Long Range FPV, Wind & Motor KV

[@stst8301]

Your experiments and findings are treasure for the fpv community.

[@FalconRadFPV]

Thank you.

[@DANKFPV]

Man, the clouds on one side of the mountain was so cool. That spot is insane

[@FalconRadFPV]

I'm heading back next year for sure.

[@Flying_Wild_Boar]

I’m always excited for your next episode! You’re my inspiration when it comes to long-range flying - the way you fly is incredible. Keep doing what you do and thank you for sharing knowledge

[@FalconRadFPV]

Wow, thank you!

[@Auraborialus]

the music is over the top lol, but thats okay because the footage is over the top as well. holy shit this is amazing

[@sparkey044]

If this was just a sample I can’t wait for the next episode. As always great flying and a great new? Quad. Your builds and flying are inspiring.

[@FalconRadFPV]

New quad is coming soon. This was just a quick replacement one I put together.

[@sparkey044]

@@FalconRadFPV Do you use compass and baro when flying long range?

[@MactacFPV]

Beautiful flight. That build is flying great - the turn around you did at 2:43 looks so solid, like the props were digging into that air like wheels on pavement :)

[@FalconRadFPV]

Much appreciated

[@koalafpv]

Man those are some insane views. Super inspiring.

[@dieterhoffman188]

Some awesome... Amazing footage. Interresting findings on your test I prefer 1400kv with 3.5 inch pitch

[@iFlyGood]

dude, you need to go to patagonia and get a shot from the ocean to a snow capped peak. The weather conditions make it difficult for long range though, so good luck!

[@gargolaconrad3188]

Awesome video, and views. Thanks for the information about the motors and props.

[@FalconRadFPV]

No problem 👍

[@semadragun]

That was breathtaking amazing footage thank you 😎💫💪

[@groundhuggerfpv2944]

Well after recently ordering 1300kV motors to go on a new RadLion build, can see I may be having to order something higher in the not too distant future. Great to see you are still experimenting and exploring the boundaries to find the best compromise when it comes to long range flying. Will be very interested to see how you get on with the higher kV motors.

[@FalconRadFPV]

With 1300kv's on your RAD Li-ion you'll be good. That's what I've used for like 80% of my KZbin content. I just don't think going down to 1155kv on 7 or 7.5" is a good idea, especially if you need to fly in wind at all. At 1300kv on 7" props it starts holding it's own in the wind fairly well. I've just been finding a few days a year where it's nuts windy (like 60 kph+ winds up a mountain) and the only quad that'll cut it on those days is the one with the 1500kv motors.

[@ghettorecording2925]

oldguyFPV; Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo KooooooooooooooooooooooooooL! Fly safe, fly free!

[@kevinglenister6520]

Awesome video!

[@chadfontaine2717]

Props! You're flying where I wish I had the b@lls to do so. Living on Vancouver Island over here, there are just so many places to fly like that ...but I just got to get over losing a quad.

[@FalconRadFPV]

Oh that sucks, ya it can be hard to let it rip long range if you're still thinking about losing a quad last time. Well if you get back into it, just start off small and work your way up. But unfortunately the risk of losing a quad is always there.

[@davidsilberhorn]

Beautiful flight! Would you rather use 2 TrueRC Singularity antennas or 2 TBS Triumph Pro for long distance flights? Which is the better one?

[@FalconRadFPV]

I've never tried the TBS antennas, but I know the TrueRC singularity's are a good choice for sure.

[@25milliwatts]

Insane!

[@antschroder3551]

Man that is so good 👍

[@pl2fpv]

breathtaking shots, where exactly is this? and, how far were those peaks from your position? thanks!

