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Park Flyer with Pep
Introducing the GWS Zero Fighter
For most modelers, the term "park flyer" conjures images of a
mildly powered electric 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 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
prepainted in authentic green and gray Japanese WWII colors. The
included black plastic cowl sports molded machine gun ports, just like
the real thing. 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 will weigh in
anywhere between 12 1/2 to 13 1/2 ounces, depending on the chosen flight
pack.
An included GWS 370 electric power system gives the Zero plenty of
muscle. The GWS 370 is an all-in-one unit that comes with a 300C motor
and gear reduction drive already mated. After attaching the included
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, requires an 8.4V 600mAh battery,
4-channel micro receiver, micro electronic speed control, and three
sub-micro servos.
We outfitted our test model with three GWS Naro Sub-Micro Servos (1
elevator, 1 rudder, 1 aileron), the GWS GWR-4P Micro receiver, and a GWS
GS-100 micro ESC. The flight pack and motor were powered by an Expert
8.4V 600mAh pack. This setup worked flawlessly and gave the Zero enough
power and control for sport aerobatics. We highly recommend using GWS
electronics with GWS kits whenever possible.
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
robust 300C motor. Top speed is around 35 mph, a tad brisk for indoor
flight but ideal for aerobatics in the park. Yes, we said aerobatics.
We're talking loops from straight and level (inside or out), barrel
rolls, inverted passes, even rolling circles. Of course its slow-speed
behavior is excellent too. After all, it is a park flyer. Flying around
at reduced throttle, we were able to wrap the Zero into tight 20' wide
circles without a hint of a tip stall. Normal stalls were tame as could
be and could be recovered from quickly. This stability made for tranquil
takeoffs and landings as well.
If you want to spice up your park flying experience, the GWS Zero 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.
Specs:
Length: 27.8 inches
Wing Span: 33.5 inches
Wing Area: 204 inches2
Wing Loading: 8.72 oz/foot2
Flying Weight: 12 1/2 to 13 1/2 ounces
Power System: GWS EPS 370 (EPS 300C motor w/gear reduction drive)
Propeller: 10x8
Requires:
Radio: 4-channel aircraft system
Battery: 8.4V 600mAh
Servos: 3 - GWS Pico or Naro sub-micro servos
Speed Control: GWS ICS 100 electronic speed control or equivalent
