Here we outline some specific drone types which may be of interest to people getting into the Hobby. Although by no means an exhaustive list, the categories below showcase a range of drone types and flight styles. Do you hunger for the smooth flowing maneuvers of freestyle, aggressive competition of racing or creative aspects of long range and cinematic flight. Some people prefer the face to face community that has been built around drone racing and whoop racing, while others gravitate to the online community by sharing their long range and cinematic flight edits. FPV offers something for every piloting style and personality.
As the name suggests, tiny whoops are the smallest of drones and therefore suitable for flying indoors. Typically, they have a frame size of 65 to 75mm and are easily identifiable by their distinctive prop guards and vertically mounted tall stacks usually with camera mounted on top. Their size and weight make them perfect for indoor flying and as such, a large community of whoop racers has been established. The indoor racing courses often consist or hoops and other obstacles commonly adorned with led lights for greater effect. Racing with a tiny whoop is visually exciting, challenging and rewarding. They are powered by both brushed or brushless motors usually in the range of 15000 to 25000 KV and powered by small 1S or 2S batteries. Because the small batteries used are relatively cheap, and the airframes very light weight and resistant to breaking, a tiny whoop can be a very economical way to get into FPV. Go online to find a whoop racing club near you.
International Game of Whoop
https://www.facebook.com/IGOWhoop
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TWBattleGroup
Find a whoop racing club near you.
https://tinywhoopclubnetwork.com/our-mission
Oscar Liang’s Whoop Page
Website Link
Into FPV Forum for Whoops
Forum Link
The toothpick frame was originally the brainchild of KababFPV (https://fpvcycle.com) and was quickly adopted by various vendors to become its own category. It was originally intended to have similar flight characteristics to a 5-inch freestyle drone, only with less fling-ability due to its lighter weight. Although it didn’t really achieve this goal, the Toothpick became a very popular category in its own right. Most toothpick frames are true x freestyle frames, light-weight and designed for use with 3-inch props. They commonly run on a 2S battery with 8000 to 10000Kv motors. This style of drone is perfect for flying in a local small park or even a back yard due to their smaller 11 to 12 size motors and quieter operation. Whereas a tiny whoop is a dedicated indoor racing machine, the toothpick is a more aerobatic outdoor lead-in platform for those who are aiming to learn freestyle flying.
Freestyle is probably the most popular type of frame and this category certainly accounts for most of the flight edits you will see on YouTube. Being probably the most diversified class of FPV drones this category ranges from 2.5 inch all the way to 5-inch frames (Frames designed for props with a 2.5 to 5 inch diameter). Originally 5-inch was the standard for this category, however with many countries introducing weight regulations and drone registration laws, there has recently been a shift to focus on 3.5-inch frames which tend to be under the 250 gram threshold. Freestyle frames almost always feature a true X frame design typically with 14 size motors for 3.5-inch drones and 20 size motors for 5-inch. Most freestyle pilots are using 4S or 6SA battery packs. While a 5-inch build is going to give you the ultimate flight experience it is also s loud and imposing presence for flying in a local park. Pilots flying 5 -inch freestyle frames will typically search for more remote flying locations well away from built-up areas. For freestyle fun in a local park many pilots are now opting for a quieter 3.5-inch build which is more suitable for flying in a local pa
FPV Know it All – Best Under 250gram Freestyle List
FPV Know it All – Best 5 Inch Freestyle List
Racing drones commonly feature a shortened more compact body design with a non-True X frame design. The forward arms are swept forward more and the rear ones swept back giving a perspective through the camera of having the props fully in-view at the bottom of the screen. Although racing drones come in all sizes starting at 2 inch, the most common size for competition is 5 inch. Two other distinguishing features of the racing drone are cameras with a very high camera uptilt angle to accommodate forward looking flight at high speeds, as well as a top horn to assist in flipping over after a crash. Most countries have well established race clubs with regular race days and competitions. To get into FPV in a real face to face environment, joining a racing chapter is the way to go. On a professional level there are international competitions such as DRL (Drone Racing League) and Multi-GP.
Multi GP Racing – Find a racing chapter near you.
https://www.multigp.com
DRL (Drone Racing League) – International Racing Competition
https://thedroneracingleague.com
The long-range drone is easily recognisable by it’s common “dead cat” frame design with front arms at almost 90 degrees to the frame and the rear arms swept back. They will often feature a longer than usual video transmitter antenna to allow for the clearest video signal at increased distances. The most common motor size for this of quad is a low KV 1404 size motor. Long range FPV flight is an exciting aspect of FPV and all about discovery. The most compelling reason to get into long range FPV is to discover and video places and scenes that are not accessible by other means. Examples are mountain surfing as well as surfing and other water sport videography – the possibilities are endless for this genre. As opposed to the quick-thinking thumbs required for freestyle, long range FPV is all about getting those smooth cinematic shots – it’s all about transitions and perspective. If the more aggressive and full-on characteristics of freestyle are not for you then how about taking a look at long range FPV.
Cine (cinematic) FPV drones often feature a pusher prop configuration with the motors above the propeller as well as shrouds fully surrounding the propellers and frame. Specifically designed for carrying HD cameras such as the SMO 4K or Go-pro these airframes feature stable flight at slower speeds. The shrouds around the propellers offer a degree of safety when flying close to actors or people in-scene. Whereas Long Range FPV caters for scenic flight, cine drones lend themselves better to close in shots and indoor use.