Hi
Looking for some real world numbers on 150/160 Murphy Rebel.
Empty weights on Wheels ,Floats [1800's]
Gross weight on 1800 floats?
Take off performance,stall speed on both wheels and floats.
Overall opinions on the Rebel as a bush plane.

THANKS

PM durangoskywagon through this board. He has had one for quite awhile. Should be able to be pretty helpful.

chopper12,
I'll PM you the name of a couple of guys that are very knowledgable Rebel guys. I am sort of in the process of building one (on hold right now due to other commitments). I have ridden in one Rebel and I was VERY impressed.
WW

Bump for more Rebel testimonials / pictures / information

I am pretty excited about this airplane.
Here is a nice example for sale in Salem, OR

http://tincantimes.dcsol.com/Rebel4SaleInfo.html

This aircraft is a Murphy Rebel kit aircraft which was built entirely by me, the seller, and which received an Airworthiness Certificate in May 2007. Asking price is $45,000.00 USD. Homebase is Eugene (KEUG), OR. USA. Everything on this aircraft was installed factory new with the exception of the heated pitot tube which was purchased used.

I will consider selling the aircraft without the engine, prop, and engine mount.

I maintain a photographic record of the build at http://tincantimes.dcsol.com. Please review that site for additional information.

Scroll down this page for details specific to the sale to include aircraft specs, an equipment list, and current photographs.

This aircraft is flown regularly and has always been hangared. Email Roger Hoffman at [email protected] for additional detail.

Details:

2007 Murphy Rebel, for sale at $45,000 USD.
Total (Tach) Time Airframe: 188.8 hrs. as of 3/7/2011
Total (Tach) Time Engine: 188.8 hrs. as of 3/7/2011
Total (Tach)Time Propeller: 138.3 hrs. as of 3/7/2011
Engine: Teledyne Continental IO-240B4B, 125 HP, Fuel Injected, 4 cyl air cooled. Purchased factory new.
Propeller: Sensenich wood W74EM-52. Purchased factory new.
Gross Weight: 1650 lbs.
Empty Weight: 974 lbs.
Full length flaperons.
Float fittings installed, never used.
Cabin upholstery is unfinished. Cabin interior is unpainted.
Full length interior floor.
Fuel burn at 2350 RPM (55%/100 mph TAS) has averaged less than 5 gph.
Paint is Poly Fiber Aerothane.
Stainless Steel crossover exhaust by Custom Aircraft Parts.
Custom gear leg pivot bushings by Gordon Mohr.
Harrison Vortex Generators from www.landshorter.com installed on wings.

There is minor dimpling of the right wingtip leading edge caused by a bird strike at 3 hrs into the Phase 1 Flight Test period. See photos this page. Damage has had no effect on the flight characteristics.

Equipment List

Garmin GTX 327 Transponder
Icom A200 Comm Radio
PS Engineering PM1000II Intercom
Ameri-King AK-350 Altitude Encoder
Ameri-King AK-450 ELT
Precision Aviation Inc. PAI-700 Vertical Card Compass
Falcon BZW-4B Turn Coordinator
UMA 8-310-20 Vertical Speed Indicator
Falcon Alt 20INF-3 Altimeter
UMA 16-311-160 Airspeed Indicator
Heated pitot tube
TruTrak Flight Systems ADI Attitude Indicator w/GPS ground track display
Electronics International R-1-4 Digital Tachometer
Electronics International OPT-1 Oil pressure/temperature gauge
Electronics International VA-1A-50 Volt/Amp meter
Electronics International US-8A-4 Engine Analyzer w/4 cylinder EGT & CHT sensors, and OAT.
Builder designed/constructed Lift Reserve Indicator
Datcon hour meter
Chief Aircraft fuel level gauges (2) using Stewart Warner resistance float sending units
Chief Aircraft fuel pressure gauge
Cessna Aircraft Master Switch
Protection RT A600 fire extinguisher
Teledyne Continental magneto switch
AeroFlash Signal 073-0540G/R-12 nav/posit lights
Wing mounted landing and taxi lights w/wigwag
Menzimer Aircraft Components MAC 4A electric trim

Murphy Aircraft Mfg. leather seat upholstery

Alaska Bushwheel Inc. ABI 3224A Tailwheel
Irish Field Aviation compression spring gear center struts w/ 3/16" Alaska Safety Cables
Murphy Aircraft Mfg. 8.00 x6.00 optional 'bush' tires

Teledyne Continental IO-240B4B 125 HP fuel injected engine
Teledyne Continental 15V-60 Amp alternator
B&C Specialty Products BC320-1 starter
Slick 4301 magnetos
Lord engine mounts
Stewart Warner 10955R-T remote (firewall) mounted oil cooler
Weldon A8163-A fuel boost/primer pump
Usher Gascolator
Odyssey PC 680 12V battery
B&C Specialty Products S701-1 Battery Contactor
B&C Specialty Products S702-1 Starter Contactor
NAPA Echlin VR438 Voltage Regulator

Sensenich W74EM-52 wood propeller
Saber Mfg. propeller spacer and crush plate

ZPilot wrote:Bump for more Rebel testimonials / pictures / information

I am pretty excited about this airplane.
Here is a nice example for sale in Salem, OR
http://tincantimes.dcsol.com/Rebel4SaleInfo.html

I would like to know what kind of useful loads owners are getting on floats.

Cheers

'irishfield' is member on the cub site and a wealth of rebel information, I don't know if he is a member here, but he has posted much about the rebel on floats there:
http://www.irishfield.on.ca/

Here is another Rebel. I found this one on Barnstormers.

