Thanks Chuck, glad to see a detailed write-up about the Elite.
I chose the Elite for the same reasons that you list. Sometimes
this alias has exchanges that pit the Rebel vs. Elite. That's
a shame, and unnecessary. They complement one another offering
a range of engines and features not available in total with one
or the other. Determine your flying needs, pick your features,
pick your plane and enjoy...
Eric "2 cents" Fogelin
Elite #645
-----Original Message-----
From: Charles Skorupa [mailto:
Chas@wa.freei.net]
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2000 11:25 AM
To: Murphy Rebel Builders List
Subject: re: question from interested audience member
I think the Elite comparison is unfair. The factory Elite has an 0-360, a
fiberglass inner liner, fancy upholstery and is loaded with electronics. It
is a show plane. Murphy's spec sheets show an identical weight for an 0-320
Rebel and an 0-320 Elite taildragger at 950 lb. The Elite has an 1800 lb
gross weight vs 1650 lb for the Rebel. Realistically, the empty weight
should be somewhat more than the empty wt of a Rebel due to increased
thickness of the LE skins (.032 vs .020=est +12 lb), thicker door wraps (est
+3 lb), perhaps a somewhat heavier empennage due to the cantilever
construction (est +4 lb), and larger fuselage (est +4 lb). The Elite comes
standard with the firewall moved back, but I won't subtract the weight. The
Elite also has features standard that are extra on the Rebel. My particular
plane will not have the heavier metal control surfaces. In every area
where weight has been added, it is more than offset by the improvements in
strength, ease of construction, size, and aerodynamic performance. So, for
about a 25 lb increase in empty weight for my taildragger Elite over a
comparable Rebel, I should pick up and EXTRA 125 lb in useful payload
capacity over a comparably equipped Rebel. Even with the metal control
surfaces, there should be an increase in payload. How could an extra
100-125 lb capacity and a higher head clearance in the fuselage make an
Elite less suitable for an extra 2 seats? And, unlike the Rebel, it can
handle an 0-360 engine if you want to pump it up some more. I can't argue
with the fact that a lighter plane will outperform a heavier plane, and even
25 lbs will make a difference. But the trade-offs seem more than worth it.
Besides, I fear we are needlessly scaring off potential Elite builders in
our enthusiasm about our Rebels. Both airplanes are excellent choices and
as we get more Elites in the field, I think no one will be disappointed.
- Chuck Skorupa -
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Patterson" <
bob.patterson@canrem.com>
To: "Murphy Rebel Builders List" <
murphy-rebel@dcsol.com>
Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2000 6:36 AM
Subject: RE: question from interested audience member
Don't know where these stories come from, but the Rebel is exactly
the SAME WIDTH inside as the Elite, and the Super Rebel... -------
The Elite is a few inches higher in back, but is less suitable
for 2 extra seats, because it is heavier and has less useful load -
the Elite you looked in weighs 1,100 lb ! The Rebel typically runs
915 to 950 lb. as a taildragger with O-320, 815-850 with an O-235,
and 600-720 with a 912. One extra seat is what the factory suggests,
for both aircraft (one adult...).
It is not uncommon to see Rebels with placards in the baggage
area saying "Max. baggage 320 lb." ! This was a real surprise for
the inspectors, who usually see aircraft with 20 to 40 lb. limits. :-)
.....bobp
------------------------------orig.---------------------------------------
-
At 01:30 AM 5/13/00 -0500, you wrote:
Amen on the winter women.... I am blessed also ! ( No offence skinny
ladies, just a personal preference, There is beauty in all godly
women....and several that AINT so godly..)
I am a bit confused as to how the FAA decided on a standard weight
adult..
Heck, I have not weighed 170 since 8th grade... It is good to know that
you
have a rather wide cg range in the A/C also..... I must admit that I
dream
of a o-320 on the front of the one in my long range plan....that should
have
plenty of torque to lift us all off in short order....
One of the things that impressed my bride at Sun-n-Fun was the huge
amount
of room in the back of the elite when I pulled the seat up to check out
the
rudder.... I know the elite is somewhat wider, but otherwise is it about
the
same back there ??
Thank you for the good info..... I look forward to hearing from other
folks
too !
Louis Young
www.justplanevideos.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Wayne G. O'Shea [mailto:
oifa@irishfield.on.ca]
Sent: Friday, May 12, 2000 10:40 PM
To: Murphy Rebel Builders List
Subject: Re: question from interested audience member
Good thing we are not talking about the 6' long back seat in my '69
Dodge!
Mine has 2 normal Rebel seats (tracks and all) in the back. I did the
original weight and balance for two "winter" women in the back
(you know the
ones with a little more meat on them, so more comfortable to
"cuddle" with!)
In reality, I have only carried the kids back there though and it
has worked
great. They have lots of leg room when the pilot seats are in flying
position and the back seats are moved up so their buts are on the
43" aft of
datum line. I could sit in the back seat before I had them
upholstered (I'M
5' 10"). I found there best use was the trip to Oshkosh '95 when
we had our
tents, sleeping bags, gear etc. piled up to the torque tube. We put the
seats to the back of their travel and just loaded the thing to
the roof. The
seat backs kept things from going down the tailcone As a matter
of fact, we
had it so loaded that we could not slide our seats back out of the
flying
position to aid in getting out!! With that load in it, it was the
smoothest
the thing ever flew!
Blue skies,
Wayne G. O'Shea
www.irishfield.on.ca
P.S. Weather's not looking great for tomorrow Bob! 40Km winds, gusting
60.
back
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