Detailed guide to every component in an FPV drone
Carbon fiber structure that holds all components. Available in True X (freestyle), Wide X (cinematic), and Stretched X (racing) layouts.
| Size | Arm Thickness | Stack Mount | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-inch | 4-6mm | 30.5mm | Freestyle/Racing |
| 7-inch | 5-6mm | 30.5mm | Long Range |
| 3-inch | 3-4mm | 20-25.5mm | Micro |
Top Brands: GEPRC Vapor ($50), TBS Source One ($30), AxisFlying Manta ($40)
Circuit board with gyro/accelerometer that stabilizes flight. Runs Betaflight firmware at 8kHz loop time.
| Processor | Speed | Memory | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| F405 | 168MHz | 1MB | ✅ Standard |
| F722 | 216MHz | 512KB | ✅ Advanced |
| H743 | 480MHz | 2MB | ✅ Future-proof |
Top FC: SpeedyBee F405 V4 ($35), T-Hobby VELOX F7 ($45)
Electronic Speed Controllers convert DC battery power to 3-phase AC for brushless motors. Usually bought as 4-in-1 boards.
| Type | Current | Firmware |
|---|---|---|
| 4-in-1 | 30-70A | BLHeli_32 / Bluejay |
| AIO | 20-55A | Integrated with FC |
Brushless motors spin the propellers. Size format: StatorWidth × StatorHeight (e.g., 2207 = 22mm × 7mm)
| Model | Size | KV | Thrust | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EMAX ECO II | 2207 | 1900 | ~1500g | $16 |
| T-Motor Velox | 2207 | 1750 | ~1400g | $15 |
| iFlight Xing2 | 2207 | 1855 | ~1600g | $21 |
KV = RPM per Volt. Higher KV = faster but less torque. 1700-1900KV for 6S, 2400-2600KV for 4S.
Blades that convert motor rotation into lift. Format: Diameter × Pitch × Blades (e.g., 5×4.3×3)
| Model | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| HQ 5×4.3×3 V2S | 3-blade | Freestyle (best overall) |
| Gemfan 51466 | 3-blade | Racing |
| HQ 5×4.3×2 | 2-blade | Efficiency |