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Sun 'n Fun

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 5:19 pm
by Mike Davis
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From: "Chas" <chas@wa.freei.net>
To: "'Murphy Rebel'" <murphy-rebel@dcsol.com>
Subject: RE: Sun 'n Fun
Date: Sun, 18 Apr 1999 10:53:05 -0700
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Hi Bob,
Great report, as usual. What engine was in the Elite and how much of the
1100 # empty weight do you estimate was contributed by the extra goodies you
mentioned?? (headliner, fancy upholstery..etc) Also, were there any other
"goodies" such as wheel pants, constant speed prop, kitchen sink, ... that
you noticed?
Thanks,
- Chuck Skorupa -
Elite taildragger S/N #500

-----Original Message-----
From: murphy-rebel-return@dcsol.com
[mailto:murphy-rebel-return@dcsol.com]On Behalf Of Bob Patterson
Sent: Saturday, April 17, 1999 7:31 PM
To: murphy-rebel@dcsol.com
Subject: Sun 'n Fun



Hi everybody !!

Just back from the big Sun 'n Fun fly-in in Florida - here is a small
update:

The Murphy booth was well populated with interesting aircraft ! The
company brough a new Elite, as a taildragger ! It was very nicely finished,
with a 'grape' & white paint scheme, leather upholstery, a decent panel,
a factory plastic headliner with a gray velour material glued to it, and
even full nav. & strobe lights !! A factory first !!! It was flown down
by 'Captain Ken Armstrong' - a well-known aviation writer (look for the
revue ....).

The factory prototype Super Rebel was there also, to be joined on
Sunday night by a NEW factory 'production' Super Rebel - with an IO-540
engine (260 hp.!) and a 3 bladed Hartzell constant speed prop. The new
Super Rebel showed many detail refinements that have been incorporated
into the kit since the prototype: the higher tail fin, a new fibreglass
fairing for the dorsal & front of the vertical & horizontal stabs,
a beautiful welded step on both sides, and the aileron pulleys all
enclosed, and a much smaller 'bump' on the top of the fuse for the flap
cable & pulleys. It really is looking like a 'finished' aircraft !!
And BIG !!

The 3 factory airplanes were joined by Curt Martin's beautiful
Rebel, sporting the new wing tips designed by Dave Fife, who flew down
with Curt. The Rebel was admired by many people, several of whom have
ordered wing and/or tail tips from Dave. (aircrafttips@yahoo.com)
Dave & curt decided to leave early, to beat the weather, and were
replaced by the lovely metallic green Rebel on amphibs built by
Phil & Sandy McKenzie (see article in last Toward the Flight Line).
Phil stood guard on his aircraft for the rest of the show.

The display was completed by a local (about 40 miles west) builder
and his beautiful Renegade Spirit biplane ! It was painted up like
one of the Murphy factory Renegades, and really looked sharp !! It looked
like new, but had over 400 hours on it, and was being flown regularly.
The owner (sorry - memory of names fails me) stood watch over his
Renegade, with a polishing cloth in hand, for the first 4 or 5 days of
the show, then just couldn't resist the desire to get flying again.

A BIG thank you to all the private owners who were good enough to
add their aircraft to the Murphy display, and for their continuous
cheerful & enthusiastic responses to the questions of the crowds !!
I'm sure your efforts helped add several more people to our happy
Murphy Builders club !

I managed to sell 2 1/3 aircraft before Anna & I had to leave on
Friday am. (a Super tail kit, a full Super, and a Rebel.) We had a
little scare on Thursday afternoon, as a brush fire that was raging
just to the south-west leaped onto the grounds, and caused an emergency
closure & evacuation of the show ! Fortunately, it was stopped, but not
before a large number of campers moved off the airport. I'm sure this
hurt attendance for the rest of the show. I gather S'n F management
are now working on a revised 'emergency planning' procedure - yet one
more hazard to consider !!

One interesting fact that came up - the new Elite weighs 1,100 lb.,
empty ! It seems that the heavy weight of the prototype was not just
because it was a prototype - guess it's time to update the 'theoretical'
weights on the brochures with the REAL numbers !!