[@bebenoeg5188]

Awesome, like it..! 👍😍🔥🔥🔥

[@FalconRadFPV]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@LifeofAccro]

2808 1350kv on a 7" chiming in and love it, currently testing 3115 1150kv on a 10" ... still TBD if building a 10" was necessary lol and/or more efficient than what my 7" is currently doing 🤔

[@IkNOwyoUaRe2]

Awesome sauce

[@kingjam6433]

I've run 1450kv Fpvcycle 30mm motors on my Falcon 7 and 1500kv 2507 BH motors on my Super G+ for a few years now and love the agility and speed. You can still get decent flight time its all throttle management. Which I lack 😂 I found 1300kv uninteresting, i'd never fly them on anything less now Love your vids 👍

[@FalconRadFPV]

Ya exactly, flies better, you just have to keep in mind being nice to your battery by going easy on the throttle at least some of the time 😉

[@kingjam6433]

3300mah 6s lipo for when I want to have fun, 2400mah 6s lipo when I want to be stupid 😁

[@kevinglenister6520]

Love your video’s, I’ve been flying a 7 inch frame build from RR that i built with 1300 kv brother hobby motors and I can’t seem to get the jello out. I’m thinking of building your 7 inch lion build would you recommend it over your larger prop builds ? Or should I look at the Falcon as I fly walksnail’s VTX. You seem to fly the lion a lot. Thanks

[@FalconRadFPV]

The Falcon RPM does have more room for the VTX. I crammed the GEPRC Maten 2.5W VTX in the RAD Li-ion, so you can compare with that. If you're going to use a VTX bigger than the Maten then it'll be a really tight fit in a RAD Li-ion frame. That Falcon RPM will fit any reasonable VTX unit.

[@kevinglenister6520]

@@FalconRadFPV thanks

[@Anadrolus]

I'm a big fan of your channel, you're my favorite pilot ! What brand of motor would you get for the 2808 1500 kv for a 7" ? I thought about getting the Emax PRO as they weight only 50g, what do you think please ? And are the HQProp DP 7x3-5x3-v1s a good choice ? Thanks a ton !

[@FalconRadFPV]

I always use t motor motors. I've had good luck with them and the quality/weight is good. That said the emax ones will be a bit cheaper and should have close to the same performance. My new 7" long range build I'm working on has t motor Velox 2808 1500kv motors. Yes those props should work well. Most of the gemfan and HQ 7" props are pretty good. Pick one with more pitch for a heavier build and less pitch for a lighter and/or more efficient one.

[@Anadrolus]

@@FalconRadFPV Thank you so much !!! You truly help me. Will you use the same motor for your 7.5" ? I see that Gemfan recommends a 2812 then.

[@SupaflyFPV]

Hi Falcon, thanks for the great info in your vids. I agree 1300kv is about right for 6s voltage on 7". Have you tried the recent craze of larger builds like8 or 10"? If so what are your thoughts vs 7"?

[@FalconRadFPV]

I'm thinking 1500kv is best for my flying locations. At least for windy days. When its calm the 1300kv are great. But when the wind kicks in bad up a mountain (like 50/60kph+) the 1500kv's fly quite noticeably better. The bigger the prop the slower it spins since the tip speed is generally the same no matter the prop size. Props create vibrations as they spin, the vibration frequency is relative to the rotational speed of the prop. Big props spin slower causing vibrations to occur at a lower frequency. The lower in frequency a vibration is the harder it is for the flight controller to deal with and the more noticeable it will be in camera footage. In my opinion, - A 5" drone is extremely easy to get crisp gopro footage with a basic PID tune. -6" easy -7" not too bad -8" a bit of work -from here down it'll get harder to have crisp footage in steep dives, low throttle cruising, or strong wind -9" is a bit more work -10" you'll have to work at it, you might need a more skilled friend to help The larger props will help with better flight times and higher cruising speeds but at the cost of lower frequency vibrations and more difficulty in tuning. A 7" is a great sweet spot, I can fly over 20km round trips and tuning is not too difficult to get great looking footage. A 10" can carry more weight and go a bit faster, but if you're only carrying a GoPro and flying 20km or less round trips then a 7" will do it just as well and with less hassle in tuning PID's & Filters. For instance, I've heard several times about people having vibration issues with the Helion 10.

[@SupaflyFPV]

@@FalconRadFPV thanks for the thoughts, yes the vibration does become more of a problem as the prop size increases. Same with drag which kills the efficiency even with a larger battery...I guess some can get away with it using video smoothing but its good to know that 7" can pretty much match the larger ones...if you go with the 1500kv - you can always tune them down with motor output or throttle limits for when you want to save some juice...

