First flight 1932 | ||
The Maule M-1 was a 1930s American single-seat monoplane seaplane designed an built by Belford Maule, the first in a serial of aircraft designed by Maule.
Design and development
Maule had joined the United States Army 1918 and was employed as a mechanic working on airships, he decided to design and build his own aircraft later called the M-1. At the time he was close to Chesapeake Bay so the mid-wing monoplane was built as a seaplane with twin floats. The aircraft was powered by a Henderson 32 hp (24 kW) converted motorcycle engine. Maule decided that Army life was not for him so he bought himself out and transported his aircraft to his new home, now registered NC12634, he first flew the seaplane in 1932 although he had no flying experience. In 1933 Maule joined the research and development department of Lycoming but by 1940 he left and continued to develop designs for aircraft.