Murphy will be at the Toronto Aviation Show at Downsview Airport,
April 30, May 1 & 2 ! We will have only a small (10 ft. square) booth
inside, but a Maverick from a local high schoool, & a Rebel from Quebec
outside on the ramp. There will be fly-in breakfasts on the Saturday
& Sunday, and a lot of activity outside. Hope to see you there !

The next Rebel Builders meeting will be on Sunday, May 16th, at
1:00 pm, at the RAA clubhouse at the north end of Brampton Airport (NC3).
(Date changed to avoid Mother's Day). Everybody welcome !! Please bring
folding lawn chairs ...

The Rebel Ramble, our annual Fly 'n Camp trip, starts at Brampton
on June 26th. It will be a one-week run out to Winnipeg, as a rehearsal
for THE BIG ONE, next year, when we will be flying right across the
country to the West Coast again !! All kinds of aircraft are welcome -
please call & get on the mailing list. I have heard from several builders
who figure they won't be ready for this year, but are definitely coming
NEXT year.... Don't underestimate the time it will take to fly off your
25 hours, AND get all the paperwork back - work as fast as you can, or
you might not be coming along on the Trip of a Lifetime !!

It might be worthwhile to RENT an aircraft to fly on THIS one !!
(Or talk a buddy into taking you along in HIS ....)

That's all for now !! Keep on rivetting - it REALLY IS worth it !!


......bobp & Anna

Sun 'n Fun

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 5:19 pm
by Mike Davis
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To: <murphy-rebel@dcsol.com> (Murphy Rebel)
From: Bob Patterson <bob.patterson@canrem.com>
Subject: RE: Sun 'n Fun
Message-Id: <E10Z3Mm-0000AY-00@mail4.toronto.istar.net>
Date: Sun, 18 Apr 1999 22:00:56 -0400


Thanks for the kind words - wish I could give you some encouragement!

The engine was a brand new Lycoming O-360, 180 hp., with a regular
metal prop (Sensenich, I believe). There were no extra goodies - just a
'standard' panel, and no wheel pants. Other than the fuzzy fabric on the
headliner, it was pretty much 'vanilla'. Of course, it DID have the
Whelen combo wing tip lights and strobes - a first for a factory
demonstrator !
It had the lightweight starter & alternator, and the lightweight stainless
steel exhaust system from the folks who make them for Van's - highly
recommended !

The leather upholstery is probably 4 or 5 lb. heavier than Naugahyde
& cloth, and the headliner is likely about 5 lb. heavier than a bare
metal roof with a little flat almond paint (like mine)..... ;-)

The battery was one of the new compact gell-cells, about
4" x 10" x 7", and was mounted in a box on the cockpit side of the
firewall, on the passenger side - took us a while to find it !! :-)

The tires did look a little larger than the standards, but weren't
huge (8.00 x 6.00, if memory serves) - a little better quality than
the old 'zig-zag's' ! The tailwheel was a Murphy standard, but mounted
on a tubular 'stinger', like the Super Rebel.

The "curtain" at the back of the baggage area was very lightweight -
just naugahyde & cloth, and was held on with metal twist fasteners, rather
than Velcro.

Sorry - couldn't find a 'kitchen sink' ! It's just heavy ...
(those .063 & .025 sides & extra 'beef' just add up !)

....bobp

-------------------------------orig.------------------------------------
At 10:53 AM 4/18/99 -0700, you wrote:
Hi Bob,
Great report, as usual. What engine was in the Elite and how much of the
1100 # empty weight do you estimate was contributed by the extra goodies
you
mentioned?? (headliner, fancy upholstery..etc) Also, were there any other
"goodies" such as wheel pants, constant speed prop, kitchen sink, ... that
you noticed?
Thanks,
- Chuck Skorupa -
Elite taildragger S/N #500

-----Original Message-----
From: murphy-rebel-return@dcsol.com
[mailto:murphy-rebel-return@dcsol.com]On Behalf Of Bob Patterson
Sent: Saturday, April 17, 1999 7:31 PM
To: murphy-rebel@dcsol.com
Subject: Sun 'n Fun



Hi everybody !!

