for better documentation than these fellows have provided.

The documentation included is very well thought out and considering this is a freeware package..well, it is amazing!	Besides the user manual (PDF format) the freeware Maule includes a detailed check-list and Apollo Radio user manual.

White with green stripes on one of two float Maules.	The second float livery is my personal favorite, yellow with black stripes.	Conventional tail-dragger in gray, white, and red.	Also the tail-dragger has this very pleasing aqua-marine on gray and white.
No doubt the intent of this model, with its tundra wheels attached.	The first of two ski equipped models.	Another of the ski models.	The single tri-cycle geared model included.
This ski version has the most unusual paint scheme, of which I kind of like.	Two of the conventional tail-draggers showing their two different types of gear struts.	Each of these Maules has opening passenger doors and baggage area.	The quality of the texturing on all of these models is every bit as good as the best of the payware aircraft available.

Panels:

The panels, for the Maule M7-260, include both a very accurate and clear 2D panel as well as a fully dynamic 3D virtual panel, and a fully rendered virtual cockpit. The gauges in both the 2D and 3D mode are super sharp and clear and as with a couple of recent payware packages I have reviewed, it can be difficult to sometimes realize the difference between them (the 2D or 3D vc mode).

You do have available pop-up windows for the default Garmin GPS and the included Apollo radio stack (both panel modes) and of course the panel is clickable in the 3D vc mode. Having the GPS and radio stack available in pop-up windows is very nice in the end, as the size is just perfect for clear viewing and you can drag-n-drop the pop-up windows so that forward viewing is basically unobstructed. For you high altitude guys and gals, there is no included auto-pilot, so you’re on your own when flying cross-country, but what the heck, half the fun of flying is knowing you’re in control and frankly its few and far between in the real-world light aircraft that have auto-pilots.

Like many of the latest commercial releases, the freeware Maule’s 2D panel and 3D virtual panel are barely distinguishable from each other.	Besides the excellent panel gauges, the default Garmin GPS and the Apollo radio stack are available in popup windows.	The panel-gauges in the virtual mode are very clear and sharp, plus you can set your seat height for a perfect view forward.
Once again, the high quality of the recent virtual panels, are further demonstrating that 2D panels are becoming obsolete and unnecessary.	From the VC mode your interior is fully rendered.	From all angles, the Maule team has out-done themselves with their virtual cockpit rendering.

Airfile & Sounds:

With names like Steven Grant and Aaron Swindle on the team, you can be sure that both the airfile and the sounds package are going to be top-notch and they are! Aaron Swindle is now becoming legendary with his many sound files, some freeware, and many a part of a payware package. The sounds included with the Maule M7-260 are really quite good and certainly lend themselves to giving a very realistic feel when flying any of the Maule M7-260 models.

The airfile in the Maule is another area that is strikingly accurate and certainly worthwhile of any payware package. I found the feel to be generally very good for an aircraft of this type. Considering that there are several individuals (real Maule owners), given credit in the documents, that contributed to the end result here, then it is no surprise that the airfile in this aircraft is very good.

The primary purpose of this aircraft is related to backwoods or bush flying. Most of my test flying was by practicing slow flight, flying the backside of the power curve to landing, and practicing flap jump takeoffs. In the real Maule, the flaps are retracted or extended by a single lever (manual) and the boys here have upped the flap speed to a very realistic fashion. When you strike the “F8” key, the flaps go to full extension in a fraction of a second, giving you a very realistic look and feel as to the real-world flap operation with an actual Maule.

I did attempt a slip to landing approach, but frankly I was unable to maintain a constant side-slip down to landing, so maybe this area still needs a little work, but in actuality this is really just a minor point. These aircraft at full flaps and flying the backside of the power curve will put you onto any field with at least 750 or more feet of runway.

Summary:

In the overall, this is a truly wonderful package, where you have a full choice of aircraft to pick from; two amphibians, three ski versions, two standard tail-draggers, one tail-dragger with tundra tires, and even a tri-cycle geared model. Five different models with a total of nine paints. In addition to the choice of models, you also have a very high quality 3D virtual panel-cockpit as well as the standard 2D panel, this all combined with the terrific Swindle sounds, and a more than reasonable airfile. You couldn't ask for more in a payware package!

The only real drawback is that for those of us stuck with a dial-up modem, you’ll have about 5 to 6 hours worth of download time to look forward to, being as the file size (zipped) is nearly 60MB. But, even then it is very much worth the time & effort.

For downloading this file, just jump over to our friends at FSNordic.net here and look for the Maule in the file library under general aviation aircraft.

In general the Maule is more or less a homebuilt aircraft, but turnkey models are available.	Besides the amphibian models, the tundra equipped model is my favorite.	Opening doors, retractable rudders, and oars (mounted on the floats), these are fully equipped aircraft.
The water spray is very realistic by way of add-on effects included.	Of the two amphibians, I really like the black on yellow paint.	The exterior texturing is very well done, right down to the oil streaks from under the engine cowling.