An Inexpensive Bush Plane That's Surprisingly Good - FMS Maule 1500mm

[@BrianTurner-ub2tu]

FMS did a wonderful job, the way this model looks is "Its almost too good to fly". Ill be picking one up! Thanks Jon for showing us how this model can come to life! Great flying!!

[@ficosk8]

Super video Jon! By coincidence I found the Maule from FMS. I´ve liked the E-Flite version but never saw her live. I´m looking forward to exchange my very used Turbo Timber 1.5 (the blue one) and my FunCubNG for one Maule. The size is similar, power probably also (after changing the Esc) and it has also floats and nice lights. I love my Timber and had a lot of fun with my FunCubNG, but the Timber isn´t pretty anymore and the FunCub doesn´t fly as the first days I feel. Also I like the Cockpit of the Maule!

[@reptilewizz]

The maule is the best!!!! Spectacular on floats also!!! can take a beating and sounds epics

[@derekgregory6379]

Just ordered mine through the link! Great review.

[@TwoBrosRC]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@derekgregory6379]

@@TwoBrosRCappreciate it! Wish I could figure out the discord, I’ve got some newb tech questions about your setups.

[@SmokeyMountainRcTravisThompson]

Love the blue. So beautiful. Nice flying as always bud. 👌👌👍👍

[@ficosk8]

When you take into account the price of floats like for the FunCub this Maule is very cheap. I would like the Skis from the Kingfisher although when you can use skis probably you can use wheels also. For loose snow floats are nicer. Just the wire landing gear makes me doubt a little bit. The one from the FunCub is double but I managed to bend them also... Thanks for the tipps on servos!

[@TwoBrosRC]

Sure thing! The Fun Cub is incredibly overpriced, and honestly pretty overhyped too. It's fun and capable, but so are many other high-wing airplanes.

[@ficosk8]

@@TwoBrosRC yes, here in Germany the Kit is out for $150. But the floats are around $70. Motor, esc, servos, glue ; around $100. So $300-330. And the airframe isn’t so cool for clean aerobatics. And no lights, cockpit and no paint. But she is light and flies nice also in confined areas…

[@LiftVector]

That color is gorgeous! Flying like a technician, sir.

[@nirlachman007]

The Red Maule was my first airplane. I hated it. I hated the weak gear and also the fact that it’s a nightmare to attach and detach the wings. However, I gotta say that you, as always, makes it looks really good! 👏🏻

[@TwoBrosRC]

The wing connection isn't fun, but it's not too hard to deal with. The gear being wire make it a lightweight 1.5m model, which is great for flying in confined areas.

[@mytubehkjt]

@@TwoBrosRC I added a second wire leg set using the float mounts. I call it the bush gear mod and it works very well.

[@marcellowithtwols]

@@mytubehkjt would love to see a picture/video of that. I’m having the same problem: weak ass legs with hard plastic tires = bending at every landing. The loud motor annoys me more than the weak landing gear though.

[@SunriseRCAviator]

Excellent review! I think the E-Flite one looks better and is a better value. Slow and close to the ground is so fun!

[@TwoBrosRC]

They're both good for the price - but it is nice to get a receiver preinstalled.

[@stevenpaulin448]

To see the polarized screen, turn either the transmitter, or your glasses ninety degrees in either direction

[@TwoBrosRC]

Or just look down under the glasses ;)

[@marcellowithtwols]

Would be great if FMS would start including decent ESCs, motors, and servos in their planes (since they'll still charge you $300+ for basic). I like this Maule because it looks great but everything about it is crap. It loves to drop out of the sky when it runs out of power (won't gently pulse the thrust to alert the pilot, and it is too heavy to gracefully turn or glide while you look for a safe landing spot). Kinda shocked @TwoBrosRC gave it a score of 9/10.. Cmon guys! It even landed on a tree so it can't be that good =D

[@TwoBrosRC]

It's a great airframe with some quirks. We love ours, but everyone's got their own preferences. If you want better electrical components for an aircraft this size, you'd be looking at $100 extra.

