GWS (Grand Wing Servo-Tech, LTD.) is one of the pioneers of affordable Park Pilot type models and currently produces more than a hundred such aircraft. Their product line includes about every type of aircraft imaginable from the Slow-Stick trainer to C-130 4-engine transports.

Almost all the GWS airplanes are designed to fly in a small space and to be easy to fly, even the more complex airplanes like the BN-2 Islander.

The GWS BN-2 Islander is a small electric twin that fits well into the category of Park Pilot aircraft. It comes in two forms. One with twin ducted fan motor pods and one with twin electric motors driving propellers. This review covers the propeller version.

Both versions meet all the aircraft requirements of the Academy of Model Aeronautics’ (AMA) Park Pilot Program. Both aircraft weigh less than 2 pounds (the Program’s upper weight limit) and have a level top speed under 60 mph (the Program’s upper speed limit). For complete Park Pilot aircraft details, follow this link.

The AMA Park Pilot Program offers non-AMA members the opportunity to become AMA members at a much reduced cost. Park Pilot membership includes a great magazine “Park Pilot”, $500,000 personal liability insurance, $2.5 million liability insurance for the flying field owner (see insurance details) and membership in the world’s largest sport aviation association – the AMA. For complete information and details about Park Pilot membership, just click here. 

Contents

The review model came with the GWS flight system that consisted of a transmitter, receiver, three servos, an 8.4v Ni-MH flight battery and a GWS field charger.  The BN-2 ISLANDER is a full function foam RC airplane that has ailerons, elevator, throttle and rudder. The rudder servo also drives a steerable nose wheel. Steerable nose wheels are very unusual in this class airplane.

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The box lid shows the two versions that can be purchased. The propeller version is presented as being easier to fly, or said another way, “the ducted fan requires a more experienced pilot”. Ducted fan powered aircraft usually require more careful throttle management and flight planning plus their power output levels are somewhat lower than an equivalent propeller driven airplane.

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The primary parts are all made out of expanded foam that has been molded to create an airplane. The wing, stabilizer and fin are molded as one-piece items.

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The fuselage comes in two separate halves. A closer look shows the internal shaping and cut-outs for the radio and battery systems.

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There are two brushed motors, propellers and propeller adaptor cones. There is a Y-lead to provide a power feed to the two motors. Both motors run off the single power battery

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Here is the supplied speed controller next to a penny to show its size. Remember, the lighter the better for small electric powered airplanes ands small usually means lighter. When dealing with airplanes in this size range, grams count!

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The GWS servos are just right for the job and fit easily into the pre-molded openings. They weigh around 9 grams each yet are powerful enough to control this fairly sprightly airplane

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The GWS receiver is very small but will accept a variety of manufacturers’ servo plugs. The particular GWS receiver used for this testing, the R-6NII was really designed more for indoor work or close-in outdoor flying. But the BN-2 Islander proved to be much faster and more maneuverable than we had originally thought. The BN-2 is just too good an outdoor flyer to be so restricted all the time. So we later substituted an outdoor receiver with the results shown in the video.

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All of the clevises, horns and steering components are attached to a plastic “Christmas tree” for easy identification. Don’t remove any of these parts until their turn in the construction process is reached.

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GWS provided the glue and the rubber bands needed to complete the model. The GWS glue works well with the foam parts, but requires you to wait until it has cured. This can take quite awhile (sometimes hours). The tube holds about fifty times what you will need and can be used on any other type of foam material. For faster assembly, especially on parts that must be held together until the adhesive sets, you may want to consider using foam-safe CAA and foam-safe Activator.

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The engine nacelles are made of ABS plastic and are glued to the foam wing to provide support for the electric motors.

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The lightweight wheels go with vertical legs under the engine nacelles. The ducted fan version used the cross wires for the main wheels. They are not needed in the propeller version.

Also shown are all of the pushrods, steerable nose gear and undercarriage leg fairings.

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Another “Christmas tree” is provided with all of the components that you need to install the wheels and aileron pushrods.

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To give the BN-2 ISLANDER the look of the full-size commercial passenger airplane, GWS provides a large sheet of self-adhesive decals. Some of the decals are used to provide wing or motor pod support and hinging.

Construction

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The nose leg assembly has to be put into the fuselage before the two halves are joined together. You need to be careful not to get any glue on the moving parts. The steerable nose-wheel works well and is very effective when landing and taxiing the airplane.

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The battery compartment can be added later or done at the same time as the nose wheel. Use plenty of glue as this part takes the full weight of the 2-cell 800 mAh Lithium Polymer battery pack. The slow-drying GWS glue is a good idea here to insure maximum bond strength. This part came loose once on me so make sure you install it correctly and with a strong adhesive.

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Here the pushrod for the nose-wheel can be seen as well as the moldings in the foam to take the servos. The black plastic part is the front wing retainer block,

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