Assessment: BetaFPV Air65 1S 65mm Tiny Whoop – Elevating the Bar Excessive

It’s been 5 years since BetaFPV launched their final Tiny Whoop, the Meteor65. Now, BetaFPV has lastly unveiled the Air65, a brand new 1S 65mm Tiny Whoop. Designed to cater to each freestyle and racing pilots, the Air65 is available in two flavours, every providing an ultra-lightweight construct and totally different energy techniques to go well with numerous flight kinds. On this evaluate, we’ll dive into the {hardware} and flight efficiency, and see the way it compares to the favored Mobula6 2024. I may even share my customized PID and filter tune for optimized flying expertise.

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Listed below are the Tiny Whoop components and equipment I like to recommend: https://oscarliang.com/best-tiny-whoop/

The place to Purchase?

You may get the BetaFPV Air65 Tiny Whoop from:

There are two variations, freestyle and racing. Undecided which one to get? I’ll speak about it later on this evaluate that will help you determine.

• Freestyle Version: Options 23000KV motors paired with HQ 31mm Ultralight propellers.
• Racing Version: Geared up with 27000KV motors and GF 1219S-3B propellers.

Opening the BetaFPV Air65 bundle, you’ll discover:

• The Air65 1S 65mm Tiny Whoop drone
• A set of spare propellers
• USB-C Adapter for configuring the drone
• Consumer guide accessible on-line by way of a QR code

Notice: The battery will not be included. Get the advisable BetaFPV LAVA 1S LiHV right here:

Specs

Right here’s a comparability of the BetaFPV Air65 with the earlier Meteor65.

Flight Controller specs:

• MCU: STM32 G473
• Gyro: ICM42688-P
• Helps Betaflight OSD
• 16MB Flash reminiscence for Blackbox logs
• 4 UARTs
• Built-in 5.8GHz 400mW Analog VTX
• Built-in 4-in-1 5A ESC
• Solder pads for motors

Nearer Look

The Air65 boasts an ultra-lightweight design, weighing merely 17.1 grams with out battery, making it one of many lightest BNF tiny whoops I’ve examined up to now. This light-weight design enhances maneuverability and responsiveness.

The drone is available in two variations: Freestyle and Racing, every geared up with totally different KV motors and propellers to go well with numerous flying kinds.

The decrease 23000KV provides you longer flight time (about 30 to 40 seconds extra on common on 1S 300mAh), whereas the 27000KV provides extra energy and responsiveness. In case you can’t determine which model to get, I’d suggest the Racing Version. The upper 27000KV motor KV is changing into the brand new normal in tiny whoop racing, making your whoop really feel extra agile and highly effective. In case you discover it too quick, you’ll be able to at all times cut back its energy by setting a decrease motor output restrict or cutting down your throttle.

The C03 FPV digital camera provides respectable efficiency in a well-lit environments, nonetheless it may not be the perfect in low gentle.

The flight controller is the brand new G4 Air FC with a G473 processor and ICM42688P gyro, proving to be dependable in my two weeks of testing. This AIO FC integrates the FC, 4-in-1 ESC, OSD, and 400mW VTX. Nevertheless, it doesn’t have an built-in ExpressLRS receiver, so you can find an exterior RX mounted on the FC. The Air65 FC provides 4 UARTs, a present sensor, and 16MB reminiscence for Blackbox! These are incredible options to have on a tiny whoop, and really uncommon. I believe this FC is an effective alternative when you plan to construct a tiny whoop from scratch. The flight controller is obtainable right here: https://oscarliang.com/product-dhlc.

What’s attention-grabbing is that the USB port can energy the VTX with no battery! That’s helpful when troubleshooting and establishing the drone as you don’t must plug in your battery.

One of many largest criticisms I’ve in regards to the BetaFPV Air65 is its digital camera angle. I discover even the bottom digital camera angle too excessive, making it onerous to maneuver indoors in tight areas.

I want the adjustment belt on the rear of the cover was longer and had maybe a few further holes to permit a decrease angle, which could possibly be useful for freshmen.

