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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 techniques to go well with 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.
Listed below are the Tiny Whoop elements and equipment I like to recommend: https://oscarliang.com/best-tiny-whoop/
The place to Purchase?
You will 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 bundle, you’ll discover:
- The Air65 1S 65mm Tiny Whoop drone
- A set of spare propellers
- USB-C Adapter for configuring the drone
- Consumer handbook accessible on-line through a QR code
Notice: The battery isn’t included. Get the really useful BetaFPV LAVA 1S LiHV right here:
Specs
Right here’s a comparability of the BetaFPV Air65 with the earlier Meteor65.
| Specification | Air65 | Meteor65 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight (w/o battery) | 17.1g | 22.8g |
| Prop Dimension | 65mm | 65mm |
| Body | Meteor65 Air Body | Meteor65 Body |
| Cover | Micro Air Cover | Micro Cover 2022 |
| FC & ESC | G4 Air FC | F4 1S 5A AIO FC |
| VTX | Built-in 5.8GHz VTX (400mw) | M03 VTX (25mW) |
| Digital camera | C03 Digital camera | C03 Digital camera |
| Motors | 0702SE 23000-27000kv | 0802SE 19500kv |
| Propeller | GF 1219S-3B / HQ 31mm Ultralight | GF 31mmx3 |
| Battery Connector | BT2.0 | BT2.0 |
| Battery | LAVA 1S 260mAh/300mAh 75C | 1S 300mAh 30C |
| Flight Time | 2.5 to 4 minutes | 4mins |
| RX | PNP/ELRS |
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 this point. 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 go well with varied flying types.
| Freestyle | Racing | |
| Motors | 0702SE 23000kv | 0702SE 27000kv |
| Propellers | Gemfan 1219S-3 | HQ 31mmx3 Ultralight |
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. Should you can’t determine which model to get, I’d suggest the Racing Version. The upper 27000KV motor KV is turning into the brand new customary in tiny whoop racing, making your whoop really feel extra agile and highly effective. Should you discover it too quick, you’ll be able to at all times scale 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, nonetheless it won’t be the most effective 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. Nonetheless, it doesn’t have an built-in ExpressLRS receiver, so one 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 improbable options to have on a tiny whoop, and really uncommon. I believe this FC is an efficient selection 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 attention-grabbing is that the USB port can energy the VTX with out a battery! That’s helpful when troubleshooting and establishing the drone as you don’t must plug in your battery.
One of many greatest criticisms I’ve in regards to the BetaFPV Air65 is its digicam angle. I discover even the bottom digicam angle too excessive, making it arduous to maneuver indoors in tight areas.
I want the adjustment belt on the rear of the cover was longer and had maybe a few additional holes to permit a decrease angle, which may very well be useful for inexperienced persons.
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 some of the standard 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, nevertheless it does have higher {hardware} high quality management in my view. 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 yet another set! 🙂
Weight
Weighs at solely 17.1g, the Air65 is about 0.5g lighter than the Mobula6, primarily because of the 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 scale back weight. The draw back is that it’s a must to use a USB-C adapter when connecting to Betaflight, which may very well be annoying for some, however personally, I’ve not discovered that to be a problem. You do have to recollect to carry the adapter with you if you’re touring with the Air65, or else you’ll be able to’t entry Betaflight Configurator.
Body Design
Body and cover designs are extremely comparable 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 problem 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.
In the case of body and cover, there are a lot of 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 may very well 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 probably the most environment friendly, nevertheless it’s simply extra highly effective and enjoyable to fly. No matter your flying fashion 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 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 quite a lot of stress on the solder joints when utilizing lengthy 300mAh packs, and the leads are too quick to get the battery within the middle 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 enhance in flight efficiency isn’t sufficient to justify the flight time loss in my view. 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 surroundings. When flying at evening with lights on, it clearly outperforms the Mobula6 – it feels brighter, and the picture appears clearer. Nonetheless, in low gentle situations (e.g., throughout 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 several lighting situations.
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 most effective tune and nonetheless has room for enchancment). The Air65 got here with a customized PID/filter tune nevertheless it felt free and never as locked in. Nonetheless, 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 attempt it. It flies so a lot better, extra responsive and locked in.
Right here’s the flight instances examined with their default settings (aggressive fashion flying at fixed 50-60% throttle) and their respective hover throttle:
| Freestyle Version | Racing Version | |
| 1S 260mAh | 4:00 | 3:40 |
| 1S 300mAh | 4:30 | 4:00 |
| Hover Throttle (300mAh absolutely charged) | 35% | 30% |
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. Comply with this information in case you don’t understand how: https://oscarliang.com/bind-expresslrs-receivers/
For maiden flight, listed here are the Betaflight configurations:
- Load ExpressLRS Preset
- Set Your Charges
- Allow Telemetry
- Set Arm swap, angle mode swap, turtle mode swap
- Set OSD (disable “Core Temperature” beneath 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 beneath 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’ll be able to 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. Should you endure from vibration points with 24KHz, attempt 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 efficient stability. Listed below are the typical 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:
Scale back RPM filtering:
Set rpm_filter_weights = 100, 60, 0
save
My charges for Angle Mode:
I’m writing a put up on the most effective 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 pastime. Its ultra-lightweight design, highly effective motors, and superior flight controller make it a flexible selection for pilots of all ability ranges.
You will get the BetaFPV Air65 Tiny Whoop from:
It’s straightforward to arrange and flies effectively. 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 most likely the most effective Tiny Whoop in 2024 by way of {hardware} and options.
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