[@MrZymi]

Awesome! What vtx?

[@FalconRadFPV]

It's a rush solo, but the important part is the TureRC Singularity attached to it. It's all about the antennas.

[@Flippy13]

have you tried going above 7 inches for efficiency?

[@FalconRadFPV]

I use 7.5" sometimes on my Falcon RPM build. I don't really see a need for bigger props unless you want to carry more weight. I've been flying long range with a 460 gram cine camera on 7.5" props, it's getting heavy enough that bigger props would get me more flight time. But flying with just a gopro or no HD camera, 7 to 7.5" props are big enough to handle the weight without getting into the vibration issues often associated with spinning larger props. The new Iflight 10" for instance, I've had several people tell me that they are hard to get tuned nicely, although it does get a bit more flight time than a good 7". But with my 7" being capable of completing easily over 20km in round trip distance I don't see a need to go with bigger props.

[@Vogxel]

could you please make a frame like the rad lion except designed in deadcat style because I really want to use o3/o4 on it to record. I really like the FR8 frame if that helps. Also have you ever tried Wings? Really with those your only limit is the video signal. There is something special about flying with a wing that is so different from quads. Also why do you never share your locations? I would love to meetup and fly in these beautiful places.

[@FalconRadFPV]

Well good news, I already made a no props in view long range frame. The Falcon 7 and the newest version, Falcon RPM: cncdrones.com/falcon-rpm.html Wings... ya I have flown a couple of wings. Before getting into drones I watched a lot of the old school flite test episodes. I've built and flown wings, along with several others kinds of planes. I have been thinking about getting a wing setup for flying some mountains, maybe I'll finally get to it this winter. As for locations, I never give them out, it's half the challenge of flying long range, finding great spots that aren't in any kind of park.

[@Vogxel]

@@FalconRadFPV Yeah I know about your Falcon frame but I was looking for something more lightweight like your scout or liion frame. The FR8 does weigh more than those but it makes up with 8 inch props. I am also getting a wing this winter. Going with the atomrc dolphin on 6s. Tmotor f90 1500kv. Its the same setup that Visma uses. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJXbn6iteZ2re8ksi=W5Zu18qK-9cfb1NT

[@gregdavidd]

Great info and cool spot!! Just wondering why you went with the 3008 instead of a larger (volumetrically) motor like the 2810 F100? I thought that the smaller diameter means it can change speeds faster?

[@FalconRadFPV]

You are correct, a taller motor will not cool as well as a flater one, but it will speed up and slow down more quickly. Fine for long range right, we don't really get the motors hot. The down side is weight, by the time a tall motor beats a wide motor for performance it's also going to be heavier. That's why I'm going with a 2808 1500 kv for the next RAD Li-ion. It's a bit taller of a stator than the 2806.5 that I used to use but it's not getting too much in weight. I am thinking about getting 1350kv 2810's for my heavier 7.5" cine quad I've been playing with, I'm not sold on the 1155kv 2812's I've got on it now, but I think it's the same thing, the kv is just not quiet where I want it for windy flight conditions.

[@gregdavidd]

@@FalconRadFPV hey thanks for the in-depth reply as always :)

[@sean2240]

@@FalconRadFPVfor the 2808 at 1500kv, what pack options (li ion, lipo) would you suggest to pair with it?

[@MrBornenjap]

what about 8 inch and 10 inch? have you ever tried it? because with a wide wheel base i think it is more stable. what do you think

[@PavelMy]

Как раз тоже самое хотел спросить

[@kingjam6433]

They generally fly worse, it took me a while to dial in my Rekon 10, but it's still nowhere as smooth as my Falcon 7

[@chrisbee5481]

I like my 7 inch more than my 10 inch. The bigger one has no benefit. No longer flight time or agility.

[@kingjam6433]

@@chrisbee5481 Agreed

[@MrBornenjap]

Already purchased a 10 Inch frame, it sounds like a bummer 😆 with the opinions from all of you guys. I'll find out then 😆

[@of88888]

Hey was just wondering if you have looked into “rocket style” drones like the red bull one? Do you think this could increase flight time?

