1999 Zivko Edge 540
SN: 0023 N540HT
Airframe Time: 609 | Engine Time: 609 | Price: Make Offer

The Owner’s Story About This Edge 540

In the spring of 2006 I was looking for a new airplane. Having won the 2005 U.S. National Championship in the Intermediate category in my Sukhoi 29, it was time to step up to Advance and prepare for an eventual move into the Unlimited level. The aircraft on my short list were a Sukhoi 26, Sukhoi 31, or an Edge 540. None of these were listed for sale at the time except a Sukhoi that was stored for many years in Texas. As I prepared to leave for Dallas in a few days, Howie Stock (U.S. CIVA Delegate) called to tell me an Edge 540 was for sale by Harvey Tidball and was located just a few miles north near Madison, Wisconsin.

Harvey Tidball and Jeff Mulwinney are good friends. They had both purchased Edge 540’s and moved to new homes on an airport in Wisconsin. Harvey told me he, Jeff, and Kirby Chambliss worked together sharing the expense of testing to come up with modification to improve roll rate and stops. I called Kirby to find out about this aircraft. Kirby, being a great guy, took the time to tell me the history of the airplane.

Kirby told me this serial number #23 was to originally be his and was built to his liking. He test flew this airplane. Due to timing Kirby needed and Edge earlier and this one was sent to the open market for sale. The Edge was sold to Fred De Lacerda in November of 1999. Fred flew the plane, to the best of my knowledge, in the Intermediate category in IAC competitions. This Edge was easily recognized by the Mickey Mouse logo that was displayed on the horizontal stabilizer, as it seems Fred was a big fan of Disney. Fred sold the Edge to Harvey Tidball who was looking for an Unlimited aerobatic plane. The Edge met his needs with just one exception. The Mickey Mouse logo had to go. Harvey replaced this with the United States Marine emblem, as he was a Marine aviator.

Harvey and Jeff were flying air shows and Jeff had become involved with a reality television concept about acro pilots competing around the world. This reality TV show concept failed and Jeff decided to sell his Edge: Harvey followed. Jeff sold his Edge to Mike Gullian (and is now owned by Brian Taylor) and I bought Edge serial #23 from Harvey. And as for the Marine Emblem, well… I was a Marine also and the emblem is still on the tail.

Having flown both a Sukhoi and the Edge 540 it has to be said the Sukhoi makes a good pilot look average and the Edge makes an average pilot look good. The modifications Harvey placed on the ailerons resulted in low aileron resistance throughout the entire range of the ailerons, an exceptional roll rate, and rock hard stops even at high roll rates.

In 2009, I won the gold medal in the Known flight in Unlimited at the U.S. National Championships. This plane can make an average pilot look real good and is a great competition aircraft.

Currently I am the IAC president and winding down my competition career due to an eye injury. The Edge has been a great plane but it is time to sell it.