FT Bronco Build

by FliteTest | October 27, 2015 | (28) Posted in How To

FTScratchBuild

This design is inspired by Josh’s FT Explorer as it follows the idea of a radically awesome, easy to build, fly, and modify design! The Bronco even uses the same core section from the FT Explorer, making it modular for all of your crazy aviation experiments. 

Originally the design was a simple twin boom plane that had one fixed motor on the back to create a simple FPV ship that was durable and had lots of protection for the motor while keeping the FPV camera completely unobstructed. After the FT Explorer was released, Josh had the brilliant idea of integrating the simplistic concept of my design into a fully-fledged design capable of many configurations! 

You will find that the design is easy to replicate if you’re working from plans (wich you can download for free at the bottom of this article) or if you're working with a Speed Build Kit. If you’re building the speed build kit, the process is very quick!

The kit comes with three tail styles: an “A” tail for pitch and yaw control with just two servos...

...a lower “H” style tail that’s akin to a P-38/C-119...

...and a OV-10 style bronco tail that looks like an “H” with the top cut off. 

So go ahead and get started with the build! By the time you start piecing together the plane, there will be tons of additional mods available on our forums. Customize your build or simply go out and try your hand at creating your own unique flyer! 

In the build video, after you build the wing and booms, this is where you will choose your tail style. Simply click the annotation to jump to that section of the build video.

CHECK THE VIDEO BELOW FOR THE EXPLORER CORE AND EXPLORER POWER POD BUILD

CHECK THE VIDEO BELOW FOR THE TWIN BOOM POWER POD BUILD

CHECK THE VIDEO BELOW FOR SETING UP DIFFERENTIAL THRUST

New to the R/C hobby?
Here's some resources to help get you up to speed!

Beginner Series: WATCH HERE!
Electronics Setup: WATCH HERE!
First Flight Quick Tips: WATCH HERE!

Got glue?? Get Some Here! 

FT BRONCO PLANS

STORE LINKS

FT BRONCO SPECS

  • WEIGHT WITHOUT BATTERY: 1.4 lbs (640 g) 
  • CENTER OF GRAVITY: 2” (51 mm) from leading edge of wing 
  • CONTROL SURFACE THROWS: 12˚ deflection - Expo 30% 
  • WINGSPAN: 42.75 inches (1086 mm) 
  • RECOMMENDED MOTOR: Park 370 – 425, 1000 kv minimum 
  • RECOMMENDED PROP: 8 x 4.5 slow fly 
  • RECOMMENDED ESC: 20 amp minimum 
  • RECOMMENDED BATTERY: 1300 - 2200 mAH 3s minimum 
  • RECOMMENDED SERVOS: (4) 9 gram servos 

COMMENTS

degriz on October 28, 2015
+1 for vtol kit & build
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PropSpinner on October 28, 2015
Peter does it again!!!


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91shadowrider on October 28, 2015
I will be happy to buy it when the V.T.O.L version comes out. Until then I guess I will have to wait patiently. If it comes out I am sure they will wait until the sales of the regular bronco slow down so be prepared to wait.
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PropSpinner on October 28, 2015
Peter, That "right angle thingy" is a drafting triangle. We Old Fogey's used those when we took drafting classes in school. Back when CAD programs ran on a computer the size of a Frigidaire. My high school couldn't afford CAD so we drafted with pencil and paper and used drafting triangles and squares. 😉
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s.arnold.7@hotmail.com on January 17, 2016
When is the VTOL going to be released as a kit?
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The-One-Who-Never-Crashes on October 28, 2015
How about VTOL kits?
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bryuly on October 30, 2015
I have some HexTronik blu-wonder motors from when I first built the ft-flyer...are they comparable to the B power pack now? Just wondering if I would be under-powered if I built it with those motors.
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themistocles3 on November 27, 2015
Its the AK of foamies, N76239! A monster version numbered N76254R is next right? LOL! Bring back the BFL's Peter. Nice touch.
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kkmalu on October 28, 2015
Looking forward for the VTOL build video...
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Goose on October 30, 2015
Great video Peter, and great looking plane too. You have a good style about your instructional videos. Looking forward to seeing more. Keep up the good work
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rcflyer753 on December 20, 2015
I'm ready to buy the Bronco Vtol version, when will it be ready for sale?
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danallen82 on November 3, 2015
Would you offer the DXF or actual laser cutting files? That would be very helpful!
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mediumendian on November 19, 2015
I second this. I am currently converting the pdf to dxfs by hand, but it would be so much easier! The plans are available anyway...

