ddaver

My Feedback: (3)

Yup Yup
The tendency of this model to snap with full elevator application is the nature of the beast. Tapered wing, wing loading and other factors all contribute. I expect that once I correct the wing incidence problem she will fly pretty good and with more and more flights I will probably come to enjoy it.
I read on another thread something like this: "....climb high and put your Edge 540 into a dive, apply full power and pull full up elevator and note which direction it snaps to....." The writer was offering advice regarding engine thrust.
Now that I know this I can certainly avoid the situation. What worries me is what if something goes wrong and I need to save the plane and my natural reaction is to level the wings and pull up elevator, will I have the control to give just the right amount to avoid the snap yet still pull out safely? Hopefully, I will have achieved a higher level of confidence before anything like that happens.

Thanx once again for everyones help

P.S. Bubba, I read that thread, sounds familiar doesn't it? BTW the box claims 72" wingspan, it's more like 68". Do the Chinese use a different metric system or just a different conversion ratio? ROFL At any rate the wing loading is significant and I have been careful to build as lite as possible.

Ok, Ok, I won't beat around the bush any longer.......... I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS MODEL!!!

bubbagates

My Feedback: (32)

I had that very same thought when I realized wing loading. YUK...

ddaver

My Feedback: (3)

In case anyone is interested, I wrote a review of this model.

[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/product_guide/readRatings.cfm?kit_rating_id=7614]Falling off the Edge[/link]

rmh

I am glad to see that more people accept that the problem with these models is --wing loading - Not airfoil -not some incorrect LE shape etc..
plain ol too friggen heavily loaded
straight LE, tapered wing , swept LE, none of it makes enoughr difference in these sizes to bother with. All that really counts is wing loading and power loading.
I recently did a ARF- of an EDGE- straight as an arrow - beautifully built perfect kit -radio worked spot on ,with elevators perfect in unison operation etc..
How did it fly?
as long as you kept speed balanced with maneuvers -it was fine.
As soon as you horsed it at all - it immediately dropped one wing or the other .
high speed stall-plain and simple
I tried some "landing approaches" -up high enough to recover -
as soon as you tried to go for any kind of slightly higher AOA- it became loose as a goose
Hopefully these ARFS will fade from the market .

ec121

My Feedback: (2)

I had a WM Clipped wing cub that I could make the wings snap on command with too much elevator throw. I toned down the elevator and it was a whole new airplane, but not near as intertesting. Also saw one of the old H9 1.50 size Edge540s that was heavy enough that it would snap just about any time. Those types don't take much throw. They will stay stalled on a down line unless you neutralize the surfaces, let it fall and re-establish the airflows, then pull out smoothly. Easy to say but nerve-wracking close to the ground. :-)

EscapeFlyer

My Feedback: (1)

That is EXACTLY what would happen with my old H9 Edge 540. That is the airplane that I learned rudder control on!

ddaver

My Feedback: (3)

I know that the RCU search engine ain't the greatest. But, I find it strange that despite doing numerous searches before starting this thread I found nothing on the topic in any forum. Look at all of the contributions here!!! Before this model my dream plane was a 40% Edge 540, now I'm not so sure.

exeter_acres

My Feedback: (2)

Wow... I have the Vectorflight Edge 540 and it sounds the same as yours..... I'm having a heck of a time getting used to it.....

bubbagates

My Feedback: (32)

exeter,

On the VF Edge, you want no more than 3/8 inch of throw on the elevator both up and down. I know it's not allot but the wing on that plane is sheeted faom and is so efficent that to much elevator is not good.

I have one and in the big VF Edge 540 thread and several other places, that is the throw everyone is using and all the snappiness will go away and it will fly very very well.

exeter_acres

My Feedback: (2)

I'm still working on the throws.....
adjusting endpoints... it is getting better though

horace315

My Feedback: (15)

i had this problem with a VF540 turns out one of the elevator halves was for another type airplane.i know this sounds too simple but worth a look...

horace315

My Feedback: (15)

bubba did you have any balancing problems with your vf edge?mine was heavy in the front end i put a OS91 in it.i also installed a home made tale wheel with built in spring also installed dowel hard points on the elevator and rudder.it flew good once i got the elevator halve problem corrected.and setting the throws by what the instructions said seemed too little,i think i set the low rates on 3/8 and the high on 5/8,I'm glad i didn't use rule of thumb that thing would have been wild....

marcon2

Found My Pacific 540T-90 doing the same thing. Always to right

Check out http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_30...tm.htm#3090039

KFIR

ive got a seagull edge 540 120 size 78" wing that was an absolute pig to get off the ground never consistent flying , snappy and pitch sensitive,manual said 110 -120 mm from leading edge. when i worked it out mathimatically on the half wing span it worked out at 40% set it to 27% or 85 mm it become a real honey had to remove to down thrust and had changed incidences as well all to no avail. it was the manual,even with a zenoah 38 up front it will snap if pushed but flys like it should now,does seem to bother about the weight as much as i had expected

Sturtz

My Feedback: (20)

I have two Edge-540s. The VectorFlight and a 1.20 size light weight 3/D version of the 540T that I'm working on now. I don't really know who makes it, but it came with a great full color manual and color manual on CD.
Bubba , I tried jacking my elev rates up one day with my VF and found your statements VERY TRUE. Quickly landed and changed everything back to normal . I do think these Edge540s can have more aileron throws than most manuals state. But the elev rates are pretty well set in stone.
A question that has been bugging me for several weeks now is the positioning of the plane while balancing the CG. I use a GP CG machine and it seems to work well. Much closer specs than my two index fingers and some blue painters tape with dots.
My question is this....... An Edge is a mid-wing aircraft. Could or should it be balanced right side up instead of inverted like a low wing plane ?

DDaver....
My thoughts on your elev snap problem. While in total agreement with the others on the two halves and the rate of throw. I'm wondering back to the CG question again. I CG'd my VF Edge at the required distance from the LE while inverted on the CG machine.
It was horrible to fly. Snapped easily and was a real pain to land because of the ballooning effect.
After tearing the LG and block out on a stall during landing I replaced the LG with a nylon brand and added support to the block.
(I see several of you VF owners in here so you know what I'm talking about.)
Afterward I CG'd it at 4" instead of the 4++" listed in the manual. Snaps stopped. Landed like any other sport plane then. The wing stopped outflying the plane as much too.
Since then I've noticed the same problem you posted when setting up any of my 3/D planes. I intentionally CG them tail heavy for hovering and high alpha stuff. Every one of them gets that nasty snap trait when I do simple sport flying like rolls, etc.

Just thinking that maybe,,, just maybe an Edge likes it's nose weight a bit more than say an Extra or Yak.
"Only My theory here. I have no degree in aerodynamics."

gbwm

My Feedback: (1)

Flyboy,

If it is true that the servos are moving perectly in sync throughout the whole arc I would have to agree with the possibility that to much pitch deflection could cause a power-on stall. I would think that this would explain your Edge's tendancy to role to the right but, I'm not exactly sure.

bigtroutdog

My Feedback: (2)

Check for loose hinges in the tail. I had the same problem. Turned out to be a loose hinge.