Airborne Edge Explained

The Airborne Edge is a line of Australian two-seat ultralight trikes designed and produced by Airborne Windsports of Redhead, New South Wales. The aircraft are supplied as a completed aircraft and not as a kit.[1] [2] [3] [4]

Design and development

The Edge features a cable-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a single-seat, open cockpit, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration. It has been produced in many different sub-models and is known in 2012 as the Classic.

The aircraft wing is made from bolted-together aluminium tubing, with its single or optionally double surface wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 33.31NaN1 span wing is supported by a single tube-type kingpost and uses an "A" frame control bar. The landing gear features suspension on all three wheels, with the main gear bungee suspended and the nose wheel suspended with rubber blocks. The nose wheel steering includes a dampener and drum brakes. The main wing support mast folds down to allow wing installation. The aircraft can be broken-down for ground transport or storage and assembly for flight can be accomplished in 30 minutes.

The Edge includes full dual controls for flight training, including dual steering, dual control bar extenders and two throttles. Engines supplied include the twin cylinder, two-stroke air-cooled 500NaN0 Rotax 503 or the liquid-cooled 640NaN0 Rotax 582.

Operational history

The Edge was flown in west Africa in aerial support of an elephant conservation project and was also used in Indonesia to monitor endangered orangutan populations.[5]

Variants

Edge 582 Executive
  • Fully equipped model with all the options, including full cockpit fairing and wheel pants, with the Streak double-surface high performance wing and liquid-cooled 640NaN0 Rotax 582 engine. Sold circa 2000.
    Edge X 503 Wizard
  • Basic model without fairings to reduce weight and cost, with a single surface wing and air-cooled 500NaN0 Rotax 503 engine. Sold circa 2000.
    Classic S
  • Model sold circa 2004. An Edge model with all options and a liquid-cooled 640NaN0 Rotax 582 powerplant.
    Edge X TS-912/Streak II XT
  • Model with all options sold circa 2005, with 800NaN0 Rotax 912 four stroke powerplant and the double surface Streak XT wing. Cruise speed of 750NaN0 and price of US$36,353 in 2005.
    X-Series Classic
  • Production model as of 2012, with 640NaN0 Rotax 582 engine, optional Wizard or Streak wing

    Notes and References

    1. Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page C-10. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001.
    2. Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 92. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
    3. Downey, Julia: 2000 Trike and 'Chute Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 17, Number 2, February 2000, page 48. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851
    4. Downey, Julia: 2005 Trikes 'Chutes and Rotorcraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 22, Number 2, February 2005, page 49. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
    5. Web site: X-Series Classic . 12 January 2012. AirBorne Australia. 2011.

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