Engineering:Zivko Edge 540

Edge 540
Zivko Edge 540 flying across Langley Park in Perth, Western Australia
Role	Competition aerobatic and racing aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Zivko Aeronautics
First flight	1996

An early version of the Edge 540 with a wire-braced tail

The Zivko Edge 540 manufactured by Zivko Aeronautics is a highly aerobatic aircraft. Capable of a 420 degree per second roll rate and a 3,700 foot per minute climb rate, it has been flown to victory on the international Unlimited aerobatics circuit several times since the mid-1990s. A tandem-seat version is sold as the Edge 540T.

The Zivko Edge 540 is the most common aircraft used in the Red Bull Air Race World Series.

Specifications (Edge 540)

Data from Edge 540 Aerobatic Aircraft

General characteristics

• Crew: 1 (540T 2)
• Length: 20 ft 7 in (6.27 m)
  

23 ft (7 m) 540T

• Wingspan: 24 ft 4 in (7.42 m)
  

25 ft 10 in (8 m) 540T

• Height: 7 ft 9 in (2.36 m)
• Wing area: 98 sq ft (9.1 m²)
  

106 sq ft (10 m²) 540T

• Airfoil: John Roncz symmetrical
• Empty weight: 1,170 lb (531 kg)
  

1,319 lb (598 kg) 540T

• Max takeoff weight: 1,800 lb (816 kg)
  

1,950 lb (885 kg) 540T

• Maximum aerobatic weight: 1,550 lb (703 kg)

1,600 lb (726 kg) 540T

• Fuel capacity: AVGAS 100LL 61.5 US gal (51.2 imp gal; 233 l) total (17.5 US gal (14.6 imp gal; 66 l) fuselage + 22 US gal (18 imp gal; 83 l) in each wing)
• Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming AEIO-540-EXP (modified) 6-cylinder air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engine, 310 hp (230 kW) at 2700 rpm - rated power
  

327 hp (244 kW) 540T

• Propellers: 3-bladed Hartzell HC-C3YR-4AX composite constant-speed propeller

Performance

• Stall speed: 51 kn (59 mph, 94 km/h) (V_SO) at 1,550 lb (703 kg)
  

59 kn (68 mph; 109 km/h) at 1,950 lb (885 kg) 540T

• Never exceed speed: 230 kn (260 mph, 430 km/h)
  
• Max aerobatic airspeed (V_a): 170 kn (200 mph; 310 km/h)
• g limits: ±12
  

±8 540T dual

±10 540T solo

• Roll rate: 420°/sec
• Rate of climb: 3,700 ft/min (19 m/s)
• Wing loading: 12.4 lb/sq ft (61 kg/m²) empty 540T

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Corvus Racer 540
• Extra EA-300
• Mudry CAP 230
• MX Aircraft MXS
• Sukhoi Su-26
• Sukhoi Su-31
• XtremeAir Sbach 300 (XA41)

External links

• Zivko aircraft family
• Red Bull Air Race
• Sport Aviation pilot report
• Photos at Airliners.net
• Melissa Aerobatics Team from Melissa Andrejewski Pemberton