I know there is a Pilot Experience Sim - Maule M7-235 that was a little underwhelming at release but they appear to have put out an update that addresses a lot of the issues.
The HD&G one is GBP 11.74 where the PES one is GBP 21.74.
HD&G - Pro:
Better price point.
Con:
No reviews.
Does not have an autopilot - this is a correction I originally thought it did have one
PES - Pro:
You do get several variants, including a float version.
Con:
I had “No autopilot” but @PEdRO3555358 says it does have, thanks for the correction.
I admit I’m skeptical of Heaven Designs & Giba as some of their prior releases have been said to have very inaccurate flight models (well, maybe only one, their most recent aerobatic plane) and in at least one case, some non-functional gauges. I’m not sure if these issues were fixed, so I don’t want to be unfair or slander as launches can be bumpy and they might have improved, but I don’t have enough positive evidence of their flight model and instrumentation either to push me over the fence (and their last release did not look even visually promising, the Euro Fox or whatever it’s called.) I have the PES Maule which makes me less likely to buy another, especially as there is a third Maule in development that looks to potentially be better than both (I’m not sure who the dev is, but I’ve seen him in Jonx’s Discord time to time.)
Just adding though that the Rans S6 Coyote which has been out for a while just got a Marketplace release, and is another good bush contender. I just have a soft spot for the Maule mainly because it has a yoke which is rare in bush planes.
Edit: Just mentioning the Rans S6 and the PES Maule are both on sale on iniBuilds and potentially elsewhere.
Really curious about this one. Love the Maule as an aircraft. I have the PES version and it’s pretty solid after the updates. But if this version offers any advantages, I’m interested… Also wondering about the differences between the real-world Maules they’re modeling.
With the caveat that I have only done a 20 minute flight because I am a bit busy at the moment.
I instantly felt at home because it reminded me of the FSX one. I thought it was a lot of fun to fly. Partly because it was simple to fly. In credibly responsive with my VKB-Gunfigher column.
I did my standard test route: up the Ogwen pass and round and down the Llanberis pass. The MX-7 just lapped it up. It was a bit point and press in that you could set a direction and it would just go in that direction, bank it over and it stays banked over, a bit like the F-18. Yes if you did power changes it would go up and down as you would expect. I just don’t think I ever felt the need to trim it. It leaves me suspecting the flight model is a bit suspect but I don’t care it make it a joy to fly.
I did a clean power off stall test and did begin to wonder if it was ever going to stall. It looked well below 40 Knots but it was quite violent in the stall, which I believe is correct for the type. Recovery was pretty easy – I need to do some more testing like powered stalls and with flaps.
I don’t think this is an aircraft for the rivet counters but as far as I am concerned it is fine. The sound is a bit suspect – lol just checked, they are using the Asobo Bonanza files, like another Maule I know. I mainly thought others would find it was a bit quiet but it’s fine by me. The propeller animation is a bit odd and I’d like to see that improved, maybe it is my monitor.
Tips and Tricks:
If you click the middle of the pilots yoke a tablet will appear. Has a single page of options that are preserved between flights. Press the home button, at the bottom of the tablet go hide it.
Dark and cold starts start with covers and tie-downs in place. Which feels odd as you are inside the aircraft.
One of the options is a tent, which looks a bit suspect to me. I’d have preferred a Vango Force 10 but it is what it is. This option is however the main reason for buying this aircraft. It has a Standard Black-and-Tan Dachshund. This is an excellent addition providing company and a bit of security when you are camping in the wild. I was blow away when I first saw this my family had Black-and-Tan Dachshunds when I was young.
The only major issue I have found. At some point the fuel gauges started displaying 0 fuel. Pressing the button to show the Auxiliary Tank amount showed them to be full. However checking the Weight And Balance suggested this was the other way around. Then pressing the Fuel Transfer Pump buttons was moving fuel to the Auxiliary Tanks. I’m guessing the tanks are the wrong way round in the Weight And Balance page but I’m
surprised at the amount of fuel I appear to have used. Something to monitor.
For now the MX-7 will be my bush flight aircraft of choice but I will have to improve my landings. Currently struggling to get in a 1,000 ft runway, which I’m sure is me and not the aircraft.
