Rebel/Elite hybrid

Mike Davis · Post by **Mike Davis** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 5:47 pm

I just wanted to pass on this information I found on the Murphy web site... it seems to me that just upgrading the wing on your rebel isn't going to give you that 1800lb gross. Yes your wing will definitely be stronger, but are you really going to gain any other benefits? Or have you built an Elite tail section also, I think I recall you saying that you already had your tail done.

Mike

The increase to 1800 lb. gross comes from a number of modifications, including a stronger wing (.032" leading edge) and a stronger and larger tail surface. The wing modification (.032" leading edge) is a simple change, but adds 12 lb. to the aircraft. Unfortunately, the tail section modification is a major undertaking will not be pursued as a Rebel upgrade.

At 11:16 PM 5/18/00 -0400, you wrote:

Chuck, I think you are especially blessed, because you can
build an airplane with the best of BOTH, and it sounds like you are
building it RIGHT and LIGHT !! I look forward to flying with you ALL
on a Ramble one day !!

Keep on rivetting, guys - it REALLY <is> worth it !!

.....bobp

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Bob Patterson · Post by **Bob Patterson** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 5:47 pm

Mike,
I believe that the heavier leading edge was primarily to allow
countersinking of rivets, if desired, to reduce ground-handling damage,
and to add some strength. I think there are other wing mods that contribute
to the higher gross, as well as gear mods. ....

The original Rebel gross weight increased by 100 lb. when the
bungee gear legs were strengthened ! You're right, it's not always
just the wing that changes.

....bobp

-----------------------------orig.-----------------------------------------
At 08:59 PM 5/18/00 -0800, you wrote:

<html>
I just wanted to pass on this information I found on the Murphy web
site... it seems to me that just upgrading the wing on your rebel isn't
going to give you that 1800lb gross.  Yes your wing will definitely
be stronger, but are you really going to gain any other benefits? 
Or have you built an Elite tail section also, I think I recall you saying
that you already had your tail done. 
 
Mike 
 
The increase to 1800 lb. gross comes from a number of modifications,
including a stronger wing (.032" leading edge) and a
stronger and larger tail surface. The wing modification
(.032" leading edge) is a simple change, but adds 12 lb. to the
aircraft. Unfortunately, the tail section modification is a major
undertaking will not be pursued as a Rebel upgrade. 
 
At 11:16 PM 5/18/00 -0400, you wrote: 
 
<blockquote type=cite cite>       
Chuck, I think you are especially blessed, because you can 
build an airplane with the best of BOTH, and it sounds like you are 
building it RIGHT and LIGHT !!  I look forward to flying with you
ALL 
on a Ramble one day !! 
 
        Keep on rivetting, guys - it
REALLY <is> worth it !! 
 
            &nb

sp;            &
nbsp;           &nbsp
;         

.....bobp</blockquote></html>

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Mike Davis · Post by **Mike Davis** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 5:47 pm

Hi Mike,
I have a complete Elite. I had to scrap the Rebel tail. I am building the stronger, larger tail surface. The only non-Elite area that I am doing, with the concurrence of MAM, is to use fabric flaperons instead of metal and use the Rebel wingtips or go to the Hornier tips. My wing is 100% Elite, except it has 2 fewer aileron/flap hangers since they are not required for the fabric wing. I may go to the metal in the future. I have shared my technical reasons for going with the fabric flaperons, but I confess perhaps the strongest influencing factor was that my flaperons and wings are nearly complete and I didn't want to tear the wings apart to add the extra hanger brackets. I think I would stick with the metal otherwise, as Bob suggested. I know Murphy offers the .032 leading edge skin as a mod. It is very substantial compared to the .020 standard on the Rebel. If you are inclined, you can flush rivet the leading edge skin more easily with the thicker skin. It may provide more protection in the event of a bird strike. There are additional reinforcements inside the Elite wing as well. I am not sure what MAM's reading is on increasing the gross weight. I would think that it would be safe to at least be able to increase the gross weight an amount equal to the added weight of the LE skin (about 12 lb?). But the builder would need to check with them. As you noted, however, other factors may be limiting such as landing gear, brakes, wheels, tires, empennage, as well as CG envelope considerations etc. etc. I think there are still some Rebels out there with the 1450 lb gross weight so retrofitting and mixing items should be done with care.

- Chuck -

----- Original Message -----
From: Mike Davis (mike.davis@dcsol.com)
To: Murphy Rebel Builders List (murphy-rebel@dcsol.com)
Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2000 9:59 PM
Subject: Rebel/Elite hybrid

I just wanted to pass on this information I found on the Murphy web site... it seems to me that just upgrading the wing on your rebel isn't going to give you that 1800lb gross. Yes your wing will definitely be stronger, but are you really going to gain any other benefits? Or have you built an Elite tail section also, I think I recall you saying that you already had your tail done.

Mike

The increase to 1800 lb. gross comes from a number of modifications, including a stronger wing (.032" leading edge) and a stronger and larger tail surface. The wing modification (.032" leading edge) is a simple change, but adds 12 lb. to the aircraft. Unfortunately, the tail section modification is a major undertaking will not be pursued as a Rebel upgrade.

At 11:16 PM 5/18/00 -0400, you wrote:

Chuck, I think you are especially blessed, because you can
build an airplane with the best of BOTH, and it sounds like you are
building it RIGHT and LIGHT !! I look forward to flying with you ALL
on a Ramble one day !!

Keep on rivetting, guys - it REALLY <is> worth it !!

.....bobp
*-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------* The Murphy Rebel Builders List is for the discussion between builders and owners of Murphy Rebel aircraft. Archives located at: http://www.dcsol.com/murphy-rebel/lists/default.htm *-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------*

*-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------* The Murphy Rebel Builders List is for the discussion between builders and owners of Murphy Rebel aircraft. Archives located at: http://www.dcsol.com/murphy-rebel/lists/default.htm *-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------*

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