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Get
Started

No gatekeeping. No "just Google it." Everything you need to go from zero to flying — laid out straight, no BS. Use the sections below to find what you need.

What You Need
to Get Started

Here's a breakdown of the components that make up an FPV build. When you're ready to grab a frame, spare parts, or accessories — we've got you covered in the shop.

Frame
The foundation of your build
Everything mounts to the frame. Go with something tough that can handle crashes — because you will crash. The PZ5 was built specifically for this.
Flight Controller + ESC Stack
The brain and the muscle
The FC runs Betaflight and keeps your quad stable. The ESC controls motor speed. Most beginners run a 4-in-1 ESC stack. Look for 30x30 or 20x20 mounting — both fit the PZ5.
Motors
4 of them
2306 or 2207 stator size is standard for 5" freestyle. Make sure they're rated for 6S if you're going 6S — and you should be going 6S.
Radio + Receiver
How you talk to your quad
Pick a radio that feels comfortable — full size or gamepad style. ExpressLRS (ELRS) is the protocol to use. Low latency, long range, open source, and supported by almost everything.
Goggles / Monitor
Your eyes in the sky
Analog is cheaper to start. Digital (DJI, Walksnail, HDZero) gives you a much clearer picture but costs more. Either works — pick based on your budget.
Batteries + Charger
Buy more than you think you need
6S LiPo is the standard for 5" freestyle. Get at least 4 batteries and a smart charger. A battery strap keeps your lipo locked in — don't fly without one.
Camera + VTX
What you see in your goggles
Your FPV camera sends live video to your goggles via the VTX. If you go digital, these are combined in one unit. Analog needs them separate.
Props
Buy a lot. Seriously.
5" tri-blade props are standard. They break constantly when you're learning. Stock up before your first flight or you'll be grounded after crash number two.

The Pinkyzup PZ5 is the frame we built for exactly this moment. Grab yours — along with spare parts and accessories — in the B2FPV shop.

Shop Now →
FPV Simulators

Seriously — do not skip this. 10 hours in a sim will save your first quad. Your radio plugs straight in via USB and you fly for free until your muscle memory kicks in.

Liftoff
PC / Steam — ~$20
One of the most popular FPV sims. Realistic physics, tons of tracks and freestyle maps, active community. Great all-rounder for beginners.
Get on Steam →
Velocidrone
PC / Mac — ~$20
Focused on racing and freestyle. Known for physics that closely match real world behavior. Highly recommended by experienced pilots for training.
Get Velocidrone →
Tryp FPV
PC / Steam
A newer sim that's been getting a lot of attention from the community. Smooth physics, great environments, and actively developed. Worth checking out alongside Liftoff and Velocidrone.
Get on Steam →
Uncrashed
PC / Steam — ~$20
Beautiful environments, solid physics, great for freestyle pilots. Newer to the scene but getting a lot of love from the community.
Get on Steam →

Connect your actual radio transmitter via USB before buying. Most radios work plug and play — if it works in the sim it'll feel the same in the air. There's no reason to fly a keyboard.

YouTube Channels

These channels have helped thousands of pilots get off the ground. Bookmark them and actually watch them — it'll save you hours of frustration.

Beginner Tutorials

New to freestyle? Headmazta breaks down tricks step by step so you actually understand what you're doing — not just copying. Start here.

View Full Playlist on YouTube →

Intermediate Tutorials

Got the basics down? Work through these next. Headmazta steps it up and starts pushing into more advanced territory.

View Full Playlist on YouTube →
FPV Glossary

FPV has its own language. Here's a cheat sheet so you don't feel lost in forums, Discord servers, or the B2FPV group.