I think it is only available on the Market Place for X-Box and PC – 4/5 sPK
I had a lovely flight this morning in the MX-7. Flying in and out of the glens in Scotland. Day 3 and I am still loving my new aircraft. So time to get serious. I do my usual test flight out of RAF Valley (EGOV) with no wind on runway 19.
This will be where I need the autopilotm tum… te… tum… The main stack does not have an autopilot and the thing on the right that could have been an autopilot is a ADF. NO!!!
The only saving grace was that I find the MX-7 the easiest plane I have to trim so I get my test done. I use Little MapNav to get the the fuel consumption and speed values. Most of it looks quite good appart from the track on the map that is a series of S’es.
Still this aircraft will do what I want it to i.e. fly around in the mountains doing bush trips. I’ll update my OP to cover this revalation. sPK
I recently contacted the developer to point out some of the flaws with the MX-7-180, as far as I was concerned. I received an email saying that they had been contacted by many pilots of the MX-7 who wanted to point of things they felt were wrong. As a result of this the developer is planning an update to address these issues. Time will tell but I am hopeful they will have addressed some of the issues I noticed.
Current Issues:
Weight and Ballance form: The Main and Aux tanks fields are switched round. The Main tanks should have 21.5 gal capacity and the Aux tanks should have 15 gal capacity. As far as the aircraft is concerned the engine takes fuel from the 21.5 gal tanks and the “transfer pumps” pump fuel from the 15 gal tanks to the 21.5 gal tanks so all is fine in the aircraft.
No indication of outside air temperature.
The flaps don’t look correct. I point this out as I feel it is one of the distinguishing features of the Maule. With the flap handle fully down (Flap in its upmost position) it should look like the flap is sticking up from the line of the wing. The flaps will look like they are in line with the wing on the First Notch (This is used after takeoff and for relaxed climb).
Flaps are strange in the Maule there are 5 positions:
Flap Pos. Flap Handle Flap Angle
--------- ----------- ----------
Cruise Handle Full Down -7°
Flaps Up First Notch 0°
Tackeoff Second Notch 24°
Landing Third Notch 40°
Landing Forth Notch 48°
Most of the time the flaps are on the “First Notch”, this can be used for takeoff and usually for climb. Then when in level flight the flaps can be set to “Handle full down” (Flaps full up) to improve performance. In this position the flaps look like they are angled up (hence -7° flap angle). This is not how the flaps current currently work. I’m guessing this is just a visual thing and the flaps affect the aircraft performance as they should.
Alternator warning light is on even when the battery switch is off.
Fuel level indicated before battery switch is on.
The turning circle seems a bit large, especially for a “bush flight” aircraft.
Does anyone know if this actually ever received an update? Like a lot of aircraft on the Marketplace the version history shows nothing.
I already own the PES Maule but have been thinking about also picking this one up. However I don’t wish to get an addon that is essentially abandoned by the developer and receives no bug fixes.
Unfortunately I downloaded the plane from the MS Store, thinking they would only have good products for sale, and only then did I read the reviews. I will still check it out - but I can’t find the notebook that you need to start the flight with. Gone. No icon found.
Turn the fuel on; click between the valve and the position you want BOTH.
Turn the Battery Master and Alternator on.
Push the propeller control all the way forward.
Push the throttle in an inch, to give the enging a little throttle.
Operate the starter by clicking on 5 and dragging to the right with the mouse. Wait till you hear the engine firing and relese the mouse.
Good luck, sPK
PS - Though I think the flight model is not acurate (not that I would really know). It just tends to go where you point it, but that does make it easy to fly. It is my current go-to aircraft for bush flights (I don’t get on with the Cubs).
oh, thank you, but I was merely looking for the notebook but I found it. You need to click the centre of the pilot’s yoke, and voila.
But re my sceptisism about having bought a bad product - I have been proven wrong. I test-flew it, and everything was perfect except the look of the side doors. Its air and ground behaviour was perfect. I think we can compare it to Cessna planes. The usual too-high nose that blocks your forward view is typical FS, I know this problem since FSX or before. I hope MS will improve this some day. Starting the engine was easy, just like any other small engine. I control MSFS by Alpha and Bravo, so I do not need to mouse-click many buttons. If you know where the fuel switch is to be found, you are all set.