Just back from the big Sun 'n Fun fly-in in Florida - here is a small
update:

The Murphy booth was well populated with interesting aircraft ! The
company brough a new Elite, as a taildragger ! It was very nicely finished,
with a 'grape' & white paint scheme, leather upholstery, a decent panel,
a factory plastic headliner with a gray velour material glued to it, and
even full nav. & strobe lights !! A factory first !!! It was flown down
by 'Captain Ken Armstrong' - a well-known aviation writer (look for the
revue ....).

The factory prototype Super Rebel was there also, to be joined on
Sunday night by a NEW factory 'production' Super Rebel - with an IO-540
engine (260 hp.!) and a 3 bladed Hartzell constant speed prop. The new
Super Rebel showed many detail refinements that have been incorporated
into the kit since the prototype: the higher tail fin, a new fibreglass
fairing for the dorsal & front of the vertical & horizontal stabs,
a beautiful welded step on both sides, and the aileron pulleys all
enclosed, and a much smaller 'bump' on the top of the fuse for the flap
cable & pulleys. It really is looking like a 'finished' aircraft !!
And BIG !!

The 3 factory airplanes were joined by Curt Martin's beautiful
Rebel, sporting the new wing tips designed by Dave Fife, who flew down
with Curt. The Rebel was admired by many people, several of whom have
ordered wing and/or tail tips from Dave. (aircrafttips@yahoo.com)
Dave & curt decided to leave early, to beat the weather, and were
replaced by the lovely metallic green Rebel on amphibs built by
Phil & Sandy McKenzie (see article in last Toward the Flight Line).
Phil stood guard on his aircraft for the rest of the show.

The display was completed by a local (about 40 miles west) builder
and his beautiful Renegade Spirit biplane ! It was painted up like
one of the Murphy factory Renegades, and really looked sharp !! It looked
like new, but had over 400 hours on it, and was being flown regularly.
The owner (sorry - memory of names fails me) stood watch over his
Renegade, with a polishing cloth in hand, for the first 4 or 5 days of
the show, then just couldn't resist the desire to get flying again.

A BIG thank you to all the private owners who were good enough to
add their aircraft to the Murphy display, and for their continuous
cheerful & enthusiastic responses to the questions of the crowds !!
I'm sure your efforts helped add several more people to our happy
Murphy Builders club !

I managed to sell 2 1/3 aircraft before Anna & I had to leave on
Friday am. (a Super tail kit, a full Super, and a Rebel.) We had a
little scare on Thursday afternoon, as a brush fire that was raging
just to the south-west leaped onto the grounds, and caused an emergency
closure & evacuation of the show ! Fortunately, it was stopped, but not
before a large number of campers moved off the airport. I'm sure this
hurt attendance for the rest of the show. I gather S'n F management
are now working on a revised 'emergency planning' procedure - yet one
more hazard to consider !!

One interesting fact that came up - the new Elite weighs 1,100 lb.,
empty ! It seems that the heavy weight of the prototype was not just
because it was a prototype - guess it's time to update the 'theoretical'
weights on the brochures with the REAL numbers !!


Murphy will be at the Toronto Aviation Show at Downsview Airport,
April 30, May 1 & 2 ! We will have only a small (10 ft. square) booth
inside, but a Maverick from a local high schoool, & a Rebel from Quebec
outside on the ramp. There will be fly-in breakfasts on the Saturday
& Sunday, and a lot of activity outside. Hope to see you there !

The next Rebel Builders meeting will be on Sunday, May 16th, at
1:00 pm, at the RAA clubhouse at the north end of Brampton Airport (NC3).
(Date changed to avoid Mother's Day). Everybody welcome !! Please bring
folding lawn chairs ...

The Rebel Ramble, our annual Fly 'n Camp trip, starts at Brampton
on June 26th. It will be a one-week run out to Winnipeg, as a rehearsal
for THE BIG ONE, next year, when we will be flying right across the
country to the West Coast again !! All kinds of aircraft are welcome -
please call & get on the mailing list. I have heard from several builders
who figure they won't be ready for this year, but are definitely coming
NEXT year.... Don't underestimate the time it will take to fly off your
25 hours, AND get all the paperwork back - work as fast as you can, or
you might not be coming along on the Trip of a Lifetime !!

