Zivko Edge 540

Zivko Edge 540 flying across Langley Park in Perth, Western Australia.

An early, wire-braced tail version of the Edge 540.

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 – in fact all champions of the World Series have flown this aircraft.

Specifications (Edge 540)

Data from Edge Air Races Datasheet

General characteristics

• Crew: one pilot
• Capacity: one (pilot only)
• Length: 6.27 m (20 ft 7 in)
• Wingspan: 7.42 m (24 ft 4 in)
• Height: 2.87 m (9 ft 5 in)
• Wing area: 9.1 m² (98 ft²)
• Empty weight: 531 kg (1,170 lb)
• Loaded weight: 703 kg (1,550 lb)
• Max. takeoff weight: 816 kg (1,800 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Modified Lycoming AEIO-540 Hartzell composite, 3 blade, 254 kW (340 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 230 knots (265 mph)
• Rate of climb: 1,128 m/min at 425 m (3,700 ft/min)
• Power/mass: 0.472 hp/kg (0.214 hp/lb)
  
• Roll rate: 420°/sec

See also

Related development

• Zivko Edge 540T
  

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Extra 300
• Sukhoi Su-26
• Sukhoi Su-31
• CAP Aviation CAP-232
• Staudacher S-300
  

External links

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