For now, I got here up with a workaround by eradicating the screws on the rear and attaching the cover utilizing a zipper tie. This successfully lowers the digital camera angle, with out introducing any vibration or jello, and doesn’t appear to scale back sturdiness both.

Evaluating Air65 to Mobula6 2024

The Mobula6 2024 has been some of the in style tiny whoops since its launch earlier this 12 months. Regardless of some {hardware} and high quality management points, the options and efficiency it provides are simply revolutionary.

The BetaFPV Air65 has its personal points, as talked about on this evaluate, nevertheless it does have higher {hardware} high quality management for my part. There are professionals and cons to those fashions, and I’ll break them down right here.

Notice that the Mobula6 comes with two units of spare props (12 props in whole) whereas the BetaFPV solely comes with one set (8 props in whole). Come on BetaFPV, give us another set! 🙂

Weight

Weighs at solely 17.1g, the Air65 is about 0.5g lighter than the Mobula6, primarily as a result of light-weight FC design, which has a extra compact diamond form. BetaFPV additionally changed the USB port with a small plastic JST connector to additional cut back weight. The draw back is that it’s a must to use a USB-C adapter when connecting to Betaflight, which could possibly be annoying for some, however personally, I’ve not discovered that to be a difficulty. You do have to recollect to convey the adapter with you in case you are touring with the Air65, or else you’ll be able to’t entry Betaflight Configurator.

Body Design

Body and cover designs are extremely related between the BetaFPV Air65 and Mobula6 2024, however the cover plastic used within the Air65 is wider, which contributes to its higher sturdiness. Sturdiness has been a difficulty within the Mobula6, as the cover doesn’t maintain up with in depth use and crashes. To date, the cover within the Air65 has been holding up very well for me. The opposite distinction is the digital camera mounting, the place the Air65 is friction-mounted within the cover utilizing only one screw, whereas within the Mobula6, the digital camera is mounted utilizing two screws on the again of the digital camera. This doesn’t appear to make an enormous distinction TBH.

In relation to body and cover, there are various totally different colours you’ll be able to select from.

Motors

Each the Air65 and Mobula6 use 0702 motors, which is the usual for 65mm tiny whoops these days. The Mobula6 motors have a 28000KV, much like the Air65 Racing Version’s 27000KV, whereas BetaFPV additionally provides the Freestyle Version with a a lot decrease 23000KV.

I actually just like the motors within the Mobula6 as they appear to have extra grip within the air and are barely extra responsive. It’s a delicate feeling, however I believe one of many causes behind this could possibly be the magnets – the Mobula6 motors have curved magnets whereas the Air65 simply has common magnets.

Personally I’d suggest the excessive KV model. It’s undoubtedly not essentially the most environment friendly, nevertheless it’s simply extra highly effective and enjoyable to fly. No matter your flying model and ranges, if you wish to go slower, you’ll be able to at all times decrease the motor output or scale down throttle in Betaflight or in your radio. I’ve a information right here: https://oscarliang.com/reduce-power-throttle-taranis-betaflight/

I discover setting a motor output restrict of round 85% on the 27000KV matches the facility of the 23000KV, however by some means I nonetheless really feel the 27000KV is extra agile.

Battery

The 90-degree angled battery plug of the BetaFPV is such a pleasant contact and certainly extra user-friendly. BetaFPV makes use of BT2.0 connectors, whereas the Mobula6 makes use of A30. Whereas they’re totally different connectors, they’re semi-compatible; it simply takes a bit extra drive to plug and unplug them. The Mobula6 has a straight connector which places numerous stress on the solder joints when utilizing lengthy 300mAh packs, and the leads are too quick to get the battery within the middle which doubtlessly impacts weight distribution.