It might be worthwhile to RENT an aircraft to fly on THIS one !!
(Or talk a buddy into taking you along in HIS ....)

That's all for now !! Keep on rivetting - it REALLY IS worth it !!


......bobp & Anna





Sun 'n Fun

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 5:19 pm
by Mike Davis
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From: "Alister Yeoman" <yeoman@voyager.co.nz>
To: "Murphy Rebel" <murphy-rebel@dcsol.com>
Subject: Re: Sun 'n Fun
Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 17:49:28 +1200
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Hi there,

That would be about right, my rebel 0-320 with headliner kit,
carpet,lights,metal prop, rear floor, full paint etc. and 800-6 tyres came
in at 990lbs.

Still plenty light enough to be very usefull!!

Alister

-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Patterson <bob.patterson@canrem.com>
To: Murphy Rebel <murphy-rebel@dcsol.com>
Date: Monday, April 19, 1999 2:01 PM
Subject: RE: Sun 'n Fun

Thanks for the kind words - wish I could give you some encouragement!

The engine was a brand new Lycoming O-360, 180 hp., with a regular
metal prop (Sensenich, I believe). There were no extra goodies - just a
'standard' panel, and no wheel pants. Other than the fuzzy fabric on the
headliner, it was pretty much 'vanilla'. Of course, it DID have the
Whelen combo wing tip lights and strobes - a first for a factory
demonstrator !
It had the lightweight starter & alternator, and the lightweight stainless
steel exhaust system from the folks who make them for Van's - highly
recommended !

The leather upholstery is probably 4 or 5 lb. heavier than Naugahyde
& cloth, and the headliner is likely about 5 lb. heavier than a bare
metal roof with a little flat almond paint (like mine)..... ;-)

The battery was one of the new compact gell-cells, about
4" x 10" x 7", and was mounted in a box on the cockpit side of the
firewall, on the passenger side - took us a while to find it !! :-)

The tires did look a little larger than the standards, but weren't
huge (8.00 x 6.00, if memory serves) - a little better quality than
the old 'zig-zag's' ! The tailwheel was a Murphy standard, but mounted
on a tubular 'stinger', like the Super Rebel.

The "curtain" at the back of the baggage area was very lightweight -
just naugahyde & cloth, and was held on with metal twist fasteners, rather
than Velcro.

Sorry - couldn't find a 'kitchen sink' ! It's just heavy ...
(those .063 & .025 sides & extra 'beef' just add up !)

....bobp

-------------------------------orig.------------------------------------
At 10:53 AM 4/18/99 -0700, you wrote:
Hi Bob,
Great report, as usual. What engine was in the Elite and how much of the
1100 # empty weight do you estimate was contributed by the extra goodies
you
mentioned?? (headliner, fancy upholstery..etc) Also, were there any other
"goodies" such as wheel pants, constant speed prop, kitchen sink, ... that
you noticed?
Thanks,
- Chuck Skorupa -
Elite taildragger S/N #500

-----Original Message-----
From: murphy-rebel-return@dcsol.com
[mailto:murphy-rebel-return@dcsol.com]On Behalf Of Bob Patterson
Sent: Saturday, April 17, 1999 7:31 PM
To: murphy-rebel@dcsol.com
Subject: Sun 'n Fun



Hi everybody !!

Just back from the big Sun 'n Fun fly-in in Florida - here is a small
update:

The Murphy booth was well populated with interesting aircraft ! The
company brough a new Elite, as a taildragger ! It was very nicely
finished,
with a 'grape' & white paint scheme, leather upholstery, a decent panel,
a factory plastic headliner with a gray velour material glued to it, and
even full nav. & strobe lights !! A factory first !!! It was flown down
by 'Captain Ken Armstrong' - a well-known aviation writer (look for the
revue ....).

