Red Bull Air races - Edge dominates. Why?

[why_fly_high]

	Quote: Originally Posted by N726AC
	I know Extra is building an airplane that is optimized for Red Bull style racing.I think you will see more and more aerobatic designs morphed/altered for racing. As for the HP, Monty Barrett can build about anything you want. Most of these style planes are using a Lycoming IO-540.

Actually, Ivanoff has been racing the new Extra for 3 or so races and the Edge has continued to win. Besenyei completed one training run with the new Extra and went back to the Edge. He said it needed some more adjustments. The new Extra as it sits is closer to the Edge but still not there. With some fine tuning it might be able to beat a stock Edge but only time will tell.

Dan

[xtreem3d]

or maybe the better pilots just fly edges?

[why_fly_high]

	Quote: Originally Posted by xtreem3d
	or maybe the better pilots just fly edges?

At least the better ones that want to win.

Dan

[Highlights]

	Quote: Originally Posted by sprice50
	Another major factor is the fact that the straight leading edge basically gives the Edge the properties of a forward swept wing (FSW) if you consider a line drawn along the mean chord i.e. draw a line from 35% at the root to 35% at the tip and you will notice it sweeps forward. Anyway this aerodynamic FSW creates an inherent instability almost like having anhedral (as opposed to dihedral). Every 10 degree forward sweep is approximately the same as 1 degree anhedral (the opposite for rear swept wings / dihedral)... This is what makes the Edge so responsive to roll which is great for the bank and yank turns in Red Bull Air Races. This is also the reason pattern planes had swpet back leading edges and straight trailing edges for years - it promoted stability by creating aerodynamic dihedral.... stability both inverted and upright unlike regular dihdral. Oh yes.... and power to weight and a sick colour scheme too! lol I hope this provides a little more insight.

Listen punk, don't make me come over there and make you chew on a bar of soap now.

How dare you speak of my beloved edge so clinically. She does have a name you know. LOLOLOLOL

Shaun man you crack me up. You just love this stuff don't you. Now get your a$$ over to my house and help me set up my plane.

[SleepyC]

I just watched the last race where the yellow plane smacked the pulon.
Did that edge come back to the shop why-fly-high?

Man after watching the races, your job rules.

ALSO, whast with the big air scoupes on the edges.. is this a racing mod?

[why_fly_high]

	Quote: Originally Posted by SleepyC
	I just watched the last race where the yellow plane smacked the pulon. Did that edge come back to the shop why-fly-high? Man after watching the races, your job rules. ALSO, whast with the big air scoupes on the edges.. is this a racing mod?

Only the wing came back to patch the hole in the from the wheel pant hitting it.

It is a cool place to work. I actually work with the other areas of the business. I don't doo much with the Edge. I did build composite parts for the Edge for 2 years.

If you look closely some have a new cowl that we did for the racing Edges. Some have a scoop added to the old cowl. The cooling inlts are different and the geometry is slightly different. The scoops are added and a metal grate was added to help with getting a little more air to the engine and also to prevent the ingestion of large parts of pylons and birds.

Dan

[Mitsu1]

Just wondered ... this new Extra that Besenyei tested ... what does it look like? Is it smaller than a stock Extra 300 ?

[why_fly_high]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Mitsu1
	Just wondered ... this new Extra that Besenyei tested ... what does it look like? Is it smaller than a stock Extra 300 ?

http://www.flyinggiants.com/forums/f...rage-week.html

Look at post 3. The span might be slightly different but it is pretty much the same fuselage. The major change is the nonsymetrical wing. It also has a straight leading edge.

Dan

[sprice50]

A straight leading edge Extra..... hmmmm that will be interesting.

[flyin woodbutcher]

just wondering , Has an Edge ever been fitted with and flown with a Extra style wing ?

FWB

[Shaker]

I'm really surprised Extra would build a wing like that just for the air races. It certainly isn't going to be functional as an unlimited aerobatic mount like that. Red Bull must have some serious money in the races to warrant building a whole new wing for them.

[plane]

If you look at the airfoil on the new extra you'll notice it's semi-flat on the bottom. Since only positive G's are encountered while racing why have the added drag of a full symmetrical airfoil. From what I understand the present mount is a bit twitchy thus the need for further adjustments.

Can you imagine an Edge with this airfoil? I wouldn't be surprised to see it next year.