Jon is right, I am a good one to look over your shoulder, because I can screw up with the best of them. I did check out the VF website, and am impressed with the response I saw. I like doing business with people that doesn't run and hide if someone has a problem with their products. After watching your VF E-540 fly today with the wind the way it was, I was impressed. You did a great job. I also like the way the plane looks and is built. The only problem I have now is another decision to make. 300 or 540, 300 or 540, 300 or 540. Decisions, decisions, decisions! I need to sell some of the planes that I have. They are only just slightly used, and got a little warm.

Jon that is awsome that someone else on this thread had a great maiden flight. I was going to get my bird up today but, during the night i cought some nasty stomach virus. OOOOOOhh!! So i guess you could hear from this later this week with my flight report.

Jon also that i noticed that you turned your carb around where the needle valve is out the top. Since i did the same thing everytime i put the cowl on and off the entire top of the cowl is now almost paint free. So what was your secret on the cowl?
Anyway im gonna get out of here im going to try to get some sleep. Congrats on the maiden.

Jon,

Congrats on a very successful maiden. I am extremely happy for you. I know you went through a few trials and tribulations during your build/set up. Isn't it just the greatest feeling to see the end result of all the hard work pay off?

I think a 16 inch prop would be a bit too much for the Saito 100. I was using an APC 16x6 prop and could only get 8500 rpm max from my Saito 120. I think that a 15x6 would probably be ideal between speed and thrust. That combination should provide the Edge with more than enough power for excellant aerobatics.

Keep us posted and happy flying.

Don, I too would like to welcome you to our beloved VF Edge 540 thread. If you decide to get one of their planes (and I hope you do), I know that you would not be disappointed. As you witnessed from Jon's first few flights, these planes fly extremely well. As Jon stated, my Edge makes me look like a better pilot too. Keep us informed of your decision. And if you need any help/tips, don't hesitate to shout this way.

Later guys.

Nathan,

Re: Secret on needle valve & cowl.

I remove the needle valve when putting the cowl on.

Hope your tummy gets better so you can fly soon.

All this talk about maidening your Edge 540's has me drooling ....I can't wait to finish mine!

Unfortunately, construction has been slow.....I've been pretty busy this past week, but she's coming along. I'm going to take my time and make sure everything is done right on this plane........hopefully the maiden will be in a few weeks!

Those recent pictures looking very sharp guys! [8D] A couple of congrats due here on the maidens! Try the 14 by 6 0r 14 by 5, for better thrust at slower speeds and also good braking. The plane will slow down to a crawl, its almost unreal! Its a lot of fun to see it slow that much, and just for kicks before touch down pull straight up with wide open throttle.

Bank,

How did you transfer the small letter decals? I tried to do it with masking tape but the letters liked the masking tape a lot better than they liked the plastic cowl. That is why my Edge only has Lyco on the cowl.

jon

Jon,,, nice maiden report. I'm glad everything went smooth on the first run. Bet you can't wait to get out there everyday and fly that baby.
I sure would like to have a Saito 100 for my new Edge. But I'm afraid a new one would be too taxing on my wallet right now.
Don't think I can even afford a used one. I plan on stealing the OS91-FX from my CM Spitfire. It runs very well and has been tuned by our resident motor guru. I keep reading were guys are having trouble getting their 91's tuned in. It's not the fuel,, it's all in the low speed adjustment. (FYI)
Anyway,,, if one of you VF guys know's where a lonely Saito 100 is ............. then I won't have to rob the old warbird of her engine.

MORE QUESTIONS FOR JON?) Or any of you guys for that matter.
So was she less of a point and fly type plane than say the Extra300 ? I know that the "fly where you point'em planes" are great for certain acrobatics,, but they are also a pain to fly as well. Never can relax a second. Is she a bit more forgiving in that dept ?
What were the rudder turns like ? What are your radio settings on low and high rates ? When your in the vertical and hit full aileron does she axial roll evenly or want to tail slide ?
When your heading upwind at full throttle is there alot of climb rate or does she track straight ?

