TLDR...
PLANS: https://forum.flitetest.com/index.php?resources/xf-yellow-jacket.71/
3D Printed Motor Mount: https://forum.flitetest.com/index.php?resources/ft-radial-motor-mount.72/
Ok, it's high time I made a build thread for this.
It all started when Carl Lydick told me I needed to bring something fast to Flite Fest, and I realized I didn't have a Super Bee anymore, so I needed to cook something up.
After all my experiments with the Angry Bee and Turbo Bee, I wanted to revisit the idea with a fresh design. The Super Bee was a good starting point, but the highly cambered wing is a hinderance to really high speed. I redesigned the wing to be flat, and use a carbon fiber spar, since I knew the loads would be considerable and a thin flat wing doesn't provide as much bending strength as a thicker one.
Also I designed the fuselage to be a minimal cross section, just enough to wrap a battery and electronics.
The only "constraint" I put on myself was to only use the new FT Radials and FT-35A ESC. This turned out to not be much of a constraint at all; those little motors are AWESOME! And the ESCs are champs too. Even though they are only spec'd to handle up to 4S, they can take 6S no problem!
So here's the breakdown.
Wingspan: 24"
Length: 31"
Weight: 16oz without battery
Motors: 2 x FT Radial 2207-2400Kv
https://store.flitetest.com/flite-test-ft-radial-2207-2400kv-motor-flt-3052/p873731
ESCs: 2 x FT-35A
https://store.flitetest.com/flite-test-ft-35a-esc-w-xt60-connector-flt-3038/p846364
Battery: 4S-6S, 1300-1500mAh
With all that, the results speak for themselves...
On about half throttle I recorded roughly 114mph, and then with the LiHV packs I busted over 156mph!! 156.8 to be precise
There is some noise in the data, so I am really REALLY looking forward to getting out under the radar gun with Josh and Hope and getting some actual fixed ground readings for this puppy. I can't wait!
Meantime, if you can't wait either, go download the plans, check out the build pics and build your own! You don't have to fly it on 6S to go fast and have fun!
And please please PLEASE share your own builds too, and don't hesitate to ask questions! I love questions!
A note on the ailerons: I used a torque-rod system which I adapted from my glider experience, but you can definitely just use two individual servos on the wing, mounted just behind the motor-pods, driving each aileron individually.
I'm sorry these pictures aren't more organized...I wanted to get this up and out, and I think y'all are smart people who can figure stuff out ...
View attachment
PLANS: https://forum.flitetest.com/index.php?resources/xf-yellow-jacket.71/
3D Printed Motor Mount: https://forum.flitetest.com/index.php?resources/ft-radial-motor-mount.72/
Ok, it's high time I made a build thread for this.
It all started when Carl Lydick told me I needed to bring something fast to Flite Fest, and I realized I didn't have a Super Bee anymore, so I needed to cook something up.
After all my experiments with the Angry Bee and Turbo Bee, I wanted to revisit the idea with a fresh design. The Super Bee was a good starting point, but the highly cambered wing is a hinderance to really high speed. I redesigned the wing to be flat, and use a carbon fiber spar, since I knew the loads would be considerable and a thin flat wing doesn't provide as much bending strength as a thicker one.
Also I designed the fuselage to be a minimal cross section, just enough to wrap a battery and electronics.
The only "constraint" I put on myself was to only use the new FT Radials and FT-35A ESC. This turned out to not be much of a constraint at all; those little motors are AWESOME! And the ESCs are champs too. Even though they are only spec'd to handle up to 4S, they can take 6S no problem!
So here's the breakdown.
Wingspan: 24"
Length: 31"
Weight: 16oz without battery
Motors: 2 x FT Radial 2207-2400Kv
https://store.flitetest.com/flite-test-ft-radial-2207-2400kv-motor-flt-3052/p873731
ESCs: 2 x FT-35A
https://store.flitetest.com/flite-test-ft-35a-esc-w-xt60-connector-flt-3038/p846364
Battery: 4S-6S, 1300-1500mAh
With all that, the results speak for themselves...
On about half throttle I recorded roughly 114mph, and then with the LiHV packs I busted over 156mph!! 156.8 to be precise
There is some noise in the data, so I am really REALLY looking forward to getting out under the radar gun with Josh and Hope and getting some actual fixed ground readings for this puppy. I can't wait!
Meantime, if you can't wait either, go download the plans, check out the build pics and build your own! You don't have to fly it on 6S to go fast and have fun!
And please please PLEASE share your own builds too, and don't hesitate to ask questions! I love questions!
A note on the ailerons: I used a torque-rod system which I adapted from my glider experience, but you can definitely just use two individual servos on the wing, mounted just behind the motor-pods, driving each aileron individually.
I'm sorry these pictures aren't more organized...I wanted to get this up and out, and I think y'all are smart people who can figure stuff out ...
View attachment
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