This design has been attempted 3 times. The first two were "ok" but not to my liking. I've been struggling to come up with an intake solution that would do the Bell X1 justice. The Bell X-1 was a test aircraft to break the sound barrier. I needed to the design to live up to the expectations people would have for it. Its fast! it took alot of careful planning to make the intake large enough to prove the fan enough thrust to be fast. She goes 91mph on a tiny 1300 4s! The X-1 is also like a pattern plane. very locked in feeling.
The Bell is easy to print and build. It has a few very unique features, you may not see on most planes. I placed the battery compartment under the intake.
Youtube Flight Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNP3vSN40bM
Parts Needed
any 50mm fan, i used https://a.co/d/cqUBCLc
Any 40 amp ESC
4x 4.3g servos https://a.co/d/e0iwSdH
1.2mm pushrod https://a.co/d/flSvYaA
Velcro for the battery compartment
Any 1300-1500 4s lipo. Anything heavier may not balance.
Hot glue for the EDF Fan and Servos
Medium CA glue for the whole airplane build
long motor wire extensions https://a.co/d/6otQexq
Servo extension wire for all 4 servos https://a.co/d/0NSC2aP
Important Build information!
The EDF is hot glued into Fuse 6! you cant glue the fuselage together like on my other designs. Make sure you secure the fan unit into fuse 6 and then feed the motor wires with extensions through the wire tunnel into fuse 5. I would also install your tail servos in place before gluing fuse 7 and 8. Run very long extension wires all the way through first.
Aircraft Specifications
- EDF: single 50mm
- Servos: 4
- Skill Level: Beginner