FTScratchBuild
Our latest foam board airplane, the Edge, is a Red Bull Air Race inspired monster. Here's the low down on how it flies.
The FT Edge - it's power, it's performance, it's sheer foam board taken to an extreme level. Andres Lu, our interning mad designer here at Flite Test. If you're wanting to know more about how this thing goes together, along with what sort of specs to expect, you've come to the right place.
Flight Video
What are the specs?
Quite simply, the Edge is an absolute beast. Based on the full-scale Zivko Edge 540 V3, it has been designed to be a pure all-round aerobatic performer.
In terms of your power setup, we recommend that you use a 425 sized 1000kv brushless outrunner. These can be found on our store in our Power Pack C. This gives you enough beef to pull off some serious moves whilst airborne. You'll also be needing a 10 x 4.5 prop (for a 3s) or a 9 x 4.5 (for a 4s), or else you won't be going anywhere!
You'll also be needing an ESC to go with your motor. If you're using the recommended setup, you're going to need to use at least a 30 amp. Again, you can pick up a complete Power Pack from our online store along with your kit. This way you'll receive all of the same electronics the Edge has been designed around.
In terms of making your control surfaces work, you can choose to run either simple 9 gram or higher performance es3154 metal geared servos. Having this upgrade with lots of extra torque can be helpful when it comes to performing high-G maneuvers and that sort of thing.
The all up weight of the plane, fully loaded with a battery all ready for takeoff, is just 1.5lbs (680g). Combined with Power Pack C, this provides a great power to weight ratio. Unlimited vertical? No problem. Soon enough, you'll be somersaulting and back flipping your way through the air. As you might imagine, this airplane is quite the head turner.
What sort of performance can you expect?
There are three directions you can take your Edge in. The first one is pure 3D. Andres has set the bar extremely high by enabling the Edge to fly in much the same way as the top aerobatic RC planes out there. Axial rolls are a thing of beauty. As mentioned in the release video, the thrust line, wing and tail are all aligned with each other to produce crisp lateral authority.
The second way you can setup your edge is to go full on Red Bull racer with it. You can upgrade the motor and ESC, dial down your throws and increase your expo to create an RC race plane worthy of the Edge name. With a good power system, you'll be hitting some serious speeds in no time.
The third way to build an Edge is to go somewhere in between the first two options. Like all of our designs here at Flite Test, you can customize to your heart's desire. You can squeeze some decent speed out of the airframe whilst having enough aileron, elevator and rudder authority to pull of some snap rolls, wing overs and occasional back flips.
Is this plane for you?
The Edge may look intimidating, but like all our planes it can be made by anyone with some practice and patience. You can follow our upcoming build video step-by-step to assemble one from a kit in just three to four hours.
This is a great intermediate plane. As a four-channel, it's probably best if you have flown one other four-channel airplane before this one to get used to banking and yanking along with carrying out coordinated rudder turns. This way, the extreme throws of the edge won't throw you off too much.
If you want to grab one of these as a kit from our store, head on over there with this link.
Build
We can't wait to see you put one of these together, so we're releasing the build video right now along with the release of the kit. Free plans for this model are coming soon!
Before you know it, you'll have an FT Edge in the sky. Be sure to share your experience with us through the FT Forums, Facebook page or by writing an article of your own. We'd love to hear about all of the crazy flights you have with these airplanes!
Order your own FT Edge speed build kit today!
Download the Free Plans on our Forum: http://bit.ly/2MmD4fD
Helpful Resources!
3D printed wing tips and landing gear fairings
Article by James Whomsley
Editor of FliteTest.com
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