Country of origin:

Canada

Description:

General purpose light transport

Power Plant:

One 269 kw (360 hp) Vedeneyev M-14P supercharged nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engine

Specifications:

History:

The Murphy Moose was a development of the Murphy Rebel series, which in itself was developed through a number of models, culminating in the Lycoming IO-540 powered Super Rebel. This later became the Super Rebel 2500 and 3500 models, and the latter was eventually re-named the Moose as it has become popular in Canada for operating into and out of very difficult terrain, being able to carry good loads and being fitted with a large cargo door for ease of access. Although a kit plane, examples have been built for carrying cargo to remote areas of Canada. One in the United States (N24GR) was built as an amphibian and fitted with a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-20 turboprop.

Available as a kit plane in the range of aircraft provided to the amateur builder by Murphy Aircraft Manufacturing Ltd of Chilliwack, British Colombia, it was usually fitted with the 187 kw (250 hp) O-540 engine but the manufacturer found a number of builders were intending to fit the M-14P supercharged radial engine produced in Russia and Romania, and decided to install this engine in the prototype (C-GBZD) to carry out performance tests and have it approved for construction with this engine.

This engine has become very popular in the western world in recent times since various Sukhoi and Yakovlev high-performance aerobatic aircraft were imported for unlimited aerobatics, it providing a good power-to-weight ratio, being cheap to buy, and parts being readily available. In this regard numbers of Yak 52s, Yak 18Ts etc have been imported to this region all fitted with this engine, which is advertised as using 60 litres (13 Imp gals) of fuel an hour. It is also available in two variants, a higher performance model providing 298 kw (400 hp).

Seating in the Moose is for four to six in a roomy cabin. It is usually fitted with a cargo door 71 cm (28 in) high by 89 cm (35 in) wide. Fuel capacity is 227 litres (50 Imp gals) and construction is all-metal. The first examples of the series seen in this region were registered in Queensland in June 2003, one becoming VH-MFM (c/n 205SR) to its owner / builder at Arundel, QLD, making its first flight on 17 December 2004, the second becoming VH-RKX (c/n 210SR) at Tallebudgera Valley, QLD.

On 16 November 2010 a further example was registered VH-KIZ² (c/n 0635SR) to its owner in Queensland, this aircraft having a Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 engine driving an MT propellers MTV-9-B propeller.  In  early 2020 ownership of the aircraft was changed, at this time the CASA register describing the aircraft as am Amateur-built SR-3500 aircraft, the owner living in the Broadbeach Waters, QLD area.

CASA records indicate both VH-MFM and VH-RKX were fitted with floats. However, VH-RKX was later cancelled from the Civil Aircraft Register as not completed, and VH-MFM has only been noted in Queensland operating on a wheeled undercarriage. On 12 October 2014 VH-MFM was on climb out from Southport Airport, QLD when it suffered a loss of power and the aircraft impacted wooden terrain in the Coombabah Lakes Environmental Reserve, sustaining substantial damage and seriously injuring the sole pilot on board, the aircraft being written off.

Development of the series has continued, a modified variant of the Moose becoming known as the Yukon, this being similar to the Moose but fitted with a Lycoming O-360 engine.