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 of America
Manufacturer	Zivko Aeronautics

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 Air Races Datasheet

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• 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
• Zivko Edge 540 -v2
• Zivko Edge 540 -v3
• Zivko Edge 540 -v4
• Zivko Edge 540 -v5
• Zivko Edge 540 -v6 Demonstrator

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• MXS
• Extra EA-300
• Sukhoi Su-26
• Sukhoi Su-31
• Corvus Racer 540
• CAP Aviation CAP-232
• 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