Murphy Rebels of New Zealand (1)

The Murphy Rebel was designed by Canadians Darryl Murphy and Dick Hiscock (who helped on the design of the Beaver), in the late 1980s and the aircaft was introduced in 1990.  It was designed as a STOL bush plane for personal use which is quite appropriate forflying in Canada.  This also makes it quite useful for New Zealand back country flying.

It is produced as a kitplane by Murphy Aircraft of Chilliwack, British Columbia in Canada and construction is mainly from aluminium sheet.  Power can be from 80 HP up to 160 HP but some suggest that it really needs 100 HP plus.

The Rebel's length is 21 feet 4 inches (6.6 metres), wingspan is 30 feet (9.2 metres) and the wing area is 150 square feet,  Empty weight is around 950 pounds (432 Kg) and MAUW is 1,650 pounds (750 Kg).  With a mid range engine, criuse is around 120 mph

We have had nine Murphy Rebels completed in New Zealand to date as follows: (and all are still current).

Our first Rebel was ZK-JHY (c/n 513) that was built by Alister Yeoman of Ashburton and was first registered to AG and EE Yeoman of Ashburton on 26/5/97.  It is powered by a Lycoming O-320 engine of 150 HP.  It suffered undercarriage damage on in November 1998, but was repaired as shown in the above photo taken at the 2001 SAANZ flyin at Ashburton.  It suffered further damage when it overturned on landing in light snow at Ashburton on 6/7/03.

It was again repaired and presumably a taller undercarriage was installed, as shown in the above photo at the 2009 SAANZ flyin at Ashburton (where there was a line up of six Rebels - see below).  Ownership transferred to Alister Yeoman on 22.2.11.

Our second Rebel was ZK-WEC (c/n 647R) which was built by Graham and Brigette Weck of Patumahoe and was first registered to them on 13/2/02.  Its first flight was on ,21/2/02, flown by Alister yeaoman.  It has a 160 HP Lycoming engine and has been a SAANZ Grand Champion.  It is photo'd above at the 2009 SAANZ flyin at Ashburton.

Next along was ZK-FMR2 (c/n 565R) which was built by Laurence Farmer of Oamaru.  It was first registered to him on 5/3/04 and its first flight was on 13/3/04.  It has a Lycoming O-235 engine of 115 HP.  Ownership changed to DT Davies of Fairlie on 22/7/09.  It has not changed over the years, and is photo'd above at the 2014 SAANZ flyin at Hastings.

ZK-JQD (c/n 387) was an 11 year project by Peter Kempthorne of Gore.  It was first registered to him on 24/8/04 and the fist flight was by Alister Yeoman.  It has a strengthened undercarriage and floor and is powered by an O-320 Lycoming engine.  It is photo'd above at the 2009 SAANZ flyin at Ashburton.

And here it is at the 2013 SAANZ flyin, also at Ashburton where it features wheel spats and a spinner.

ZK-WEM (c/n Q121) was built in Australia as VH-DOD and was the first Rebel to be registered there, on 9/3/95.  It has a Lycoming O-235 engine of 115 HP.  Its Australian registration was cancelled in June 2009 and it was imported into New Zealand by Evan and Michelle Wheeler of Pukekohe and registered to them on 10/11/06.  It is photo'd above at the 2009 SAANZ flyin at Ashburton.
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ZK-DBH2 (c/n R751) was built by Paul Finch of Ashburton and was first registered to the Paul E Finch Family Trust on 24/11/06.  (It is sort of the second ZK-DBH as the first one was a Taylor Titch built at Kawerau which flew and crashed although it was never officially registered).  It is powered by a Lycoming O-320 engine of 160 HP and it was first flown by Alister Yeoman.  It is photo'd above at the 2009 SAANZ flyin at Ashburton.

ZK-VAL2 (c/n 408R) is also an import from Australia where it was built at Coolangatta and registered as VH-KIW, although it never flew there.  It is powered by a 115 HP Franklin engine.  It was imported to New Zealand where it was worked on by Paul Woodley and Arnold Gallagher at Rangiora.  It was registered as ZK-VAL2 to Neville Somerville of Cheviot on 5/5/08.  It is photo'd above at the 2009 SAANZ flyin at Ashburton.

It has since recieved a trim line as photo'd at the 2014 SAANZ flyin at Hastings.

ZK-DKZ2  (c/n 724R) was built by David Horton of Auckland and was first registered to him on 21/8/08.  It is photo'd above at Ardmore on 8/4/13.

ZK-ERX2 (c/n 616R) was built by Eric Breetvelt of Auckiland and was first registered to him on 23/11/11.  It is photo'd above at the 2014 Black Sands flyin at Raglan.

There is one more Murphy Rebel registered in New Zealand - ZK-VAN2 of The Little Oasis Trust of Blenhiem, but this aircraft has not yet been completed, although I understand it is well advanced.  I think we will see more Murphy Rebels in New Zealand in the future.