FPV
First Person View. Flying a drone through a camera feed in goggles or a monitor — like you're sitting in the cockpit.
FC
Flight Controller. The brain of the quad. Runs the flight software (usually Betaflight) and processes sensor data to keep it stable.
ESC
Electronic Speed Controller. Converts signals from the FC into motor speed. Usually one per motor, or a 4-in-1 board.
VTX
Video Transmitter. Broadcasts the camera feed wirelessly to your goggles. Analog or digital.
RX / Receiver
The component on your quad that receives signals from your radio transmitter. ExpressLRS (ELRS) is the current community standard.
ELRS
ExpressLRS. An open-source radio protocol known for long range, low latency, and reliability. The go-to for new builds.
Betaflight
The most popular flight controller firmware. You configure your quad through the Betaflight configurator — rates, filtering, modes, etc.
Lipo
Lithium Polymer battery. Powers your quad. Treat them with respect — they can catch fire if overcharged, over-discharged, or damaged.
6S / 4S
The number of cells in your battery. 6S = 6 cells = more voltage = more power. Most modern 5" freestyle builds run 6S.
mAh
Milliamp hours. The capacity of your battery. Higher mAh = longer flight time but also more weight.
PID
Proportional, Integral, Derivative. The tuning parameters that control how your quad responds to inputs and disturbances. Don't worry about this on day one.
Props
Propellers. They come in different sizes and pitches. 5" props are standard for freestyle 5" builds. They break — buy extras.
Freestyle
A style of FPV flying focused on tricks, flow, and creativity rather than racing. Think skateboarding in the air.
Racing
Flying as fast as possible through a course of gates. All about speed and precision.
Whoops
Tiny indoor quads (usually 65mm–85mm) with prop guards. Great for flying inside and learning the basics without destroying everything around you.
Arm
The extensions on the frame that hold the motors. On the PZ5 these are 6mm thick carbon fiber — chunky on purpose.
Stack
The FC and ESC boards stacked on top of each other in the center of the frame. 30x30 and 20x20 refer to the mounting hole pattern in mm.
Maiden
The first flight of a new build. Always do this somewhere safe with plenty of open space around you.
Throttle
Controls the motor speed and therefore altitude. FPV pilots typically fly in Acro mode where throttle doesn't self-level.
Acro Mode
The standard FPV flight mode. No self-leveling — the quad stays wherever you put it. Harder to learn but far more capable.
Angle Mode
Self-leveling mode. Good for absolute beginners but limits what you can do. Use it to learn, then move to Acro.
Blackbox
A flight data recorder built into most FCs. Records everything during your flight so you can analyze it later for tuning.
OSD
On Screen Display. Shows flight data like battery voltage, signal strength, and speed overlaid on your FPV feed.
Analog / Digital
Two types of FPV video systems. Analog is cheaper and lower quality. Digital (DJI, Walksnail, HDZero) is clearer but costs more.
LOS
Line of Sight. Flying without goggles where you can see the quad directly. Required by law in many countries beyond a certain distance.
Failsafe
A safety feature that kicks in if your quad loses radio signal. Usually set to disarm or hover. Always configure this before flying.
RSSI
Received Signal Strength Indicator. Tells you how strong your radio link is. Watch this on your OSD — don't fly where it's dropping.
FAQ

Questions we see constantly in the group. If yours isn't here, come ask in the Facebook group — that's literally what it's for.