The factory prototype Super Rebel was there also, to be joined on
Sunday night by a NEW factory 'production' Super Rebel - with an IO-540
engine (260 hp.!) and a 3 bladed Hartzell constant speed prop. The new
Super Rebel showed many detail refinements that have been incorporated
into the kit since the prototype: the higher tail fin, a new fibreglass
fairing for the dorsal & front of the vertical & horizontal stabs,
a beautiful welded step on both sides, and the aileron pulleys all
enclosed, and a much smaller 'bump' on the top of the fuse for the flap
cable & pulleys. It really is looking like a 'finished' aircraft !!
And BIG !!

The 3 factory airplanes were joined by Curt Martin's beautiful
Rebel, sporting the new wing tips designed by Dave Fife, who flew down
with Curt. The Rebel was admired by many people, several of whom have
ordered wing and/or tail tips from Dave. (aircrafttips@yahoo.com)
Dave & curt decided to leave early, to beat the weather, and were
replaced by the lovely metallic green Rebel on amphibs built by
Phil & Sandy McKenzie (see article in last Toward the Flight Line).
Phil stood guard on his aircraft for the rest of the show.

The display was completed by a local (about 40 miles west) builder
and his beautiful Renegade Spirit biplane ! It was painted up like
one of the Murphy factory Renegades, and really looked sharp !! It looked
like new, but had over 400 hours on it, and was being flown regularly.
The owner (sorry - memory of names fails me) stood watch over his
Renegade, with a polishing cloth in hand, for the first 4 or 5 days of
the show, then just couldn't resist the desire to get flying again.

A BIG thank you to all the private owners who were good enough to
add their aircraft to the Murphy display, and for their continuous
cheerful & enthusiastic responses to the questions of the crowds !!
I'm sure your efforts helped add several more people to our happy
Murphy Builders club !

I managed to sell 2 1/3 aircraft before Anna & I had to leave on
Friday am. (a Super tail kit, a full Super, and a Rebel.) We had a
little scare on Thursday afternoon, as a brush fire that was raging
just to the south-west leaped onto the grounds, and caused an emergency
closure & evacuation of the show ! Fortunately, it was stopped, but not
before a large number of campers moved off the airport. I'm sure this
hurt attendance for the rest of the show. I gather S'n F management
are now working on a revised 'emergency planning' procedure - yet one
more hazard to consider !!

One interesting fact that came up - the new Elite weighs 1,100 lb.,
empty ! It seems that the heavy weight of the prototype was not just
because it was a prototype - guess it's time to update the 'theoretical'
weights on the brochures with the REAL numbers !!


Murphy will be at the Toronto Aviation Show at Downsview Airport,
April 30, May 1 & 2 ! We will have only a small (10 ft. square) booth
inside, but a Maverick from a local high schoool, & a Rebel from Quebec
outside on the ramp. There will be fly-in breakfasts on the Saturday
& Sunday, and a lot of activity outside. Hope to see you there !

The next Rebel Builders meeting will be on Sunday, May 16th, at
1:00 pm, at the RAA clubhouse at the north end of Brampton Airport (NC3).
(Date changed to avoid Mother's Day). Everybody welcome !! Please bring
folding lawn chairs ...

The Rebel Ramble, our annual Fly 'n Camp trip, starts at Brampton
on June 26th. It will be a one-week run out to Winnipeg, as a rehearsal
for THE BIG ONE, next year, when we will be flying right across the
country to the West Coast again !! All kinds of aircraft are welcome -
please call & get on the mailing list. I have heard from several builders
who figure they won't be ready for this year, but are definitely coming
NEXT year.... Don't underestimate the time it will take to fly off your
25 hours, AND get all the paperwork back - work as fast as you can, or
you might not be coming along on the Trip of a Lifetime !!

It might be worthwhile to RENT an aircraft to fly on THIS one !!
(Or talk a buddy into taking you along in HIS ....)

That's all for now !! Keep on rivetting - it REALLY IS worth it !!