MURPHY REBEL W/ FLOATS/WHEELS • $37,000 • NEW PRICE! • 2002 Lyc O-320, 160 HP, 148 SMOH. M1500 floats/ 2 sets wheels. email for photos. 218-829-8791 • Contact Kevin W. Dens, Owner - located Brainerd, MN USA • Telephone: 218-829-8791 • Posted June 27, 2011

I emailed the owner for more information.





It looks a little rough compared to the prior one I posted...but...it is less $ and includes floats, which I am looking for.

Murphy Rebel N9006K, Volkswagon Yellow

Gross Wt 1650
Empty Wt 1054
Fuel 15 gal per side = 30 gal.
100LL STC for autofuel. I have only run 100LL.


This is my neighbor Larry Perlick’s (also known as Gull Lake Aircraft) second Rebel that he built. The first one turned over and was totaled in 1999 in a windstorm. He also built an Avid Flyer.

He finished this Rebel in 2002 and we flew the 40 hours off it for inspection while it was on floats. I purchased it from Larry in 2005. I have flown an average of 6-8 hours per summer since that time. Hence, it is time for someone that will fly it more. I have two kids in college and a Honda Goldwing that is always asking me to ride, even when it’s windy.

I have 2 sets of wheels with the plane, one set with brand new tires. One has brakes on but I assume that they will need some work after being off for 10 years from the first Rebel. I have many parts that were salvaged from the first Rebel. These will also go with the plane. Please email me for photos of parts if you would like to see them: Everything from heater hose ducts to aircraft cable to nuts and bolts.


I have the complete engine logs. The engine is a Lycoming O-320-D3Gout of a Warrior. It was completely overhauled by Airmotive Enterprises of Brainerd, MN. Total time on the engine is in the 6000 hour range. It has 148 hours SMOH. I have had a condition inspection and oil changed at Witt Aircraft Repair in Pine River, MN. Last condition inspection was October, 2010. Last compressions are 76,70,74,68. The engine runs great and starts easily.

The airplane has Ontario Mods, which are extra reinforcing in the firewall and around the door frame. The windows open down and then the door opens from the back, hinged at the front. The floats are Murphy 1500 floats, built by Larry Perlick. The propeller is a Sensenich 72 inch from the Warrior which I had repitched to allow for better pop off of the water. A seaplane prop (74 inch) would really be great for serious bush flying.

The paint is about an 8/10. It could use some waxing as it has been out in the sun. The panel is very basic. Please see photos. It has no radio at present. I have a radio in a box that is new that Larry was going to install but never did. I have a 121.5 mhz Emergency locator. The flaperons are the only part of the plane that are fabric. There are 3-4 small fabric repairs done that are about 1 inch by 2 inches in a few spots on the flaperons. The front float spar was replaced with a brand new one from Murphy after it was slightly bent while on a trailer that hit a pot hole up in Pine River. The paint was done by Mr. Witt without properly prepping the spar so that the paint would stick. Please see photo.

The right fiberglass wing tip cracked when it collided with a branch from a tree. I repaired it with fiberglass repair and bondo. It still needs to be sanded, final coat, and painted. It does not affect the aerodynamics and none of the aluminum and any structural component of the wing was damaged. Again, see photo.

There was a leak in the left fuel tank last fall. Murphy uses a wet-wing design where the wing is actually sealed to be the fuel tank. We tried to slosh it per Murphy’s specs but it still leaked. Last fall, Witt’s Aircraft peeled the top skin back and sealed the leak, then replaced the rivets. This solved the problem. These are the only issues with the airplane. I have had several builders look at the plane and they all have said that it was built well and strong. The riveting is excellent.

This aircraft flies very stable. It will take off in 6 seconds with one person and half fuel. It still performs well with half fuel (15 gallons) and two people. If you have two 180 pound people and full fuel it takes about 20-30 seconds to lift off with a 10 mile per hour breeze. Stall is very straight forward and recovery is easy as in a 152/172. It flies level and has electric trim. The intruments are all electric. The plane takes off at about 42 mph. It will cruise with floats at 85 mph. At 2400 rpm it will do 100mph but it’s loud and eats fuel. It has STC for Autogas but it has only ever had 100 LL in it.

The plane has air vents but no heat. I do have the heat shroud that can be attached and ducted to give cabin heat. I only fly from April to October.

In flight viz out the side windows is somewhat lacking, every inflight photo I've seen the pilot is craning his neck around to see the photo ship. Like the T-Craft, you're kinda looking into the wing root. Over the nose viz may be OK, but it looks like you sit pretty far back so maybe not? Neat plane otherwise, if kept light especially. Gotta love that huge baggage bay and it has a good safety record and is built way strong.

I have flown a Rebel......if you get a chance you are in for a treat!!! Sweet plane that's for sure! Also, one of the roomiest homebuilts I have ever been in. Nice and wide and plenty of room for lots of camping gear in the back. The one in Brainard isn't too far from me and I had called the owner about it awhile back. I actually have a Rebel Kit along with 1800 amphib floats. I started the kit but it has been on hold due to other commitments. I think it is still one of the best all purpose planes out there in its class.
The only slight negative I feel it might have is the floats are only 1500's....sort of small for the Rebel and most guys use Murphy's 1800's. An empty Rebel powered by an O-320 is generally 950-1,000 lbs. So that will leave a small useful load for a plane that generally has a GW of 1650 on Wheels. I need to look at my records but I think the Rebel gets 100lb. GW increase on floats.

Yeah, I am thinking it is underfloated with those floats. I also wonder if the empty weight he has listed is on floats or on wheels.

This guy just finished a really nice one:

http://www.alaskanrebel.com/



From his site, he has a photo of another guy's Rebel:



They do look nice on Bushwheels.