Do I need to build my own quad or can I buy one pre-built? +
Both are valid. RTF (Ready to Fly) quads exist and are fine for getting started quickly. But building your own means you understand how it works, which makes fixing crashes much easier. If you're serious about the hobby, learning to build is worth it. The B2FPV group can help you through the process.
How long does it take to learn FPV? +
Simulator time is your best friend here. Most people can hover and do basic maneuvers within 5–10 hours of sim time. Getting comfortable in open spaces takes a few weeks of regular flying. Freestyle tricks and advanced skills take months to years — but that's the fun part.
Do I need a license to fly FPV? +
Depends where you are. In the US, most FPV quads require FAA registration and you need to follow Part 107 rules or fly under the recreational flyer exception. Always check local laws before flying. Flying illegally can result in serious fines — and gives the whole community a bad name.
Analog or digital FPV — what should I start with? +
Analog is cheaper to start with and the community support is massive. Digital (DJI, Walksnail) gives you a much clearer image but costs significantly more. If budget is a concern, start analog, get good at flying, then upgrade. The skills transfer completely — the video system doesn't make you a better pilot.
What's the difference between 4S and 6S? +
6S means more voltage, which means more power and punch. Modern 5" freestyle builds almost universally run 6S because the efficiency is better and the power delivery is smoother. If you're building a 5" quad today, build it for 6S — just make sure your motors and ESCs are rated for it.
How much should I budget for a first build? +
Realistically, $300–$500 to get everything including goggles, radio, quad, and batteries. You can do it for less with budget choices but you'll likely upgrade sooner. Don't forget to budget for props — you'll go through a lot of them at first.
Is the PZ5 a good first frame? +
That's why it exists. The PZ5 was built specifically with beginners in mind — thick arms that survive crashes, 30x30 and 20x20 stack mounting for maximum compatibility, and a squished X layout that flies predictably while still having serious performance when you're ready for it. Spare parts are available directly from us so you're never stuck waiting.
I crashed and something broke. What now? +
Welcome to FPV. First, figure out what broke — props, arms, or electronics. Props are cheapest and break most often. Arms on the PZ5 are available as spares directly from us. Electronics damage from crashes is less common than you'd think if your build is solid. Come to the B2FPV Facebook group with photos and the community will help you diagnose it.
What's Betaflight and do I need to learn it? +
Betaflight is the firmware that runs on your flight controller. Yes, you need to learn the basics — setting up your radio, configuring modes, and making sure failsafe works. You don't need to deep dive into PID tuning on day one, but you need to at least set it up correctly. Joshua Bardwell on YouTube has the best beginner Betaflight guides out there.
Tuning Your Quad

Here's the honest truth: Betaflight has come so far that even on default settings your quad will fly surprisingly well. And with the addition of presets built right into Betaflight, you can get a really great flying quad without ever going deep into tuning. So don't stress about this early on — focus on flying first.

AI
New — B2FPV Tool
Free
B2FPV Tune Assistant

Upload your Blackbox log and get instant AI-powered analysis. Identifies oscillations, propwash, filtering issues, and gives you specific PID recommendations based on your actual flight data — not guesswork.

Blackbox Analysis PID Recommendations Filter Tuning No Account Needed
Launch Tune Assistant
Heads Up — Experimental Tool

This tool is in an experimental stage and is meant to be used as a learning aid, not a definitive tuning solution. It can point you in the right direction and help you understand what you're looking at — but it's not perfect and should not replace your own judgment. For deeper Blackbox analysis, PIDtoolbox by Brian White is a more established tool and a great companion resource.

For those of you who do want to dive deeper into the tuning side of things — it's a rabbit hole worth going down eventually. Good tuning means your quad feels exactly how you want it to, responds precisely to your inputs, and runs as efficiently as possible. When you're ready, here's where to start.

PIDtoolbox
Brian White — The Blackbox Whisperer

Brian White built PIDtoolbox — a free application that reads your Blackbox flight logs and helps you understand what your quad is actually doing in the air. Instead of guessing why something feels off, you can see it in the data and make informed changes. If you're serious about tuning, Brian is one of the people to follow. His work has made the whole process more accessible for everyone.

PID
PIDtoolbox
pidtoolbox.com — Free Blackbox analysis tool by Brian White
Visit →
Recommended Watch — Tyler Crane keeps it simple
Watch on YouTube →

More tuning resources will be added here as we build this section out. If you've got a resource that helped you — share it in the B2FPV Facebook group and we'll consider adding it.

Written Resources

Some people learn better by reading and researching at their own pace. These sites have you covered — deep dives, reviews, tutorials, and guides covering pretty much everything FPV.

OL
Oscar Liang
One of the most comprehensive FPV resources on the internet. Reviews, build guides, component breakdowns, Betaflight tutorials — if you have a question there's a good chance Oscar has already written about it.
oscarliang.com
Visit →
RB
Rotorbuilds
A community database of real FPV builds. Search by frame, components, or build style and see exactly what other pilots are running. Great for figuring out what works together and getting ideas for your own build.
rotorbuilds.com
Visit →

More resources will be added here as we find ones worth recommending. Got a site that helped you get started? Drop it in the B2FPV Facebook group and we'll check it out.

Ready?
Stop reading.
Start flying.

You've got the info. Now get the gear and get in the air. The B2FPV community has your back.

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