AirBorne Models Fw 190A By Frank Granelli
Fly the WWII “Butcher Bird” and really stand out at your club field!
PHOTO: ANNE GRANELLI I
n World War II, each combatant nation had several famous fighters that re- main extremely popular with today’s modelers because they accomplished so
much. England had Spitfires and the U.S. had Mustangs. Germany had the Focke-Wulf 190 series which served extremely well. While more Bf-109s were produced, the Fw 190 series was by far the superior fighter. The Fw 190A series so outclassed the Spitfire V when it made its debut over France in early 1940 that it came as a nasty surprise. When an Fw 190A-3 accidentally landed in England in June 1942 (how does that happen?), it was found to be faster than any Allied fighter, smaller and more maneu- verable with a better climb rate and heavier armament. Its wide stance landing gear made it far easier to operate on the ground which was a huge operational advantage as it greatly cut accidental loses.
While the Fw 190’s excellent climb and maneuverability are important to us R/C pi- lots, that beautiful, wide landing gear re- mains a huge advantage. From the early days of wood kits to today’s ARFs, it seems as if there has always been at least one Fw 190A available.
That is true today. But, when I felt the need to have an Fw 190A in my hangar, I picked AirBorne’s ARF. Why? Because Air- Borne’s airplanes always offer a multitude of extras at very competitive prices. Here are just a few examples of what I mean:
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• The kit includes a clear plastic cowl that can be mounted over the installed en- gine so the necessary cutouts for muffler, needle valve, etc. are easily positioned. The clear cowl then fits over the fiberglass cowl and the cutouts transferred. • The mechanical retracts are factory in- stalled, including their operating control rods. • The cowl mounting screw holes are pre- drilled and shock absorbers are included to prevent cracking. • All control horn mounting positions are marked on the control surfaces for easy, ex- act installation. • Glue areas on the stabilizer and rudder already have the covering removed, speed- ing installation. • Most hinges are installed. Where that
is not possible, such as on the stabilizer, at least one side is factory installed. • All servo mounting areas have thick doublers installed for an extra strong mount. • All the hardware included is of the high
quality you would pick and everything fits perfectly. Fuel tank walls are thicker, hinges are metal, engine mounts are ad- justable, fiberglass and the fiberglass parts are thicker than normally found in an ARF. • Extra parts are usually included, such as the wheel covers and drop tank on this airplane.
Just as important to me as are all these
AT A GLANCE Type:
Construction: Wing span: Wing area: Airfoil: Length: Weight:
Wing loading: Engine:
Radio: Servos: Manufacturer:
R/C standoff scale fighter balsa and ply 58.5 inches 539 sq. in.
fully symmetrical 49 inches 6.9 pounds
29.5 oz./sq.ft. Evolution .46 with
Bisson muffler #5646 Spektrum DX7
Spektrum AR7000 DSM2 Rx
6 Bluebird DMS-621 1 Futaba S136RG
The World Models Dist. by: AirBorne Models 4749-K Bennett Drive Livermore, CA 94551 925-371-0922
www.airborne-models.com
extras, most AirBorne fighters, from the small electrics up to the larger glow-engine airplanes, seem lighter and more maneuver- able than is usual. I have built and flown around a dozen AirBorne fighters and have yet to be disappointed. If you haven’t tried an AirBorne fighter yet, the Fw 190A would be a great start.
DECEMBER 2012
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