is there a way

[Yar]

is there a way to edit other than repaint downloaded aircraft

[Travis]

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "edit".

Do you want to change the flight characteristics of the aircraft?

Do you want to change the aircraft's look (texture)?

Do you want to change the shape (model) of the aircraft?

[X_eidos2]

The only way to "edit" a plane (change the mesh or appearence) of a plane that's been made available to the flight sim public is to contact the creator of the plane and ask for a copy of the source files used to make it. Then you'd have to have the same software program they used. Most designers are very gracious when asked, but are under no obligation to provide these files.