|

GWS Zero Fighter Park Flyer
For most modelers "park flyer" conjures up images of a mildly powered
electric model airplane floating through the park at a serene 15 mph. GWS is
about to radically alter park flyer perceptions with their new
semi-scale Zero Fighter park flyer. This fully aerobatic,
almost-ready-to-fly plane is anything but your typical day at the park.
Outstanding Scale Appearance
As park flyers go, the GWS Zero is by far one of the most scale ARF
subjects we've seen. All its molded foam parts come out of the box
painted in authentic green and gray Japanese WWII colors. The included
black plastic cowl sports molded machine gun ports. Even the clear
plastic canopy is provided with adhesive strips to recreate the canopy
lines. The decals that are provided are authentic as well. In addition
to the markings you would expect to be included (like big, red "Rising
Sun" insignias), GWS has thrown in decals for tail numbers, squadron
markings, and maintenance placards. Not a whole lot is left to the
imagination. Once built, this plane looks like a Zero.
Quick Assembly
The Zero can easily be flight ready in a couple of evenings. The list of
primary assembly tasks is relatively short: join the fuse halves, mount
the horizontal stab and landing gear, trim and mount the cowl and
canopy, and install the flight pack. That's about it. Most of the time
you'll be waiting for glue to dry. Once finished the Zero Fighter will
weigh in anywhere between 12 1 /2 to 13 1 /2 ounces, depending on the
chosen flight pack.An included GWS 300C electric power system gives the
Zero plenty of muscle. The GWS EPS300C is an all-in-one unit that comes
with a 370 motor and gear reduction drive already mated. After attaching
the ncluded 10x8 prop, the whole system simply pops onto the Zero's
stick motor mount. This handy setup will let modelers swap GWS EPS units
later on and experiment with different gear ratios and prop
combinations. The flight pack, which is sold separately, includes a 7.2V
600mAh battery, 4-channel micro receiver, micro electronic speed
control, and either three Naro servos, or three mini servos. We
outfitted our test model with three GWS Naro Micro Servos (one each for
elevator, rudder, and aileron), the GWS GWR-4P Micro receiver, and a GWS
GS-100 micro ESC. Our Zero Fighter was powered by an Expert™ 8.4V 600mAh
pack. We highly recommend using GWS electronics with GWS kits whenever
possible. This setup worked flawlessly and gave the Zero Fighter enough
power and control for sport aerobatics.
Living Up to a Legend
During WWII, there were few allied fighters that could come close to
matching the maneuverability of the Zero. For a park flyer, the GWS
version is plenty nimble also, thanks to ailerons on the wings and the
obust 300C motor. Top speed is around 35 mph, a tad brisk for indoor
flight but ideal for aerobatics in the park. We're talking loops from
straight and level (inside or out), barrel rolls, inverted passes, even
rolling circles. The Zero’s slow-speed behavior is excellent too; it is
a park flyer. Flying around at reduced throttle, we wrapped the Zero
into tight 20' wide circles without a hint of a tip stall. Normal stalls
were tame and could be recovered from quickly. This stability made for
tranquil takeoffs and landings. If you want to spice up your park flying
experience, the GWS Zero Fighter is a great way to go about it. Its
semi-scale lines, aerobatic ability, and stable slow-flight stability
make it about as well-rounded a park flyer as you could hope for.
| |
Zero
Specifications
Wingspan: 33.5 in
Wing Area:
204 in
Wing Loading:
8.72 oz/sq ft
Flying Weight:
12.5 - 13.5 oz
Length:
27.8 in
Radio:
4-Channel
Servos:
3
Propeller:
10x8
Power System:
GWS EPS 300C (EPS 370)
motor w/ gear
reduction drive
|
*Important Note for Radios: Please specify the channel of your radio in
the "Special Shipping Instructions" portion of the checkout process.
**GWS Receiver Crystals are not included in the GWS Flight Packs and
must be ordered separately. Be sure to specify the same frequency as
your transmitter crystal.
***Note: A GWS 7.2V battery and GWS 5-amp speed control are provided
in the flight packs. The GWS 15-amp Speed Control is necessary with an
8.4V 600mAh battery.
|