Finally got my Edge into the air and I thought I'd post my thoughts on this wonderful aircraft.

Specs: DA50 engine. full hitec servo gear with pull-pull rudder. JR8103 transmitting to a PCM 7channel (cant remember number) reciever. CG at 5" aft (suggested max aft CG)

First flights were rocky due to a number of mechanical troubles as I shook loose everything that was not lock-tite secured... After securing these lose ends I managed to get in several decent flights though I found the edge a little hard to handle to its limits. This was due to far too generous use of throws both on low and high rates. Backing off the rates on both settings made the Edge a different plane.

2nd time out I really got to wring it out for the first time. This one will do everything you ask of it. 1st aerobatic flight included hilights of low KE, flat turns, KE spins and just about everything else I could think of to try. I have yet to get the harrier rock free but I have seen another pilot at my field do them perfect so I believe its a combination of the idiot at the sticks and a lack of spoilerons. KE is spectacular, nothing more to say. There is a minor ammount of coupling that I have mixed out but other than that, performance is beautiful. Rudder authority is amazing and the plane just loves to grove arround on its side. My flying buddy (chixwithtrix) commented that the plane spent more time on its side than upright. I did several suicide slides that were rather impressive, especially on the first real flight. Snapping manuvers are spectacular however due to enormous surfaces they are a bit hard to get tight, they tend to be sloppy, this is correctable by using less than full rates to do tight snaps. Hovering is easy and there is more than enough control authority to throw the edge arround in a hover, I've done most of my hovering on low rates. I have not tried any waterfalls but Im looking forward to doing some with the enormous ammounts of throw I have availible to play with. Speaking of throw, you 10X JR users and whatever Futaba stuff comes with tripple rates are going to be using them... a lot. I really am missing having a middle setting with the 8103 but its not unmanagable with about 40%expo. Landings, though I usally woulnt comment on a plane in a 3D forum about its landing characteristics... but htis one I will. It is the easiest landing large aircraft I have ever flown. This includes some other wonderful high-end aircraft that I have had the privlege of flying recently. It flys slowere than seems possible with no sign of stall. I actually kill the engine for some landings because it will almost fly at idle.

Well, thats it! Any other WH 540T owners care to put their 2c worth in?

Ian Bange

Edited for some grammer mistakes. Dont post at 2AM mmkay?

Thank you Ian! I can't wait to get mine in the air. I'm still waiting on my engine (DA-50). I'm curious about the ke coupling. Is it just pitch or is it roll and pitch?
Thanks
Al Renkel

Ian, very nice report ! What is the stab angle of incidence relative to the wing incidence ?

Beautiful...VIDEOS PICTURESSS

I am beginng to like it.

Dan

[sm=RAINFRO.gif]

lxcoupe - coupling is on both. I need to change the elevator over to a variable mix as the current mix needs more up (or was it less? damn memory) at the extremes. Ail was a set 5% mix against the rudder that works perfectly.

rajul - I dont know, I'll look when I get back home (posting from school)

mavrick - I have a vid of the maiden and will be getting more vids and pics soon. I'll have them up shortly. Expect pictures later today.

Grwat man...sounds like you are having a good time

Keep up the good work

Dan

And here they are! The first pictures of my edge. Unfortunately I have not taken any of it in flight yet... but I'll fix that soon enough.

The Edge in all its beauty.


With its pilot.


EDIT - I forgot to mention, my wheel pants are missing courtesy of one vibrating loose, rotating 90 degrees down and self-distructing on landing... so I took the other off and am waiting for my new pair to come in. It looks even better with them on I might mention, one of the reasons that I am spending $20 to get a new pair when I need to be spending my RC budget on my next project...

Doesnt work man???[&:]

Is there any way I can see them...very interested

Dan

Problem fixed, ignore this post.

NOPE not working...does it work for you

LOL

Dan[&:]

My bad, I was using a link to my private images... that cant be linked. The new imaged are up and should work for everyone.

BEaUTIFUL...that is the coolest pics. Now take them off because Im addicted LOL

Seeya

Dan

Thanks[8D]

OK, where is the video?

You're gonna have to wait till sometime next week for that... the edge does not fly again till Saturday morning and however long it takes afer that for me to mix together a finished product and upoad it. I'll try to get some flight pics in before then if I get any.