The Parkzone Focke-Wulf 190 has everything you need right out of the box!

Pilots all over have been enjoying the styling and excellent flight characteristics of the ParkZone P-51D Mustang since its release, and now there’s another warbird taking to the skies. The latest warbird plane to come roaring out of the ParkZone hangars is none other than one of the most infamous planes ever to be flown by the German Luftwaffe during WWII, the Focke-Wulf 190. This FW-190 combines the unsurpassed detail and excellent flight characteristics that ParkZone is deservedly renowned for, to create a model that looks awesome and flies even better.

Appearance

A warbird is just another plane if it doesn’t accurately recreate the lines and details of the full-scale airplane. Beyond any of the excellent flight characteristics of the Focke-Wulf, it is without a doubt one of the most accurate representations of the “Butcher Bird” ever produced in any scale. The full-scale FW-190 was notorious for having a trail of exhaust residue on the side of the fuselage, and the ParkZone version recreates that perfectly. There are many other scale details that also set the FW-190 apart. Some of these are the iron crosses, kill markings on the tail, painted pilot, and the unique camouflage paint scheme. Hard to believe that this is a ready-to-fly warbird!

Fuselage

A lot of time and design work went into the FW-190’s fuselage to improve performance, reliability, and cooling airflow to the electronics. The battery compartment has been designed for maximum durability and ease of use and includes a new top-loading design. The hatch has a very strong magnet incorporated into it to help keep it closed while the plane is performing common military maneuvers and aerobatics. Inside the battery compartment is a new mounting “shelf” for the battery. The shelf itself has two tiers, one that fits the included 9-cell battery, while the other is set up to accept 3S Li-Po batteries. Hook and loop straps are included to hold the battery in place when the FW-190 is in flight. Three holes are located on the underside of the fuselage which allows heat to radiate out of the fuselage, keeping the electronics cooler.

Power System

Taking a page from its sister plane, the ParkZone P-51D Mustang, the FW-190 includes the same powerful 480-motor, gearbox, and prop for exceptional throttle response, torque, and power. As previously mentioned, the FW-190 comes with a 9-cell Ni-MH battery pack. With the stock motor and battery, the FW-190 is capable of performing loops and rolls without breaking a sweat. For those experienced pilots that are looking for a little more power, speed and flight time, the FW-190 is 3S Li-Po compatible, with just a small change needed to a jumper on the ESC. This will change the auto cut-off voltage on the ESC to protect your Li-Po battery from being over-discharged.

Flight Characteristics

If you have had a chance to fly the P-51D, you’ll notice how similarly the Focke-Wulf flies to the P-51D. Once in the air, the Focke-Wulf truly shines with its exceptional flight characteristics. The wing loading has been optimized to make it exceptionally nimble and capable of a variety of different maneuvers. The FW-190 can perform loops easily from level flight. Crisp rolls, loops, inverted flight and more are all possible with the FW-190.

It’s actually possible to alter the feel and responsiveness of the FW-190 in the air. The FW-190’s transmitter features a dual rates switch, which allows you to change how far the control surfaces move when you move the stick. For your first few flights with the FW-190 it is recommended that you fly with the transmitter set to Mode A, (low rate) which reduces the travel of the elevator and ailerons and makes it easier to learn the flight characteristics of the FW-190. Once you’ve become more experienced and comfortable with the plane, switching to Mode B (high rate), will give you full range of motion on the controls and make the FW-190 a fully aerobatic plane. Use caution when moving into Mode B as the full throws can make the FW-190 more challenging to control.

Flying Just for the Fun of It

One of the most awe-inspiring sights you may ever see is a formation of WWII-era warbirds flying overhead during a fly-in or other event. This is one of the main reasons to fly a scale warbird in the first place—the awesome scale looks. While a majority of warbird fans will never get to experience what it is like to fly one of these full-scale marvels, being able to get in the air with a scale version of a warbird such as the Focke-Wulf can be a major rush.

Sonic Combat Module

Just like its cousin, the P-51D Mustang (PKZ1500), the Focke-Wulf can take advantage of the Sonic Combat Module (HBZ4020) for aerial combat and dog fighting. Installation is fairly straightforward, and it helps to read Eric Johnson’s article, “Adding Aerial Combat to the Mustang Experience.” There are a few tips to remember when adding the Sonic Combat Module to the Focke-Wulf. While the Focke-Wulf is capable of flying with a 3S 11.1V Li-Po, it is recommended that you stick with the kit’s 9-cell battery pack when flying with the Sonic Combat Module. The Sonic Combat Module is also recommended only for experienced pilots, as a recorded “hit” will momentarily cause your motor to shut off.

Completing the Package

Buying a plane should be a fun experience, but having to chase around after the purchase and make multiple trips to the hobby store to get what you need to complete a model can be a pain. This is why every plane to take off from the ParkZone hangar comes out of the box with everything you will need all in one convenient package. When you open the FW-190’s box, the 9-cell Ni-MH battery pack, DC charger, and electronics are all included. Taking the typical RTF a step further, the FW-190 even includes 8 AA batteries for the transmitter. All you need to do to get the FW-190 ready to fly is attach the main wing and horizontal stabilizer, install the included 8 AA batteries into the transmitter, charge the battery pack and you are ready to soar. With the ParkZone FW-190, all of the work has been done for you, so you can “just fly.”

Conclusion

The Focke-Wulf is another wonderful addition to the lineup of ParkZone airplanes. The ParkZone team has once again combined exceptional scale looks with a plane that is a blast to fly creating a great package. In the world of scale RTF planes, the Focke-Wulf is at the top of the heap.