Thanks,,,, I'm looking out the window everytime my German Shepard tells me a FedEx or UPS truck is coming down the street now.
Can't wait to start on her.

Guys, I have a question on the engine mounting.....my Evolution 1.00 with a Pitts muffler should weigh in at just over 25 oz. I'm trying to avoid having to add weight to balance the plane.......should I mount it at the recommended position, or move it fore or aft a bit? For guys that have installed Saito 100's, which is slightly lighter than my Evolution, did you have to add nose weight to balance?

Mike

Jon, good job. I am using a 15x6 after starting with a 14x8. I think you will like the landings a lot better with the lower pitched prop.

Where do you have your CG set. I am at the factory suggested 4 inches (a bit more actually) from the leading edge along the fuse. and it seems a bit tail heavy to me. Just wondering. Thanks. Ron[8D]

rcjon: The masking tape i used was the type painters use. Its low tack. The letters still wanted to stick to the tape though so you need to peel it back on it self real slow and when you see one starting to lift stop and roll it back down and try again. You'll get it....It just takes a little time.

Sturz:

>>So was she less of a point and fly type plane than say the Extra300 ? I know that the "fly where you point'em planes" are great for certain acrobatics,, but they are also a pain to fly as well. Never can relax a second. Is she a bit more forgiving in that dept ?<<

This is the first point 'em plane I've flown, but I felt very relaxed flying it. Just had to make sure that she wasn't point toward the ground when you relaxed.

>>What were the rudder turns like ? What are your radio settings on low and high rates ?<<

It held very level when applying rudder. I stayed on what I had set for low rates on my first three flights. Never thought about switching. I had my control surface throws set higher than the book recommended. I'll probably tone the elevator down some. I had the throws set at near maximum deflection on high rates and low rates set at about 50%.

>>When your in the vertical and hit full aileron does she axial roll evenly or want to tail slide ?<<

Didn't try this.

>>When your heading upwind at full throttle is there alot of climb rate or does she track straight ? <<

Stayed level.


glowlug & rbgunner:

My plane was tailheavy with a Saito 100 mounted at the location given in the manual. If I did it over I would put the engine a little farther forward. I added 4 oz of weight to the base of the landing gear and the CG was still a little bit aft of 4" back from the LE. I can't say exactly where. I put a scrap of tape at 4" back from LE and picked it up with my fingers on the tape. The tail wanted to droop when I did this.

I'm going to move the battery forward and then see about about a more permanent weight mounting if needed. I'd like to move the engine up, but that's too much trouble.

Jon, I am with you on moving the engine up. I thought about that and decided no way. I will fly it a few more times the way it is and see how it goes. Ron

Good info on the engine position, Jon...Thanks. I'm thinking since it was tail heavy with the Saito, I should mount the Evolution at the recommended location, or even 1/4" forward........I think that should put me close on the CG.....any other info/opinions on it?

Are there no wheel axles included with the Edge? Are the two large socket head cap screws supossed to be axles? [:'(] If so, have any of you guys used them with any level of success? They seem like they would be very prone to bending easily.

The socket head cap screws will work just fine. I have used them for axles on many different planes.

Pat

I personally do not prefer the bolts. I bought two axles for my Edge because I had some wheel pants that were already set up for the axles. Just personal preference. Ron

Well flew mine today one time. Control movment is set to factory recomended high rates It was 26 degrees out and a slight breeze. berrrrrrrrrrr!!
After doing a range check and all acting fine i taxied it to one end of the field and turned her around linged up gave her about half throttle and in less then 30 feet she was airborne. I like shallow climbouts(warbird style) so at about 2 feet off the ground i knew i had it all under control.

I did need to give it 4 clicks of down elevator for hands off level flight.

Inverted flight needs a little down elevator to hold level flight so i need to move the cog back buy adding about a 1/4oz to the tail then fine tuning with the battery from there.

