Written by Kyle Jaracz
As seen in the Winter 2022 issue of Park Pilot.
The multicolor LEDs are programmable, which is a nice feature when flying courses or freestyling.
SPECIFICATIONS:
TYPE: FPV micro quadcopter
FLIGHT CONTROLLER: BeeBrain BLV3
BAND: 2.4 GHz
RECEIVER PROTOCOL: True Diversity SPI FrSky (built-in)
VTX: 120 mW (built-in)
ESC: Four-channel 12-amp (built-in)
CAMERA TILT: 20°
CAMERA: BeeEye FPV
FRAME: Cockroach BL 65mm
MOTORS: 18,000 Kv Unibell gold
PROPELLERS: Azi (three-blade) 1.0mm
BATTERY INPUT: 1S to 2S (300 mAh 1S LiPo recommended)
WEIGHT: 23 grams (without battery)
FLIGHT TIME: 2 to 4 minutes, depending on flight style and battery combinations
PRICE: $139.99
INFO: newbeedrone.com
FEATURES:
>> Optimized SPI Receiver hardware to improve efficiency within the receiver
>> Removable antennas
>> Additional low-noise amplifier to increase range
>> Optional wiring harness is available to install an external receiver (Crossfire, Ghost, etc.)
>> New heat sink and layout to increase heat dispersion and efficiency
>> Transmitting power increased to 120 mW from 25 mW (V2)
The NewBeeDrone 18,000 Kv gold motors are great additions to the aircraft.
NewBeeDrone AcroBee65 BLV3 BNF
Fly farther, fly fast, and have fun with this updated AcroBee
>>Self-reflection is a personality trait worth pursuing. Reflecting on how you can improve fosters growth and development.
The same is true for companies, and that’s just what NewBeeDrone has done with its BLV3 AcroBee65. Let’s discuss some of the improvements over the BLV2 design, and how the designers have managed to pack even more features and functionality into one of the most feature-rich micro quads on the market today.
NewBeeDrone has designed and produced FPV components for several years. Throughout the course of the company’s existence, I’ve come to view
NewBeeDrone as a higher-end producer of Tiny Whoops. The manufacturer’s out-of-the-box tuning has arguably been more locked in than that of its competitors, which I’ve always appreciated. However, this tuning felt shakier than others in the past. Why might this be? Well, it likely has something to do with the number of updated components that are in this build.
Fret not. The good news is that NewBeeDrone continues to tweak and tune its rates. For the most up-to-date tuning, you can visit the company’s website, download its latest tuning, and apply the changes to your flight controller.
Let’s start with the bones of this build: the frame. The designers chose a 65mm brushless Cockroach frame (newbeedrone.com). Trust me when I say that this frame can take a beating. Once it finally gives up on you, the cost for a new frame is so low that you should have one on hand already. Just go ahead and buy one when you place your next order so that it’s ready for you.
If you prefer to get a larger frame that can accommodate larger propellers, the 75mm Cockroach frame is a great replacement. I recommend this version if you’re thinking about freestyling and moving over to a 2S power option.
Moving on to the heart of this aircraft, we discover the BLV3 flight controller. The big story here is the range. NewBeeDrone is declaring a 50% improvement in the range of this flight controller. In my testing, the improvement is indeed dramatic compared with the BLV2, which was an area that needed improvement. Good job listening to customer feedback and bringing the range back!
It’s also worth pointing out the addition of easily removeable antennas. No longer will you need to pull out the soldering iron to change out a cut antenna, which makes for an easier maintenance routine. You can even purchase a wiring harness (or make your own) to install an external receiver if you want to push the range even farther.
The video transmitter pushes the signal to 120 mW. To deal with the extra heat this causes, the layout and heat sink were both adjusted on the board. Out of the box, the default power mode is set to a low 5 mW, while medium is 50 mW and should be sufficient for most situations. This might be a deal breaker
for some who are particularly interested in racing with this frame because most courses require a limit of 25 mW output from the VTX.
Another update based on feedback from the BLV2 was to the MOSFETs (metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors). They’ve been improved, enabling the use of XT30 connectors and 2S power. I can’t personally vouch for this setup, but from what I’ve seen in my research, there are plenty of pilots
out there who are running this setup and having great results. Ultimately, this updated all-in-one board is entirely sufficient and can get into more aerobatic flights than unimaginable on such a small aircraft.
How does this little aircraft flex its muscles? With all-new Unibell gold motors running at 18,000 Kv, the board pushes a four-channel 12-amp ESC. This results in some seriously powerful motors, offering a significant upgrade. If you’ve never run a brushless motor in your 65mm-size quad, it’s time. The durability and capability of these motors are great upgrades.
The camera utilized in this build is a little ho-hum, but only when it’s compared with the drastic changes to other components in the latest version. It’s the camera that has come bundled with the AcroBee for quite some time, and there’s a reason. It’s a lightweight and functional camera that is built for these tiny applications. Although there’s nothing wrong with it, I’m still hopeful that some updated specifications might be in the works behind the scenes for the next version. The camera is held in place at 20° with the Goober canopy, a solid choice for this standard camera.
Batteries for this aircraft can drain quickly, so you’ll want to have plenty on hand to keep up with the fun you’ll have. I used Nitro Nectar Gold 300 mAh
1S LiPo batteries during my testing. These batteries weigh slightly more than 8 grams each. In my experience, these are a great choice between weight and longevity. Make your battery decision based on what your goals are.
NewBeeDrone also sent a set of three balloon gates to use during testing. They’re compact and easy to employ. The inner diameter is slightly more than 14 inches and the price is great, coming in at less than $14 for all three gates.
The inflatable gates are cost effective and capable
So, do I recommend the BLV3 AcroBee? Most definitely. The high-quality components are worth every penny, providing nimble power, durability, and range. It’s good to see the thoughtful changes that generate continual advancement of what NewBeeDrone can fit into these tiny aircraft. They’re a load of fun, and this one makes a great addition to my fleet. I think it will do the same for yours!
Written by Kyle Jaracz | [email protected]
Photos by Rachelle Haughn and Kyle Jaracz
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