The Rebel Builders List

You have reached the home of the Rebel Builders List.

What is the Rebel Builders List? Well it's more than just a list of people building Murphy Rebel aircraft... but that's how it all started.

In 1992 I already knew that I wanted to build my own airplane someday, and at the time Murphy Aircraft Ltd. was running an advertisement in Kitplanes magazine with a couple of builders names, and their home cities. One of those builders lived in Anchorage Alaska, and I just happened to be in Anchorage too... so I gave him a call and he said "come on over!". By the end of the day I didn't just want to build my own airplane anymore, I wanted to build a Murphy Rebel!

Fast forward to 1997. I am now stationed in Washington DC in the USMC, and have started my own Internet service. As I scour the Internet looking for more information on Murphy Rebels I realize that what Rebel builders everywhere needed was a good way to communicate with each other. There was a monthly newsletter being published by a builder... but we needed something with more interaction. So I configured an e-mail based list server that builders could subscribe to that would allow almost immediate communication with other builders.

Since the list was started in November 1997 builders from around the world have posted more than 25,000 messages talking about every aspect of building an experimental aircraft. Along the way the Rebel Builders List has become more than just an e-mail list too. The current site offers a searchable archive of every message ever posted to the list, and if you create a personal account to access the site, you can post new messages right here... there's no need to post via e-mail. You can also access all these messages via NNTP, which is probably better known as a news server. Many members like this method because you actually download a complete copy of the archives to your local computer that you can search and browse at your leisure. And soon you'll be able to receive messages via RSS feed on your cell phone or blackberry devices.

In addition to the message base, file libraries have been setup where members share photos and files that help show exactly what they're talking about in their messages... after all, a picture is worth a thousand words!

The software used requires you to log in, but it's up to you whether you use the public account I've setup, or create your own personal account. There are some benefits to creating a personal account... primarily, it grants the ability to post messages directly into the list archives. A new message posted via this web interface is in turn sent out via e-mail to all list members. The public account only allows viewing of the archives, not posting. Additionally, the message archives can be viewed in a couple of different formats, and while it's purely a matter of preference, your personal account will remember how you liked it. With the public account everybody who logs in can change this, so it might be different from one time to the next.

To receive the Rebel Builders List messages via e-mail you must subscribe to the list server. Do this by entering your e-mail address in the subscription form located here. If you prefer to use a news reader (NNTP), first you must create a personal account on the web site... the username and password you select will be used to connect to the news server. The server address is "news.dcsol.com", configure your news reader software as you normally would, but place a check in the box that says my server requires me to log in. Then enter the username and password you used when creating your account on this site.

To create a personal account click here.

The public account for the site is:

username - rebel
password - builder

Click here to log in.

Oh, and yes I finally got mine... but not a Rebel after all. By the time I was finally ready to buy my kit a lot had changed. In 1992 Murphy Aircraft only offered the Rebel, and the Renegade biplane. But by 2003 when I bought my kit, they had come out with the Elite, the Super Rebel, and finally the Moose. I bought Moose kit #195SR. If you'd like to check out my construction progress, you can view my only construction log here.