FT Super Bee BUILD

by FliteTest | August 31, 2016 | (13) Posted in How To

FTScratchBuild

The FT Super Bee is our new twin motor mashup mini speed build airplane kit! This plane can reach speeds of 100 MPH and is designed for intermediate to advanced pilots. 

Start by centering your servos, building the two power pods, and soldering together your ESC’s.

Cut out the fuselage pieces. Mount the plywood piece included with the speed build kit, then assemble the side walls.

Install the side wall doublers, and reinforce them with hot glue on the seams.

Cut out the tail pieces and cut the bevel for the elevator hinge line.

Reinforce the elevator hinge with hot glue, and install the tail piece.

Mount the tail to the fuselage, and attach the fuselage doubler.

Install your centered servos and your control horns. Make sure to use the outermost hole in the control horn to minimize throw.

Use a zip tie to reinforce the servo rod, and glue it down.

Remove the wing, build the spar and install the main spar on the wing.

Fold the wing over and glue it down. Break the ailerons free, and cut a bevel along the aileron hinge lines.

Install your aileron servos, push rods and control horns.

Build the nacelles and install your ESC. Mount the nacelles to the wing.

Connect the motors. Make sure the motors are going the correct direction before gluing the power pods to the nacelles.

If you’re using high performance motors, cut a small notch in both power pods to ensure the wires and screws aren’t extending into the windings.

Connect your receiver, test the elevator and ailerons and make any necessary adjustments.

Install your battery, attach the wing and test your CG. Install the props and you’re ready to maiden!

FT SUPER BEE SPECS

Weight without battery: 12 oz (340 g)

Center of Gravity: 2 inches (50 mm) From the leading edge of the wing

Control Surface Throws: 12 degree deflection (ailerons/elevator) Expo 30%

Wingspan: 25 inches (635 mm)

Recommended Motor: 2300 kv 2204 size motor

Recommended Prop: 5x4.5 3-blade prop

Recommended ESC: 12 amp minimum

Recommended battery: 800 mAh 2s or 3s

Recommended Servos: (3) 5 gram servos


PICK UP A SPEED BUILD KIT HERE!

 

FT SUPER BEE PLANS

FT Super Bee (FULL)

FT Super Bee (TILED)

FT Super Bee (ALL IN ONE)

STORE LINKS

https://store.flitetest.com/ft-super-bee/
https://store.flitetest.com/power-pack-a-mini-twin-engine/ 
 

New to the R/C hobby?

Here are some resources to help get you up to speed!

Beginner Series: WATCH HERE!

Electronics Setup: WATCH HERE!

First Flight Quick Tips: WATCH HERE!

Scratch Building without Knives: WATCH HERE!

Got glue?? Get Some Here!

COMMENTS

SP0NZ on August 31, 2016
This plane is an Angry BEAST!
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flying-coqui on August 31, 2016
LOVE THIS PLANE. Is exellent for FPV. I see the first prototype by facebook. Cheers guys.

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Air-headed Aviator on August 31, 2016
SUPER BEE!!!
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nerdnic on August 31, 2016
For anyone interested I made nnSpeedwing plans for the Super Bee! How fast can you make this thing go?

http://www.nerdnic.com/blog/ft-super-bee-nnspeedwing
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PeacePilot73 on September 1, 2016
They mention "high performance motors" in the build log. Is that the twin engine "A" power pack, or something else? I want SPEED!
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Fidget on September 1, 2016
No, the high performance motors are the Emax 2205 race spec motors. In looking at specs at least, they're even quite a bit more powerful than the "Power Pack F" 2204 motors.
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PeacePilot73 on September 2, 2016
Thank you! Do you know what current rating of speed controllers the 2205 motors would need?
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Fidget on September 2, 2016
They're using 30A. I've never used them. Oscar Liang did a nice review of them and ran tests with several types of props: https://oscarliang.com/emax-rs2205-2300kv-2600kv-motors/
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damouav on September 2, 2016
Another excellent "How to" build guide. Just one point, its called a set square and not a triangle.
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ta33ers on September 2, 2016
Is there a video on how to do the wiring of the ESCs, and the JST plug?
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Murphy(c) on September 3, 2016
Is there enough clearing to use 6" Props ?
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davidstory on September 22, 2016
Yes, plenty of room for 6" props.
You'll end up breaking a lot of them landing on grass.
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Bobby white on September 4, 2016
How thick is the peace of plywood inside the fuselage
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XDmToter on May 9, 2017
It's listed on the plans. 3/32" or about 2.5MM
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helmi on September 5, 2016
very very cool plane...i will make one...!! thx flitetest...
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Paul'R on September 6, 2016
I love this plane! So fast and stable. This thing makes my mini quad feel slow!

Here's my first super bee video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1PWoLhNGi8
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bird2jump on September 7, 2016
Reply for Josh Bixler,
Josh, Can you have the 3/32" plywood reinforcement a saleable item on the Store Menu? It's difficult to get a 3/32" plywood sheets at a reasonable price. Plus it's difficult to cut. If you can put it on the Store Menu system with laser cut slots and holes that would help the scratch builders with this project. Thanks, Birdman.
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Mitchmo5000 on September 24, 2016
+1, gotta get this on the store asap
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Mitchmo5000 on September 24, 2016
Built and maidened my superbee today with redbottoms and 30 amp escs. This this is awesome. I was in love with the arrow on 4s with a redbottom, but I think I have a new favorite plane! This thing rips on 4s and I can't wait to get fpv gear into it. I had been getting a few complaints from neighbors lately because of the noise of the arrow (which sounds like sweet music to me...) but the superbee is crazy fasy and so quiet compared to the arrow. Great job FT!

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Boden on October 10, 2016
Would it be possible for me to scale this up to about 200%. And if so how would I go about scaling it up. Thank you in advance.
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aviationflyguy on October 25, 2016
what size battery is best for the red bottom 30 amp esc set up?
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Theon on November 16, 2016
I run a red bottom 2600KV with a 6x4 on a wing, and it can pull very close to 30A on 3S, So, KV, cell count and Prop will have an impact on your draw. But, at 50 odd Amps, your gong to want a high C rating battery if using anything smaller than 2200 3S.

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wellchit1 on November 10, 2016
Having trouble with the esc's. I cant run the differential thrust cause of the dx6i. I just want to run both motors normally. I have one esc ran to throttle and one to rudder mixed but the one on the rudder keeps burning the esc. It has smoked 2 of them. Is it a calibration issue? Whats the best way to set this up?
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Theon on November 16, 2016
I'd use auxiliary channels, and put both left and right motors on auxiliary channels with their throttle /rudder mixes.

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flyinggreek on February 25, 2017
Bixler and Sponz, again, you guys drove it way out over the fence. What an awesome Hot Rod. One click of up trim and it was flying perfect on the maiden. Build is straight up and easy, and with the RS2205's and 30amp ESC's, BY far the funnest flying airplane I have. Thank you guys!
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Sunil on March 7, 2017
Hi, I have 2200mAh 3S battery, 30A ESC, 9g Servo, 2204 2300KV brushless motor. Will this item work with this model or do I have to scale this model to make this work?
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FT Super Bee BUILD