Company Says Yukon Will Offer 1,150-Lb Payload Capacity

The original concept design that served as the basis for the homebuilt Murphy Super Rebel and Moose highwing taildraggers, will soon have its own day in the sun. Attendees at this year's EAA AirVenture celebration in Oshkosh, WI will be among the first to see the new Murphy Yukon.

"We started this aircraft 10 years ago, but it grew into something else", said Darryl Murphy, who developed the Yukon with Richard Hiscocks. "This is an aircraft that will allow families and friends to leave for weekend fishing or camping expeditions -- an 'SUV of the skies,' if you will."

Like the Moose, the Yukon sports all-metal construction, and stout rough-field landing gear. In fact, the Yukon uses the same four seats, cabin length, and fuselage size as the radial-powered Moose... but in the interest of economy, the Yukon is designed to be powered by a Lycoming O-360.

"We are very proud of the Yukon, not just for its capabilities and performance, but for the opportunity it will provide average people to fly themselves, friends or family to just about anywhere" says Joel Landry, Sales and Marketing Manager at Murphy Aircraft (shown above with the Yukon fuselage.) "Lighter wing-loading gives the Yukon unprecedented handling characteristics as well as very impressive STOL characteristics."

The company tells ANN it plans to unveil the Yukon during AirVenture 2007, which kicks off July 23.

The Yukon will offer a 2,550-lb. gross weight, and an 1,150-lb payload capacity, according to the company. Those looking for more power may be interested in the Yukon 390X variant, powered by a 210-horsepower Lycoming IO-390X.

And, in a concession to "pavement flyers," the Yukon will also be available with tricycle landing gear, as well as conventional gear.

FMI: www.murphyair.com