[@FalconRadFPV]

I think the aerodynamics are designed with max speed in mind. Since the drone needs to be on like a 60 degree angle to be able to see in front of you I would think there is a fairly high minimum speed. Flying very fast is really hard on batteries. Draining a battery at high amps will greatly reduce the total mAh the battery will put out. So for efficiency I think the design is not very good. If it could be built so that the rocket body was only 45 degrees offset from the motor plane then it would be getting closer to an efficient build. (all that aside, yes a streamlined rocket shape would help efficiency but only if it's pointing the right direction. Doing 60kph the rocket shape would look to be almost flying sideways.

[@Sir_Hubris]

What about a 360 8K cam, I would love to watch this with my Quest3 VR and just look around while you fly, thanks for sharing, amazing as always M8 ¶ ; - )

[@FalconRadFPV]

That would be cool!

[@jostchen]

Would you go for a bigger prop, like 7.5 or 8 inch?

[@FalconRadFPV]

I use 7.5" sometimes on my Falcon RPM build. I don't really see a need for bigger props unless you want to carry more weight. I've been flying long range with a 460 gram cine camera on 7.5" props, it's getting heavy enough that bigger props would get me more flight time. But flying with just a gopro or no HD camera, 7 to 7.5" props are big enough to handle the weight without getting into the vibration issues often associated with spinning larger props. The new Iflight 10" for instance, I've had several people tell me that they are hard to get tuned nicely, although it does get a bit more flight time than a good 7". But with my 7" being capable of completing easily over 20km in round trip distance I don't see a need to go with bigger props.

[@sgcdialler]

Did you take the time to properly PID tune each prop on each motor that you tried?

[@FalconRadFPV]

No I didn't, I'm only so/so at pid tuning. My choice is based mostly around flight performance in windy conditions. I'm sure a perfect pid tune would help a bit, but a lot of what's driving my choice is how aggressive the props are, wind causing inverse air flow when diving and in split S maneuvers and avoiding dropping a corner when doing long sweeping turns in windy conditions.

[@twinturbostang]

6S batts?

[@FalconRadFPV]

For sure! 6s2p either 18650's or 21700's for all my RAD Li-ion flights.

[@Stygmah]

What are you using for HD footage these days man? I've been out of the game a while.

[@FalconRadFPV]

After losing the hero 11 mini a while back I moved onto a hero 12 now.

[@ZawiszaCzarnyFPV]

[@jeff-w]

Has anyone ever tried adding a wing to a quad? I feel like it would have to increase range.

[@Finnv893]

It depends, but most often times It will take more than it gives. Horizontal flight emphasizes prop pitch speed more than quadcopters do. When the incoming air to the prop accelerates to the same speed as the pitch speed, the blades produce nothing but drag. A quadcopter attached to a wing will have inherently more weight than just a pure plane or pure copter, which means it has high stall speed, and if the props aren't aggressive enough to keep it moving above its stall speed, then you would need to add more wing area and more powerful motors with heavier batteries, you know how this goes.....

[@chibikaiju922]

@@Finnv893 Great points! I think with those considerations, a VTOL wing is the only sensible solution.

[@chrisbee5481]

Wings have more flight time and range for sure. Just much more shaky in the wind and you can't hover slow.

[@FalconRadFPV]

Aerodynamically it would probably be prone to poor handling. The center of gravity requirements for a quad and a planes wing are different. Planes, and well I think anything with fins or wings, will fly best with the center of gravity forward of the center of pressure (aerodynamic drag). Where as a drone flies best with them both the same. That's why a VTOL is the only answer as far as something out there to buy, although it's pretty much just a plane, can't fly "like a drone", it just has vertical take of and landing. But who knows, probably someone out there trying to attach a servo actuated wing that'll track the flight direction of a quad. I think everything you need is in the firmware already. Let me know how it goes! lol...

[@kabirahmed9845]

Amazon Footage 🫶 I would love to see DVR along with footage.