[@BashTillBroken]

It’s like a scale turbo timber evo

[@M4rkmcc21]

Im suprised FMS didnt beef up the esc. The eflites 40A esc wasnt enough for the powerful 1050kv motor and often burnt out. Easily maxes out at full throttle on 4s power. At a time where nearly everything is Red, I do love the blue 👍🏾

[@TwoBrosRC]

FMS uses a 40 amp ESC for it which does work, but is a little limited. We used the Avian 60 amp ESC for voltage telemetry so we wouldn't need to run a voltage cable. It worked out well.

[@BrianTurner-ub2tu]

Did you choose the tree over the house?!! Looking forward to your crash video at the end of the year!

[@TwoBrosRC]

The crash wasn't filmed, unfortunately. Against our better judgement, we hovered and torque rolled with a bunch of kids watching on a low battery. It started heading toward the kids, so we kicked the nose over and flew it into a nearby tree to keep them out of harm's way. It would've been great to have on camera.

[@bgblindt]

Jon, If you could pick between the 2 which one would you recommend? FMS 1500mm Maule PNP or FMS 1400mm Kingfisher PNP? Thanks, Brandon Blindt (RC Flyer)

[@TwoBrosRC]

If it's down to price, Maule is the more expensive option. In terms of capability, Maule is more agile, more powerful, and better built, but both have the same rock hard wheels and stiff suspension. Ultimately it's up to you and what you find appealing in a bush plane.

[@stevebarr9604]

I've got the fms kingfisher! Don't you think they will fly pretty similar?

[@TwoBrosRC]

They're both high wing planes. The Kingfisher definitely feels similar. It's more acro-capable than Maule, while Maule feels more suited to slow flight.

[@marcellowithtwols]

How did you replace the ESC? Did you have to open a hole on the foam? Would love to see that video. I too would like to swap the ESC and get some telemetry, but, the ESC is inaccessible out of the box.

[@TwoBrosRC]

Remove the motor and pull the ESC out. Wire the new one onto the motor, then slide it in until it sits under the battery tray. Pull the ESC lead into the fuselage and reattach the motor.

[@johnmishjr599]

It looks like you (almost) flew inverted for a second or two. I was unable to hold inverted with the recommended 3s 3200mAh 30C E-flite battery. If you fly it again I’d be interested in seeing if you can do it. In fairness I just eyeballed the throws, time to RTFM.

[@TwoBrosRC]

We flew it inverted in the float flying section. It handles fine with full throws.

[@jacksemporiumofstuff]

So is the FMS Maule the exact same plane as the e flite (other than servos and electronics)? I've read that FMS produces aircraft for horizon hobby, but never knew if it was true.

[@TwoBrosRC]

It's identical aside from the livery and lack of a BnF receiver. FMS does make some models in collaboration with Horizon.

[@veskomanolov]

Which one do you recommend between FMS Piper 1700 mm and FMS Maule 1500 mm? I'm not an experienced rc pilot! Thanks!

[@TwoBrosRC]

We haven't flown the 1700mm Super Cub yet, but the Maule is fantastic.

[@greathue7613]

What diffrence fms maule and e-flite maule, flight performance, spec(servo, motor), and so forth, I will buying it soon, please recommend one of them

[@TwoBrosRC]

They're identical with regard to servos, motors, and ESCs. The main difference is that the FMS Maule comes without a receiver, while the E-flite Maule comes with an AR631 receiver pre-programmed for the aircraft. All you do is bind and take it up to fly. We'd recommend the EF Maule if you'd rather have a complete package out of the box: bit.ly/3LUuiSv

[@stevealoia]

I have a question . It has a spectrum receiver in it . Can I bind my futaba 16IZ to it . Or do I have to upgrade the Receiver to a futaba . Sorry for dumb question but been out of flying for well over ten years . I was still fly the 72 Megahertz lol radio . thank you

[@TwoBrosRC]

Spektrum receivers require a Spektrum radio or a RadioMaster system set to Spektrum compatibility.