Between the LAVA 1S 260mAh and 1S 300mAh battery packs, I’d suggest the 300mAh. Though the 260mAh is barely lighter, it noticeably loses punch within the second half of the pack, and the load saving and enhance in flight efficiency isn’t sufficient to justify the flight time loss for my part. I examined these batteries right here: https://oscarliang.com/whoop-toothpick-lipo-battery/#1S-LiPoLiHV

Picture High quality

The FPV digital camera within the Air65 works brilliantly in a well-lit setting. When flying at evening with lights on, it clearly outperforms the Mobula6 – it feels brighter, and the picture appears clearer. Nevertheless, in low gentle circumstances (e.g., in the course of the day with curtains drawn), the Mobula6’s digital camera gives a greater picture than the Air65. I can’t name a transparent winner right here as they excel in several lighting circumstances.

Flight Efficiency

I need to admit, out of the field, the Mobula6 2024 version flew higher with its inventory tune (although it’s certainly not the perfect tune and nonetheless has room for enchancment). The Air65 got here with a customized PID/filter tune nevertheless it felt unfastened and never as locked in. Nevertheless, after some in-depth tuning, the Air65 can undoubtedly match the efficiency of the Mobula6, if not surpassing it. I’ll put my tuning and settings beneath on this evaluate so you’ll be able to strive it. It flies so significantly better, extra responsive and locked in.

Right here’s the flight instances examined with their default settings (aggressive model flying at fixed 50-60% throttle) and their respective hover throttle:

The right way to Set Up for First Flight

The FC comes with Betaflight 4.5.0, and the FC goal is BETAFPVG473. You will discover the default CLI diff right here.

Firstly, bind the receiver,

Receiver firmware goal is BETAFPV 2.4GHz Lite RX. Observe this information when you don’t understand how: https://oscarliang.com/bind-expresslrs-receivers/

For maiden flight, listed here are the Betaflight configurations:

1. Load ExpressLRS Preset
2. Set Your Charges
3. Allow Telemetry
4. Set Arm swap, angle mode swap, turtle mode swap
5. Set OSD (disable “Core Temperature” below warnings)

Superior Tuning and Settings

If you wish to enhance the Air65’s flight efficiency and have a greater expertise, listed here are my suggestions:

• In Energy & Battery, set Minimal Cell Voltage to three.0V, Warning Cell Voltage to three.2V. Set Scale from 750 to 720 below Amperage Meter.
• Scale back Angle energy to 90, and even 75 based mostly in your style, 100 simply feels too inflexible.
• Set Angle Restrict to 60 (this principally controls the your roll/pitch stick responsiveness).
• Motor idle 7%.

Reflash Bluejay: They already include Bluejay 0.19 flashed, however with 96KHz PWM Frequency. You possibly can flash them to a decrease PWM frequency for extra motor braking energy, which might make the quad extra responsive at the price of flight time. In case you undergo from vibration points with 24KHz, strive 48KHz or simply depart it at 96KHz. ESC Firmware Goal: A-X-5.

You’ll get much less flight time when happening in PWM frequency, however the quad will really feel extra responsive and tighter round turns. I believe 48KHz is an effective steadiness. Listed below are the common flight instances with totally different PWM frequencies with 1S 300mAh (fixed 50-60% throttle aggressive flying):

• 96KHz: 4:00
• 48KHz: 3:40
• 24KHz – 2:50

PID Tuning

Notice: Depart Motor Output Restrict at 100 for optimum efficiency. I used to be testing numerous values and forgot to set this again to 100 🙂

Filter Tuning:

Scale back RPM filtering:

Set rpm_filter_weights = 100, 60, 0

save

My charges for Angle Mode:

I’m writing a publish on the perfect tiny whoop settings which I’ll publish within the subsequent day or two, keep tuned.

Conclusion

The BetaFPV Air65 1S 65mm Tiny Whoop is a formidable addition to the FPV passion. Its ultra-lightweight design, highly effective motors, and superior flight controller make it a flexible alternative for pilots of all ability ranges.

You may get the BetaFPV Air65 Tiny Whoop from:

It’s simple to arrange and flies nicely. I believe BetaFPV has higher high quality management and {hardware} than the Mobula6, however I’d undoubtedly encourage you to place higher settings and tune on this whoop to optimize efficiency. For me, it’s most likely the perfect Tiny Whoop in 2024 by way of {hardware} and options.