Rolls are a little to slow for me so the aileron throughs need increased some. Also when i start a roll from straight level flight the plane endsup nose down at about 20 deg angle?

I think the elevator need a little more travel up and down also.

Power is a Magnum 91XLS with pitts muffler turning a Zinger 15X5. Plane will go vertical out of sight if you wish

Landing is easy enough just keep a LITTLE power on till your close to touchdown then cut throttle

I did not try anything to violent yet!! I need to go over everything first and do a little fine tuning so maybe friday i'll get her back up and have some more to add.
Pat

Bank,

Congratulations - you must have wanted to fly bad to get out in that cold.

I can't wait to spend a day with mine at the field.

I brought some digital scales (professionally calibrated) home from work and weighed my Edge today. 8.4 lbs dry. (8 lbs 6.4 oz)

I have 5.5 oz of extra weight mounted 6 in forward of the CG. (33 oz-in)
The battery, 2.2 oz was mounted about 6 in aft. (13.2 oz-in)

I'm moving the battery to right behind the tank which is essentially right on the desired CG. The firewall is about 10 inches in front of the desired CG location, so 2 oz on the firewall should be the only weight I need after removing the 5.5 oz I currently have on the landing gear, making the final dry weight about 8 lbs 3oz.

I think.

Since i was feeling much better today i decided to finish up the break-in of my motor and button everything up. I leaned out the Saito a bit but, a tad on the rich side since its new. Went to the flying field to bring it up, but to my surprise the runway has been removed and torn up. ***!!!! Nobody told me that the feild was closed. I did know that we were going to do some renovation and re-orient the runway but that wasn't to be until summer. On top of that the pits was one big mud pit. YUCK.... Ok so no flying here for a bit, gotta find another field and maiden the bird. I packed up the car and got ready to leave, Tires spin and mud go flying everywhere. ARGH!!!!! I seemed to dug my tires in mud and now im stuck.. Since nobody was at the feild i was really stuck.. Had to call AAA and pull me out. Oh man.. everything is going wrong. Word of advise, honda civics are not good cars to be driving to flying fields.

Anyway with my edge my CG was just a little aft of 4 inches. And that was with a Saito 100 under the hood, with the battery under the servo tray near the front. Granted couldn't tell you how it handles with that setting, refer to top...

Well guys,

My O.S. 91FX with pitts muffler arrived yesterday. All I am awaiting now is a new cowl that I already oredered from VF. I should have her back in the air by early next week. I should be able to shed some weight with the 91FX as well.

Glad to hear that everyone is enjoying their Edge. I am sure that once the weather improves for everyone to fly, you will thoroughly enjoy how this plane flies.

Later...

Gary: did you get the part number for your wheel pants that you are using. Or the link to tower where the item is. I had a link for something i found from a eariler post but, you were not quite sure if they were it.

Guys,

I wanted to share a slight modification on Gary's wing bolt mod. After watching me struggle with trying to tighten the bolts from inside the fuse to the rear of the wing with my fat hands, a guy at the club suggested cutting the heads off the nylon bolts and screwing them into the wings and then use a wing nut on the inside of the fuse to secure the wing to the fuse. I like this method better because I can more easily loosely attach one wing and then have both hands available to install the other wing and line up the joiners.

And I think next time I'd just put a 1/8" steel stud on the wing.

Nathan, I bought Great Planes pants GPMQ1770 (Tower LXJ917). I haven't done anything with them yet, but they look about right.

Weather looks good for flying here on Sat. Sunday is iffy. I can't wait to get the VF Edge out again.

Jon: That looks like a pretty good mod. I dont have that much trouble trying to screwing the wing bolts since my hands are kinda small. The only problem i usually have is trying to like up the joiners so i can slide the bolts in. I can see how your mod could help that out a little...
For the wheel pants, those are the pants that found earlier. How do they look vs the stock wheel pants, size wise?

Nathan,

They are essentially the same size as the pants supplied.

jon