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Logo with airplane silhouette and text "Maule S.T.O.L."

N19WX

The design of the M-4 was started in 1956 by Belford D. Maule and the prototype "Bee Dee" first flew in February 1957.

BD Maule started the Maule Aircraft Company to develop and build the aircraft as the Maule M-4. Maule aircraft are known for their short take off and landing (STOL) capabilities, without losing the useful load capabilities of many small aircraft.

Although there are Maule Aircraft today with nose wheels, the original design, and majority of Maule aircraft have a conventional landing gear (tailwheel) design. We call these “taildraggers.” Taildraggers are by far the most challenging types of aircraft to land, due to its susceptibility to ground looping when landing. A ground loop occurs when directional control is lost on the ground and the tail of the aircraft passes the nose, swapping ends, in some cases completing a full circle. Ground-looping occurs because, whereas a nosewheel aircraft is steered from ahead of the center of gravity, a taildragger is steered from behind (much like driving a car backwards at high speed), so that on the ground a taildragger is inherently unstable, whereas a nosewheel aircraft will self-center if it swerves on landing.

Specifications

Year: 1973
Model: M-4-220C
Engine: 220 hp Franklin 6A-350-C1
Cruise speed: 127 Knots (146 mph)
Endurance: 3.25 hours with day VFR reserve
Range: ~400 Nautical Miles
Seats: 4
Max Gross Weight: 2,300 Pounds
Useful Load: 850 Pounds
Length: 22 feet
Wingspan: 31 feet

*Background image is a photo taken while flying the Maule along the Hudson River in NYC

This Maule was built for Paul Frank out of Naples, Florida in 1973, and came off the assembly line with the tail number of N40649. Paul’s father, Edward H Frank purchased 420 acres of land in the 1940’s as farm land. This article quotes, “Ed’s son Paul, who owned a single engine Maule airplane built for short landings and takeoffs, would land his plane in the pasture that is now the 18th fairway at Wilderness Country Club.” It also talks about Ed’s creation of what we know today as a Swamp Buggy, and how he helped organize the swamp buggy races that continue today.

You can read more about Edward’s swamp buggy racing here and here.

Original Purchase Order from the Maule Aircraft Company for N40649 (N19WX)

This Maule was initially registered to Paul and ED Frank until Edward’s death. In February of 1982, the airplane transferred ownership to Paul Frank alone, until it was sold in 1999. In 2004 the tail number was changed to its current “N19WX,” after it was fully restored by Wright Aircraft Technology in Moultrie, GA.

The airplane remained in a partnership until it was again sold in 2011 to a good friend, and the person we purchased the airplane from in 2024.

Dustin (Left) & Trent (Right)

Original Application for Airworthiness Certificate

View of New York City skyline from inside a small airplane cockpit.
Black and white photo of a small propeller plane parked on a runway, viewed from the rear, with grass in the foreground and blurred background elements.
Small yellow and green airplane flying over runway at an airport with blue sky and clouds
Pilot in cockpit at night, illuminated dashboard, holding yoke.
Yellow airplane parked near a rural gas station with cars, a red truck, trees, and cloudy sky.
Small yellow STOL airplane on runway near water, bridge in background.
Small yellow plane parked on grassy field with trees in the background
Pilot operating small airplane cockpit, view outside shows grassy landscape
Small yellow and blue biplanes parked on grass airfield with trees and a distant hill under a blue sky.
Small aircraft parked on an airfield
Group of people in a hangar with a yellow airplane, having a discussion and cooking on a portable stove.
Two small airplanes flying over a landscape with clouds, one in yellow and the other partially visible with a U.S. Air Force insignia.
Interior of a small aircraft cockpit in flight, showing control panel, instruments, and pilot's hands on controls.
Yellow single-engine airplane flying over a rural landscape with roads, fields, and trees visible below.
View from inside an airplane cockpit, showing airport runways and landscape below with scattered clouds.
Person holding a blue Scooter's Coffee cup with a red lid in front of a yellow aircraft inside a hangar.
Two vintage airplanes in a hangar, featuring a yellow and green single-engine aircraft with "N19WX" marking, and a silver and red plane with "699" on its wings.
close-up of aircraft landing gear with grass caught in it
Person refueling a yellow STOL aircraft at dusk, with visible registration N19WX, on an airport tarmac.
Yellow small airplane parked on tarmac in front of airport building

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