Airborne Magazine - Issue #249 | Page 34

tape on the alloy spar and add extra tape to build up each section as required to give the spar a tight fit along its length. With the Edge assembled once more, I tested the wing by forcing it every which way, and it was rock solid. An easy fix but this problem should have been rectified at the factory. Back To The Flight Line Once again, with all the pre-flight testing done, it was time to get the Edge in the air. I punched the throttle and the Edge was so much better in the air. In the turns, it grooved really well and back to level flight with no trim changes. Loops tracked well and inverted flight took almost no down elevator so the CG must be very close. Is this the same plane I flew last time? Coming in for a landing, this time I kept on a little throttle and greased it in. Very nice. Conclusion explore the limits of my low rates. The powerful rudder could knife-edge the plane for as long as I wanted with only a slight amount of roll coupling to the canopy. Rolls and snap rolls were spectacular and done with no effort, but again the trim would change in level flight and through loops. With enough happy snaps done, it was time to land and try to work out what was the problem. I lined up the runway and the Edge was on a fast glide approach and then at just over 500mm off the deck, the Edge nosed down, and landed hard. Mental note to self: fly it down onto the deck. Back in the pits, a close inspection ruled out many things, and as I moved the