Darryl Murphy to Be Inducted Into EAA Homebuilders Hall of Fame

October 4, 2018 — Darryl Murphy of Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada, whose aircraft designs cover a wide spectrum of recreational flight possibilities, will be recognized on November 8 when he is inducted into EAA’s Homebuilders Hall of Fame as part of the annual program lauding notable people from throughout the sport aviation community.

The induction dinner on November 8 will be held in the EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and also includes inductees from the vintage and warbird aircraft areas, as well as those involved in aerobatic flight and in ultralight flying.

Darryl, EAA 293368, got his start in the late 1970s by designing and building a rigid-wing hang glider, a rarity at that time. His first powered aircraft design, a single-seat biplane, first flew in 1984. Using innovative construction techniques, he upgraded his designs and founded Murphy Aircraft in 1985. His subsequent designs included such notable aircraft as the Renegade biplane series, the all-aluminum Rebel, the Maverick, the Elite, and the sturdy Moose bushplane.

Along with the aircraft designs, Murphy aircraft were the first to use the venerable Rotax 914 engine, and Murphy also designed a series of amphibious floats as well as wheels and brakes. In 2003, Bombardier used a Murphy Moose to demonstrate its 300-hp V-6 engine at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Even after Murphy’s official retirement in 2014, he continued designing aircraft by introducing the short takeoff and landing (STOL), bike-rack equipped Murphy Radical.

“Darryl Murphy brought his curious, insatiable mind to the world of amateur-built aircraft designs,” said Charlie Becker, EAA’s director of chapters and homebuilding. “Throughout his aviation career, he has always been exploring new ideas and concepts to make recreational aviation more fun and accessible.”