GW-9800 Gundam Airmaster

Model number: GW-9800
Code name: Gundam Airmaster
Unit type: transformable mobile suit
Manufacturer: United Nations Earth
Operator(s): Vulture; United Nations Earth
First deployment: pre-A.W. 0001
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
Dimensions: head height 17.2 meters
Weight: empty 6.9 metric metric tons; max gross weight unknown
Armor materials: Luna Titanium alloy
Powerplant: ultracompact fusion reactor, power output rating unknown
Propulsion: unknown
Equipment and design features: Flash System, allows Newtype pilot to remote-control FW-9800-GB GW-Bit mobile bits; TransSystem transformation system, capable of transforming into fighter mode for atmospheric flight; sensors, range unknown
Fixed armaments: 2 x vulcan gun, mounted in nose in fighter mode, operable in fighter mode only; 2 x vulcan gun, mounted in head, operable in mobile suit mode only
Optional fixed armaments: 2 x missile, mounted on shoulders
Optional hand armaments: 2 x buster rifle, can be stored on hip armor racks in mobile suit mode, mounted on main body and operable in fighter mode

During the 7th Space War, the United Nations Earth deployed three advanced new mobile suit designs to counter the Space Revolutionary Army. One of these new units was the GW-9800 Gundam Airmaster, and like its brethren GX-9900 Gundam X and GT-9600 Gundam Leopard, was equipped with a Flash System, enabling a Newtype pilot to mentally remote-control a large number of bit mobile suits (or “mobile bits”) – in the Airmaster’s case, the FW-9800-GB GW-Bit. The Airmaster was also unique in that it was one of the first mobile suits to be equipped with the TransSystem, a design concept which enabled the Airmaster to transform into a fighter-like craft capable of atmospheric flight. Although only lightly armed with vulcan guns and a pair of buster beam rifles, the Airmaster was quite nimble as an aerial combat unit. Although an unknown number of Airmasters are manufactured, only one unit was known to have survived the war. This last remaining Airmaster found its way into the hands of Vulture mercenary pilot Witz Sou, who operated this transforming Gundam during the military chaos occurring in A.W. 0015. While fighting the New U.N.E. in the Asian nation of Estardo, it became apparent that the Airmaster’s aging design was not performing well against new designs such as the NRMA-006 Gadeel mobile armor. After being damaged in battle, the Estardo government offered its resources and upgraded the unit to the GW-9800-B Gundam Airmaster Burst.

Pilot(s): Witz Sou, Linn
First appearance: After War Gundam X
Original mechanical designer: Kunio Okawara

Buster rifle

Cockpit

Head

Rear view (Mobile suit mode)

Rear view (Flight mode)