......bobp & Anna






Sun 'n Fun

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 5:19 pm
by Mike Davis
Received: from [137.186.224.18] (helo=ms01-18.tor.istar.ca)
by mail4.toronto.istar.net with smtp (Exim 1.92 #2)
for murphy-rebel@dcsol.com
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To: <murphy-rebel@dcsol.com> (Murphy Rebel)
From: Bob Patterson <bob.patterson@canrem.com>
Subject: Re: Sun 'n Fun
Message-Id: <E10ZMLq-0005ev-00@mail4.toronto.istar.net>
Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 18:17:15 -0400


Thanks for the confirmation, Alister !

NONE of the Rebels here with O-320's are using the spring gear, and
typical empty weights are in the 920 to 950 lb range....

My Rebel, with the O-235, on bungee gear, weighs 835 lb., and the
912-powered Rebels are usually around 600 lb. !!

The lighter weight really improves the performance !

.....bobp

------------------------------orig.------------------------------------
At 05:49 PM 4/19/99 +1200, you wrote:
Hi there,

That would be about right, my rebel 0-320 with headliner kit,
carpet,lights,metal prop, rear floor, full paint etc. and 800-6 tyres came
in at 990lbs.

Still plenty light enough to be very usefull!!

Alister

-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Patterson <bob.patterson@canrem.com>
To: Murphy Rebel <murphy-rebel@dcsol.com>
Date: Monday, April 19, 1999 2:01 PM
Subject: RE: Sun 'n Fun

Thanks for the kind words - wish I could give you some encouragement!

The engine was a brand new Lycoming O-360, 180 hp., with a regular
metal prop (Sensenich, I believe). There were no extra goodies - just a
'standard' panel, and no wheel pants. Other than the fuzzy fabric on the
headliner, it was pretty much 'vanilla'. Of course, it DID have the
Whelen combo wing tip lights and strobes - a first for a factory
demonstrator !
It had the lightweight starter & alternator, and the lightweight stainless
steel exhaust system from the folks who make them for Van's - highly
recommended !

The leather upholstery is probably 4 or 5 lb. heavier than Naugahyde
& cloth, and the headliner is likely about 5 lb. heavier than a bare
metal roof with a little flat almond paint (like mine)..... ;-)

The battery was one of the new compact gell-cells, about
4" x 10" x 7", and was mounted in a box on the cockpit side of the
firewall, on the passenger side - took us a while to find it !! :-)

The tires did look a little larger than the standards, but weren't
huge (8.00 x 6.00, if memory serves) - a little better quality than
the old 'zig-zag's' ! The tailwheel was a Murphy standard, but mounted
on a tubular 'stinger', like the Super Rebel.

The "curtain" at the back of the baggage area was very lightweight -
just naugahyde & cloth, and was held on with metal twist fasteners, rather
than Velcro.

Sorry - couldn't find a 'kitchen sink' ! It's just heavy ...
(those .063 & .025 sides & extra 'beef' just add up !)

....bobp

-------------------------------orig.------------------------------------
At 10:53 AM 4/18/99 -0700, you wrote:
Hi Bob,
Great report, as usual. What engine was in the Elite and how much of the
1100 # empty weight do you estimate was contributed by the extra goodies
you
mentioned?? (headliner, fancy upholstery..etc) Also, were there any
other
"goodies" such as wheel pants, constant speed prop, kitchen sink, ...
that
you noticed?
Thanks,
- Chuck Skorupa -
Elite taildragger S/N #500

-----Original Message-----
From: murphy-rebel-return@dcsol.com
[mailto:murphy-rebel-return@dcsol.com]On Behalf Of Bob Patterson
Sent: Saturday, April 17, 1999 7:31 PM
To: murphy-rebel@dcsol.com
Subject: Sun 'n Fun



Hi everybody !!

Just back from the big Sun 'n Fun fly-in in Florida - here is a
small
update:

The Murphy booth was well populated with interesting aircraft ! The
company brough a new Elite, as a taildragger ! It was very nicely
finished,
with a 'grape' & white paint scheme, leather upholstery, a decent panel,
a factory plastic headliner with a gray velour material glued to it, and
even full nav. & strobe lights !! A factory first !!! It was flown down
by 'Captain Ken Armstrong' - a well-known aviation writer (look for the
revue ....).

