About Us

For nearly 40 years, Murphy Aircraft Manufacturing Ltd. has been designing and building practical, rugged and builder-friendly amateur-built experimental aircraft kits from our home in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada.

Founded by aircraft designer Darryl Murphy in 1985, Murphy Aircraft has grown from a single workshop into a globally recognized Canadian kitplane manufacturer, with aircraft flying on six continents in roles that range from weekend fun to serious backcountry work.

Our aircraft are known for:

All-metal construction suited to real-world flying
Straightforward, builder-friendly kit design
Versatile performance for sport, travel and utility missions

Whether you’re dreaming of backcountry strips, lakes on floats, or family trips in your own homebuilt aircraft, Murphy kits are designed to turn that dream into a realistic project.

Our Story: From a Single Biplane to a Full Family of Kitplanes

Murphy Aircraft’s story began with the Renegade, a single-seat biplane designed by Darryl Murphy in the mid-1980s. Shortly after, Murphy Aviation was founded in 1985 (later renamed Murphy Aircraft Manufacturing Ltd.) to bring practical, affordable aircraft kits to builders around the world.

Our Mission

Our mission is simple:

To empower the spirit of adventure in aviators worldwide by providing kit aircraft that are safe, reliable, and genuinely enjoyable to build and fly.

We combine proven designs with continuous improvement—updating structures, hardware and build methods—to help builders reduce build time, improve maintainability and enjoy better performance in the air.

Our Values

Everything we do at Murphy Aircraft is guided by four core values.

Quality

We focus on well-engineered, all-metal aircraft using carefully selected materials and specialized aluminum machining. Components are designed to fit together cleanly and withstand years of use in demanding environments.

Safety

Safety comes first in our design and manufacturing decisions. From structural design and load paths to testing and documentation, we work to give builders and pilots confidence in their aircraft for every phase of flight.

Innovation

For four decades we’ve been refining our designs, exploring new manufacturing techniques, and introducing improvements such as easier-to-assemble structures and the Radical Easy-Build Kit. Our goal is to make building and owning a Murphy aircraft more accessible with each generation.

Customer Support

Building and flying your own aircraft is a major achievement. Our team is here to help with:

Choosing the right model for your mission
Understanding kit options and upgrades
Answering technical questions during the build
Ongoing support for parts and maintenance

We see every aircraft as a long-term partnership with its builder and owner, not just a one-time sale.

What Sets Murphy Aircraft Apart

Builder-Focused Design

Our aircraft are engineered with homebuilders in mind. That means:

Logical, repeatable assembly steps
Robust structures that tolerate real-world use
Design details that ease inspection, maintenance and repairs

The goal is not just a great-flying aircraft, but a build process you can realistically manage in your own workshop.

Real-World Versatility

Murphy aircraft are at home in a wide range of roles—on wheels, floats or skis; from paved runways to remote strips. Many of our owners fly into rugged backcountry locations or operate in challenging climates where durability really matters.

A Global Builder Community

Over the years, Murphy Aircraft has attracted a worldwide community of builders and owners who share advice, build tips and flying experiences. This community spirit helps new builders gain confidence and ensures that Murphy aircraft are more than machines—they’re part of a global flying family.