In the unfortunate trend of homebuilt aircraft companies shutting down in the hyper inflation world we live in another one joined the list last year & last month, Murphy Aircraft.
I covered the M14P Radial powered Moose in July 2023
To give a tribute to the company this months AOC is the Rebel, this is the earlier and most common Murphy aircraft. While not in the limelight like Lancair’s or RV’s Murphy did fill a unique part of the market. High wing, all metal utility planes. the only major alternate in this space is the Zenith 7 & 8 series aircraft. There has always been startups with an offering for this and that but those who make it out of vaporware purgatory, may make a few copies for a short amount of time then disappear.
Like the recent Sonex saga I think this is a good design and is worth saving if a passionate, competent north American business type with more than enough capital can swoop in to re-birth the company.
Founded by Darryl Murphy in 1984 in BC Canada there is significant time span and units built for the brand. The Rebel’s first flight was in 1990 and has over 600 built. it has 700 lbs of useful load in a 2 seat aircraft making a realistic offering in the north American market. The over all shape and surfaces are very simple, a key feature for an off airport aircraft in terms of repairability. This simple construction also give a stand alone immortality to the design as most repair parts can be made independent of the original kit factory, lowering the risk to builders & re buyers in an event like this recent Bankruptcy. Unlike Fabric Covered Cub’s and Dean Wilson derivatives that must be sheltered from the elements for storage, the Murphy’s all aluminum construction means it can reasonably be stored outside in the long term.
With the rare exception of Van’s bankruptcy, Murphy fell into the classic trap of changing owners, changing priorities and vision eventually being procured by by the Chinese company Doufu Group in 2022. There may have been an aviation passionate decision maker on the other side of the globe but my perspective working many aspects of aviation industry over the past 2 plus decades it was likely a “portfolio acquisition” translation the soul is sucked out of it and is on the clock for how long it can exist, very similar to private equity. In this case it was the Duofu parent company bankruptcy pulling Murphy down with it.
Some detailed articles about the closure:
https://avweb.com/aviation-news/murphy-aircraft-factory-operations-end/
https://hangarflying.com/debrief/articles/murphy-aircraft-closed-owners-and-builders
The EAA has a good amount of coverage on the Rebel and members can go back and get old digital issues of Sport Aviation: https://www.eaa.org/eaa/aircraft-building/kits-and-plans/m—q/murphy-rebel
Here is a curated list of pilot reports, owner reviews, and technical articles evaluating the Murphy Rebel aircraft:
Pilot Reports & Flight Reviews
- Pilot Report on the Murphy Rebel 160 Homebuilt – Airbum (Budd Davisson) A classic, detailed flight review by aviation writer Budd Davisson evaluating a 160-hp Lycoming-powered Rebel. He covers its utilitarian design, cockpit roominess, docile handling, and STOL takeoff and climb characteristics.
- Murphy Rebel Light Sport Aircraft Review & Pilot Report – LightSport Aircraft News An overview and rating breakdown of the Murphy Rebel operating on Full Lotus floats with a 100-hp Rotax 912S engine, grading its kit quality, cockpit ergonomics, and water handling.
- Flying the Murphy Rebel Pilot Report – LightSport Aircraft News A companion narrative pilot report detailing real-world floatplane operations, takeoff and step-taxi behavior, glide performance, and landing characteristics in the Rebel.
Builder, Owner & Technical Reviews
- Our New Shop Project, Chapter 2 (Rebel vs. Elite Pros & Cons) – Lone Star Aircraft Services A candid pros-and-cons breakdown from an aircraft shop comparing the standard Murphy Rebel and the Rebel Elite, discussing useful load, floatplane readiness, cabin access, and brake/interior quirks.
- Murphy Rebel Flight Instruction & Wing Aerodynamics Review – Pitt Specials A Canadian flight instructor’s evaluation of the Rebel’s high-angle-of-attack stall and landing behavior, explaining how its protruding pop rivets affect boundary layer separation and how installing vortex generators transforms low-speed handling.
- Schaum Murphy Rebel (Corvair-Powered Build Review) – Kitplanes Magazine An owner’s reflection after completing a 15-year build of a 120-hp Corvair-powered Rebel, highlighting its 700-lb useful load, wide center-of-gravity envelope, and suitability for cross-country touring.
- Chasing a Better Backcountry Experience (Murphy Super Rebel Review) – Kitplanes Magazine A look at modifying and operating a four-place Murphy Super Rebel in the Utah backcountry, focusing on landing gear upgrades, rough-field durability, and off-airport performance.
- Craig Walls’ Alaskan Rebel – Kitplanes Magazine A builder and flight report on an 180-hp Lycoming O-360 Murphy Rebel outfitted for Alaskan flying with Hoerner-style wingtips and glass-panel avionics.
YouTube has decent coverage for the Rebel:
No RC options found but with its simple contours a good 3 view and Wiki data would make for an easy balsa scratch build.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murphy_Rebel