The factory prototype Super Rebel was there also, to be joined on
Sunday night by a NEW factory 'production' Super Rebel - with an IO-540
engine (260 hp.!) and a 3 bladed Hartzell constant speed prop. The new
Super Rebel showed many detail refinements that have been incorporated
into the kit since the prototype: the higher tail fin, a new fibreglass
fairing for the dorsal & front of the vertical & horizontal stabs,
a beautiful welded step on both sides, and the aileron pulleys all
enclosed, and a much smaller 'bump' on the top of the fuse for the flap
cable & pulleys. It really is looking like a 'finished' aircraft !!
And BIG !!

The 3 factory airplanes were joined by Curt Martin's beautiful
Rebel, sporting the new wing tips designed by Dave Fife, who flew down
with Curt. The Rebel was admired by many people, several of whom have
ordered wing and/or tail tips from Dave. (aircrafttips@yahoo.com)
Dave & curt decided to leave early, to beat the weather, and were
replaced by the lovely metallic green Rebel on amphibs built by
Phil & Sandy McKenzie (see article in last Toward the Flight Line).
Phil stood guard on his aircraft for the rest of the show.

The display was completed by a local (about 40 miles west) builder
and his beautiful Renegade Spirit biplane ! It was painted up like
one of the Murphy factory Renegades, and really looked sharp !! It looked
like new, but had over 400 hours on it, and was being flown regularly.
The owner (sorry - memory of names fails me) stood watch over his
Renegade, with a polishing cloth in hand, for the first 4 or 5 days of
the show, then just couldn't resist the desire to get flying again.

A BIG thank you to all the private owners who were good enough to
add their aircraft to the Murphy display, and for their continuous
cheerful & enthusiastic responses to the questions of the crowds !!
I'm sure your efforts helped add several more people to our happy
Murphy Builders club !

I managed to sell 2 1/3 aircraft before Anna & I had to leave on
Friday am. (a Super tail kit, a full Super, and a Rebel.) We had a
little scare on Thursday afternoon, as a brush fire that was raging
just to the south-west leaped onto the grounds, and caused an emergency
closure & evacuation of the show ! Fortunately, it was stopped, but not
before a large number of campers moved off the airport. I'm sure this
hurt attendance for the rest of the show. I gather S'n F management
are now working on a revised 'emergency planning' procedure - yet one
more hazard to consider !!

One interesting fact that came up - the new Elite weighs 1,100 lb.,
empty ! It seems that the heavy weight of the prototype was not just
because it was a prototype - guess it's time to update the 'theoretical'
weights on the brochures with the REAL numbers !!


Murphy will be at the Toronto Aviation Show at Downsview Airport,
April 30, May 1 & 2 ! We will have only a small (10 ft. square) booth
inside, but a Maverick from a local high schoool, & a Rebel from Quebec
outside on the ramp. There will be fly-in breakfasts on the Saturday
& Sunday, and a lot of activity outside. Hope to see you there !

The next Rebel Builders meeting will be on Sunday, May 16th, at
1:00 pm, at the RAA clubhouse at the north end of Brampton Airport (NC3).
(Date changed to avoid Mother's Day). Everybody welcome !! Please bring
folding lawn chairs ...

The Rebel Ramble, our annual Fly 'n Camp trip, starts at Brampton
on June 26th. It will be a one-week run out to Winnipeg, as a rehearsal
for THE BIG ONE, next year, when we will be flying right across the
country to the West Coast again !! All kinds of aircraft are welcome -
please call & get on the mailing list. I have heard from several builders
who figure they won't be ready for this year, but are definitely coming
NEXT year.... Don't underestimate the time it will take to fly off your
25 hours, AND get all the paperwork back - work as fast as you can, or
you might not be coming along on the Trip of a Lifetime !!

It might be worthwhile to RENT an aircraft to fly on THIS one !!
(Or talk a buddy into taking you along in HIS ....)

That's all for now !! Keep on rivetting - it REALLY IS worth it !!


......bobp & Anna