Thanks for the plans, they are awesome.
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CJGFX on October 29, 2015
Brilliant episode guys.... I love this plane and how much it can be adapted and stylised. I just need the time to build one now.....
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Garreta234 on October 28, 2015
Sweet! I've been looking for a smaller twin and when I saw the Bronco on the explorer episode, I was pretty excited.
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timswift on October 28, 2015
I have been looking foreword to a twin boom design and this is pretty neat.
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danallen82 on November 3, 2015
Great work Peter. This is first one of your designs I'd like to build. I was looking for a model with a rudder & differential thrust combo. This fits the bill perfectly. Now I wonder if it can scale up to handle larger motors and props :D
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lpsaww on November 1, 2015
We wants the VTOL
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Carwashmec on January 12, 2016
+1 I really want to build the VTOL version of the bronco. Any idea when the kit will be ready???
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jrvalentin62 on October 28, 2015
Thank you. Just Thank you. Clear Skies, Calm Winds.
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Spacemonkeykj on July 11, 2016
I am so impressed with my Bronco. It flies great, looks great, and is a real performer!
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jackweed on April 1, 2016
LOL
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guytranspo on May 14, 2016
Any word on the vtol pods?
Would Peter be willing to share the file used to cut out the pods so we could fabricate them ourselves?
Thank you.
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Cheappilot on August 6, 2016
Peter, you have a big following of VTOL enthusiasts. Can you give us a hint on how to deal with the transition from tricopter controls to flight mode? Between the SBK and this great video, if you can point us in the right direction I think we (your loyal VTOL followers) might be able to put together something that works.
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mmiller1 on September 22, 2016
I want to add a fixed landing gear and stearable nose wheel. As per the real thing, the mains would be located in the power pod. Seems to me I saw an article on FT showing the addition of a landing gear being braced by some lite ply and 1/4" x 1/4" spruce snugged up to the wire. Can anyone
give me some ideas on that or possibly a video reference.
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insomaniac45 on March 11, 2016
This is truly a fantastic flier. The Bronco style tail does need either rudder or differential thrust, as bank an yank does take up a lot of air space. Going to be doing diff thrust tonight, my maiden was about as eventful as Peters. Real fun to fly, and boy does it haul....... 1/2 throttle it cruises with ease, full throttle it screams along. So much fun :)
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Spacemonkeykj on July 11, 2016
Agreed :D The Bronco is a real performer!
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Gal 2:20 on June 6, 2016
VTOL and are you going to make speed build in the waterproof foam?
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timbucstoo on June 20, 2018

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clinton.harris on October 24, 2018

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timbucstoo on June 20, 2018

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Infantry_Captain on April 22, 2020
I would eventually love to build this as my late uncle designed the instrumentation that was used in the real OV-10 aircraft.
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K_mac03 on May 13, 2020
I’ve been contemplating making this plane for a few months now, I think I’m going to download and build it now that I seem to have all the time in the world, thanks to all the guys at flight test, they are who got me going in the hobby a few years back and I’ve built several of their planes now and they all are greater than my expectations for scratch built foamies.
Thanks again Flite test team!
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JosephMJansen on May 14, 2021
Where can I buy a speed build kit? The store doesn't seem to have it available.
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FT Bronco Build