Just curious what folks think... Thanks!

What is the mission?
DENNY

Carry 2 folks plus lots of gear or 4 folks with half tanks and no gear. STOL more for the former rather than the later.

Different budgets for your three options though...

Bearhawk all day Bro.

Elite is only a 2-3 person plane...wouldn't fit the bill to start with. Though I do love my Rebel, I think some more research would be in order to fulfill your goal

Maule

Yeah the single back seat on the elite is a "con" but a great airplane.

I found this video of an Elite on floats... around 00:25 you see the backseat and it looks like you could fit another person in the back there and go for a quick spin. It does look like a custom mod bench seat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW2cPweMUfM

Not saying it would be comfortable

I'd say push comes to shove with 0-360, daytime VFR panel, cheap seats, no pain, and kit... lets say $60-70k.

Very much leaning toward a experimental over certified airplane.

Thanks for the input folks!

While I too would pick the Bearhawk, if speed is not that big a priority, the BushCaddy L-164 might be worth a quick look, especially if a used one pops up at a great price. The quick build kit construction time seems a bit optimistic .

.
The L-164 was developed from the Bushcaddy L-162 as a true four seat aircraft. Unlike the L-160's designation, which indicates that the design engine for that model was originally a Lycoming O-320 of 160 hp (119 kW), the L-164 designation is just a numerical sequence and does not indicate horsepower.

The L-164 features a strut-braced high-wing, a four seat enclosed cockpit, fixed conventional landing gear, or optionally tricycle landing gear, and a single engine in tractor configuration. Floats and skis can also be fitted.
Construction time for the factory kit is estimated at 1200 hours or 300 hours from the quick-build kit.

Link: http://www.bushcaddy.com/model-l164.html
Specifications
Capacity: three passengers
Length: 25 ft 6 in (7.77 m)
Wingspan: 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m)
Wing area: 189 sq ft (17.6 m2)
Airfoil: NACA 4413 (mod)
Empty weight: 1,350 lb (612 kg)
Gross weight: 2,500 lb (1,134 kg)
Fuel capacity: 60 U.S. gallons (230 L; 50 imp gal)
Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming I0-360-L2A four cylinder, fuel-injected, air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine, 160 hp (120 kW)
Propellers: 2-bladed Sensenich 76EM8, 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) diameter

**EDIT** Here are some comparable specs for the Bearhawk 4 Place

Link: http://www.bearhawkaircraft.com/index.php/4placebearhawk/bearhawkspecifications
Specifications
Empty Weight 1150-1550 pounds (varies w /builder /engine /prop)
Gross weight 2500 pounds (2700 pounds on floats)
Useful Load 950-1350 pounds (varies w/ builder/ engine/ prop)
Fuel Capacity 50 gallons (standard) 72 gallons (optional, w/aux tanks)
Wing span 33 ft.
Wing Area 180 sq. ft.
Length 23 ft. 6 in.
Cabin Width 42 in.

My vote is for the Bush Caddy.

I have gandered at the Bushcaddy aircraft and like the both the 162 and 164... the quick build prices are pretty spicy but "complete kit" prices seem more "normal".

No love for the CH801 out there?! it is a nose dragger... :/

Oh yeah... Just got in touch with Murphy about the Elite kit price... firewall back $32 canadian! that's about $25k usd (not a quickbuild).

Well - my experience says I would keep a CS Prop. Low gear off the line then strech it's legs for Xc. 9hrs
Probly buy back that beautiful N4650C C170B. 180 hp MT prop - long list of goodies
NO build time.
Dreamin agin.

Cessna 182 with a big fork. Easy to fly, cheap to buy, cheap to insure and they haul the freight!

Kurt
2 time 185 owner
1 time 180 owner
1 time 182 owner
and many others.

Zzz wrote:Maule

Traitor! hahaha

What are the key differences between the Murphy Elite and the Rebel?

Rickshaw84 wrote:Very much leaning toward a experimental over certified airplane.

Thanks for the input folks!

Apart from the lower acquisition effort / time, I see basically no good reasons to choose a certified plane for private ops.

*dons flame suit*

Battson! You're my Kiwi Bearhawk Celebrity Big fan of your videos and you're airplane!

As far as a certified airplane... I figure (probably, naively so) a good M4, M5, or C170 goes for 40ish plus a solid inspection and a mid time engine... you can not look at the airplane with modification eyeballs withouts an STC and an A&P... if you want to change anything on you certified airplane's panel you need an A/I... That isn't to say kit plans are cheap but hell I can get the plane I want, with the panel I want and the prop/engine I want without an A/I or A&P... I could be seriously wrong... of which I will be happy to purchase all you guys a beer but in the long haul it seem a experimentals makes more sense (theoretically).

Great videos man! alway enjoy watching them...

P.S. the Rebel is a strictly 2 place while the Elite has a cantilevered horizontal stabilizer, third seat in back, and a heavier gross weight capability. stated as 1800lbs.

Zzzzzzzz

That was only the last word in the sentence.
Needs at least two more words.

Wannabe keepin yer literary style up to your established standard

wannabe wrote:Well - my experience says I would keep a CS Prop. Low gear off the line then strech it's legs for Xc. 9hrs
Probly buy back that beautiful N4650C C170B. 180 hp MT prop - long list of goodies
NO build time.
Dreamin agin.

I thought you were talking about my 170 at first. But mine is N4560C.

Battson wrote:

Zzz wrote:Maule

Traitor! hahaha

What are the key differences between the Murphy Elite and the Rebel?

There were a series of mods that guys came out with in order to hang bigger and bigger engines off the Rebel. These were called "ontario mods" and consisted of thicker skins in some areas or more/bigger rivets in others. Most were geared towards bigger engine and floats. The normal rebel can have the third backseat. The elite also raises the gross to 1800 with the normal Rebel being 1650....though I've had mine loaded well over that with zero issues

Mine is strictly on wheels, but has many of the mods done to stiffen the structure and be able to take the rough off airport landings. The elite also had a system that split the normal flaperons into flaps and ailerons. That can be adapted to a normal Rebel if so desired. irishfield (Wayne O'shea) is most knowledgeable on these, but will soon be getting out of the business. http://www.irishfield.on.ca/

Dream aircraft Tundra.