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 completely different energy methods to swimsuit varied flight types. On this evaluate, we’ll dive into the {hardware} and flight efficiency, and see the way it compares to the favored Mobula6 2024. I can even share my customized PID and filter tune for optimized flying expertise.

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Listed here 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. Unsure which one to get? I’ll discuss 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 package deal, you’ll discover:

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

Notice: The battery isn’t 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 to date. This light-weight design enhances maneuverability and responsiveness.

The drone is available in two variations: Freestyle and Racing, every geared up with completely different KV motors and propellers to swimsuit varied flying types.

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 the event 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 customary in tiny whoop racing, making your whoop really feel extra agile and highly effective. In the event you discover it too quick, you’ll be able to all the time cut back its energy by setting a decrease motor output restrict or cutting down your throttle.

The C03 FPV digicam provides respectable efficiency in a well-lit environments, nevertheless it won’t 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 will see that an exterior RX mounted on the FC. The Air65 FC provides 4 UARTs, a present sensor, and 16MB reminiscence for Blackbox! These are improbable options to have on a tiny whoop, and really uncommon. I believe this FC is an effective alternative in case you plan to construct a tiny whoop from scratch. The flight controller is accessible right here: https://oscarliang.com/product-dhlc.

What’s fascinating is that the USB port can energy the VTX with out a battery! That’s helpful when troubleshooting and organising 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 digicam angle. I discover even the bottom digicam angle too excessive, making it exhausting 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 helpful for learners.

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 digicam 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 probably the most common tiny whoops since its launch earlier this yr. 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, but it surely does have higher {hardware} high quality management for my part. There are execs 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 you need 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 deliver 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 intensive use and crashes. To this point, the cover within the Air65 has been holding up very well for me. The opposite distinction is the digicam mounting, the place the Air65 is friction-mounted within the cover utilizing only one screw, whereas within the Mobula6, the digicam is mounted utilizing two screws on the again of the digicam. This doesn’t appear to make an enormous distinction TBH.

Relating to body and cover, there are numerous completely 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 refined 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 positively not essentially the most environment friendly, but it surely’s simply extra highly effective and enjoyable to fly. No matter your flying type and ranges, if you wish to go slower, you’ll be able to all the time 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 one way or the other 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 completely 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 a number of stress on the solder joints when utilizing lengthy 300mAh packs, and the leads are too brief to get the battery within the heart which probably 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 burden saving and improve 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 digicam within the Air65 works brilliantly in a well-lit atmosphere. 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., through the day with curtains drawn), the Mobula6’s digicam supplies a greater picture than the Air65. I can’t name a transparent winner right here as they excel in numerous lighting circumstances.

Flight Efficiency

I have to admit, out of the field, the Mobula6 2024 version flew higher with its inventory tune (although it’s in no way the perfect tune and nonetheless has room for enchancment). The Air65 got here with a customized PID/filter tune but it surely felt free and never as locked in. Nevertheless, after some in-depth tuning, the Air65 can positively 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 a lot better, extra responsive and locked in.

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

How one can Set Up for First Flight

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

Firstly, bind the receiver,

Receiver firmware goal is BETAFPV 2.4GHz Lite RX. Comply with this information in case you don’t know the way: 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.
• Cut back Angle energy to 90, and even 75 primarily based 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 the event you undergo from vibration points with 24KHz, strive 48KHz or simply depart it at 96KHz. ESC Firmware Goal: A-X-5.

You’re going to get much less flight time when taking place in PWM frequency, however the quad will really feel extra responsive and tighter round turns. I believe 48KHz is an effective steadiness. Listed here are the common flight instances with completely 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 varied values and forgot to set this again to 100 🙂

Filter Tuning:

Cut back RPM filtering:

Set rpm_filter_weights = 100, 60, 0

save

My charges for Angle Mode:

I’m writing a put up 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 interest. 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 properly. I believe BetaFPV has higher high quality management and {hardware} than the Mobula6, however I’d positively encourage you to place higher settings and tune on this whoop to optimize efficiency. For me, it’s in all probability the perfect Tiny Whoop in 2024 when it comes to {hardware} and options.