[@stevealoia]

@@TwoBrosRC ok thank you I’ll have to replace the receiver . Thanks

[@robc5296]

Looks like a stiffer tire, not the newer inflatable type? If you said what the tire is made out of and I missed it, I apologize. 👍

[@TwoBrosRC]

It's a stiff tire so it's most suitable for grass flying.

[@DonJoh-w5y]

Hey Jon how do you chance the esc do I need to remove the wood?

[@TwoBrosRC]

Remove the propeller and it should be easy to slide out.

[@DonJoh-w5y]

Thanks got it working 🎉

[@flyguydb]

Looking for a Float Plane. What's better on floats? FMS Maule or FMS 1300 pa-super cub??

[@TwoBrosRC]

The Maule is better on floats by far, much more well-behaved in our experiences - and the floats don't have to be purchased separately.

[@jacksemporiumofstuff]

How does this aircraft come with reflex v2 if it doesn't have a receiver?

[@TwoBrosRC]

Reflex isn't a receiver, it's a stand-alone gyro. You connect it to your preferred receiver.

[@jacksemporiumofstuff]

@@TwoBrosRC Thank you. I've never owned an fms aircraft, and I'm going to buy one of these Maules soon. I thought it was built into some of their receivers, and had no idea there was a stand alone unit. Of all the RC channels I've commented and posted questions on , you are the only one to always answer or comment. Promptly as well. Thank you man, I really appreciate all of your input!!

[@tman7o673]

Are you sponsored by SMC? I’m looking into getting a few SMC batteries for my fms a-10 v2 and my eflite f-16 thunderbirds and was wondering if those batteries are good or not.

[@TwoBrosRC]

We are sponsored by them, but we approached them instead of them approaching us. SMC HV packs are considered top tier batteries right now.

[@flyingfools47]

Are the agfrc b11 dls servos a compatible upgrade for this? Also how many flights do you get out of the b11 dls servos on your other models? Ive got almost 400 flights on my Cirrus, so im starting to think about servos potentially wearing out.

[@TwoBrosRC]

Yeah, they totally are. Our E-flite Maule used B11DLS servos. Our Night Timber X had over 800 flights with B11DLS servos - they're very reliable and long-lasting, even if they begin to sound a little grindy over time when you push them hard with aggressive maneuvering. Our Cirrus uses them too. tinyurl.com/B11DLS if you'd like to support us!

[@flyingfools47]

@@TwoBrosRC 800 flights without replacing them? Same set of servos? Impressive

[@TwoBrosRC]

The left aileron failed in a super aggressive crankshaft, but that's about it. The rest of the servos are still good to go.

[@flyingfools47]

@@TwoBrosRC Oh I see. I don't want to risk any servos failing in the cirrus, since if I'm unlucky and lose my elevator, it would be an almost certain wreck. How many flights would you recommend before replacing the servos, erring on the safe side (I'd rather replace servos too early than too late. I can always reuse old functional servos on a plane I'm less worried about damaging)

[@TwoBrosRC]

@@flyingfools47 We replaced our servos on the Cirrus and NTX before flying them, but that was before HH started shipping better quality servos in recent months. The servos that come with Twinber, Draco, and the Ultra Stick are on-par with the B11DLS units and we haven't seen any convincing reason to spend $60 to upgrade them.

[@Tallguysrc]

what about using a 2200 4 s

[@TwoBrosRC]

It would work about as similar as the 2800 SMC packs.

[@Jesusistheonlyway86]

Do you think i could get a 12 minute flight with a 3s 3300mah?

[@TwoBrosRC]

If you manage throttle well, most likely.

[@mytubehkjt]

Nice aircraft. If it is the same as the eFlite Maule then the landing gear is junk, foam hinges are junk, servos not so great but otherwise nice. I ended up mod-ing mine.

[@TwoBrosRC]

👀

[@Friskee62]

301

[@TwoBrosRC]

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