Murphy Moose buyer's guide
Everything a prospective owner needs on the Murphy Moose — performance, payload, wheels/floats/skis configuration, engine options, and what it costs to build one with us in Arlington, Washington.
Why buyers choose the Moose
The Moose is Murphy Aircraft's big-bore backcountry hauler: an all-aluminum, high-wing airframe sized to carry people and freight into short, rough strips. Where the Radical and Elite are two-to-four seat sport and utility airplanes, the Moose is the one you buy when the mission is load — a family, a hunting camp, fuel drums, or a summer's worth of gear on floats.
It is built under the Experimental Amateur-Built category, which is exactly what the Build Assist Program is designed around: you participate in the build, you choose the configuration, and you finish owning an airplane you understand end to end.
Murphy Moose specs at a glance
| Seating | Up to 6 (2 front, bench + jump seats aft) |
|---|---|
| Engine class | Lycoming or Rotax — commonly 300 to 400+ HP class |
| Construction | All-aluminum, riveted airframe |
| Gross weight | Heavy-hauler class — designed for full-cabin loads |
| Cruise | Roughly 130–150 mph depending on powerplant and gear |
| Takeoff roll | Short-field capable on tundra tires |
| Landing gear | Conventional (taildragger), floats, or skis |
| Category | Experimental Amateur-Built (E-AB) |
Final numbers depend on your engine, gear, and equipment choices. See Murphy Aircraft's factory specifications ↗.
Payload and mission
Payload is the Moose's whole argument. With up to six seats and a large aft cabin, owners routinely trade seats for cargo — pull the back bench and you have a freight hauler with a door big enough to load through. Paired with a high-horsepower powerplant and big tires, it delivers short-field performance while still carrying a real load, which is unusual in this class.
- Up to six occupants, or seats-out cargo configuration
- Short takeoff and landing on unimproved surfaces
- Proven on floats for lake and coastal operations
- Rugged all-aluminum structure — no fabric to maintain
Configuration options
Wheels
Standard mains or oversized tundra tires for gravel bars, grass strips, and rough backcountry surfaces. The most common setup for owners flying out of unimproved fields.
Floats
The Moose is a proven floatplane. Amphibious or straight floats turn it into a lake-and-inlet hauler — a natural fit for the Pacific Northwest.
Skis
Winter and glacier operations. Straight or wheel-penetration skis let the airframe work year-round in snow country.
Panel & controls
You choose the avionics stack, autopilot, control setup, interior, and paint during the build — this is your airplane, not a catalog spec.
Building a Moose with us
Through the Build Assist Program you build your Moose in our Arlington, Washington shop alongside experienced mentors — seniors and veterans who have done this before. Be hands-on for the whole airframe or drop in for the milestones; housing is available while you build. Prefer to skip the shop time? The Silver Eagle Project will build it for you turnkey at $350,000.
Either path: $100,000 down to secure your plane and your build slot. Balance due at completion.
Murphy Moose FAQ
- How much does a Murphy Moose cost through the Silver Eagle Project?
- $325,000 through the Build Assist Program, or $350,000 turnkey with the Silver Eagle Project building it for you. $100,000 down secures your plane and your build slot; the balance is due at completion.
- How many people does the Murphy Moose carry?
- The Moose is configurable for up to six occupants, making it one of the largest kit-built bush planes available and a true family or utility hauler.
- Can the Murphy Moose be put on floats or skis?
- Yes. The Moose can be configured on wheels, floats, or skis, and the gear choice is made with you during the build.
- What engine goes in a Murphy Moose?
- Most builds use a Lycoming or Rotax powerplant, typically in the 300 to 400+ HP class for the Moose. You pick the engine, and other powerplants can be accommodated on request.
- Do I need to be an experienced builder?
- No. In the Build Assist Program you can be as involved as you want — do nearly all of it yourself with our shop and mentors alongside you, or the bare minimum. Housing is available while you build in Arlington, Washington.