The BetaFPV Air 5in1 FC is designed for those who want to simplify their Tiny Whoop builds without sacrificing performance. It integrates FC, ESC, OSD, VTX and RX all into the same board. In this review, I’ll dive into the specifics of the BetaFPV Air 5in1 FC, explore its features and performance, and discuss whether it’s worth the upgrade.
Check out my tiny whoop and related accessory recommendations: https://oscarliang.com/best-tiny-whoop/
Table of Contents
Where to Buy
You can purchase the BetaFPV Air 5in1 FC from:
- BetaFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-ox6b
- AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DF6jZPZ
Accessories included:
- 1 * Air Brushless Flight Controller
- 1 * 2.4g Antenna (Only for the 5in1 Version)
- 1 * Type-C to SH1.0 Adapter
- 1 * SH1.0 4-Pin Adapter Cable
- 1 * 5.8g VTX Antenna
- 1 * BT2.0 U Whoop Cable Pigtail | 40mm
- 4 * M1.4*4 Self-tapping Screws
- 4 * Rubber Grommets
What Makes the BetaFPV Air 5in1 FC Special?
The BetaFPV Air 5in1 FC is incredibly lightweight, making it perfect for the latest ultralight Air65 and Air75 Tiny Whoops from BetaFPV. Unlike the previous 4in1 board, which required an additional external receiver, the new 5in1 FC integrates the receiver directly on the board. This integration simplifies the build process, reduces the amount of wiring, and makes repairs easier.
While the 5in1 FC doesn’t offer a weight advantage over using the 4in1 FC with an external receiver, the overall cost is $5 less because you don’t have to buy a separate receiver. The 5in1 board’s integration is particularly appealing for those looking to streamline their builds without compromising functionality.
Specifications
4in1/5in1 FC Specs:
- 4in1 Version: FC + ESC + OSD + VTX
- 5in1 Version: FC + ESC + OSD + VTX + RX
- Processor MCU: STM32G473CEU6
- Gyro: ICM42688P (SPI connection)
- Blackbox Memory: 16MB
- Sensor: Voltage & Current
- BEC: 5V 3A
- USB Adapter Connector: JST SH1.0 4-Pin
- Built-in 4in1 5A ESC
- FC Firmware: Betaflight_4.5.0_BETAFPVG473
- Mounting Hole Size: 26mm x 26mm
- Weight: 2.9g (4in1 Version) / 3.6g (5in1 Version)
ESC Specs:
- Input Voltage: 1S
- ESC Firmware: Bluejay A_X_5_96KHz_V0.19
- ESC Protocol Support: Dshot300, Dshot600
VTX Specs:
- Output Power: 25/100/200/400/PIT
- Frequency: 5.8GHz, 48 channels, with Raceband: 5658~5917MHz
- Channel SEL: SmartAudio2.0
- Modulation Type: FM
- Frequency Control: PLL
- Antenna Port: 50 Ω
- Operating Temperature: -10℃~+80℃
RX Specs (5in1):
- RC Link: ExpressLRS 2.4GHz V3.3
- FC/RX Connection: Serial UART
- Firmware Target: BETAFPV 2.4GHz AIO RX
VTX Power Testing
Using the ImmersionRC Power Meter V2, I tested the VTX RF power output of the BetaFPV Air 5in1 FC. Here are the results:
| R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | |
| 25mW | 32 | 36 | 43 | 46 | 54 | 59 | 55 | 42 |
| 100mW | 82 | / | / | / | / | / | / | 162 |
| 200mW | 161 | / | / | / | / | / | / | 326 |
| 400mW | 262 | / | / | / | / | / | / | 550 |
For comparison, here are the measurements for the previous Air 4in1 FC:
| R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | |
| 25mW | 40 | 38 | 34 | 26 | 26 | 30 | 23 | 20 |
| 100mW | 50 | 80 | ||||||
| 200mW | 85 | 141 | ||||||
| 400mW | 144 | 315 |
There were concerns about the BetaFPV Air G4 FC having excessive RF power output at its 25mW setting, which isn’t ideal for Tiny Whoop racing events with strict RF power rules. It seems the 5in1 FC still has this issue, but I’ve only tested one unit, so I can’t confirm if this is a general problem.
This excessive RF output issue will only affect people who attend racing events, if you only fly casually at home or with friends, this shouldn’t be an issue. In fact, the 5in1 FC outputs up to 550mW, which is higher than the 4in1 version, providing better penetration and range.
Update (06/09/2024): BetaFPV saw the review and believe this could just be a faulty unit, they will send me a replacement so I can re-test it. I will post update in this review once this is complete.
Update (12/10/2024): I received a new 5in1 board, and retested VTX power output for 25mW. The result seems to be mostly correct this time on Raceband. Photos of the new tests have been uploaded to my Facebook page for reference.
| R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | |
| 25mW | 29 | 27 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 22 |
Tiny Whoop Build
I swapped out the 4in1 FC in my Air65 for the new 5in1 FC, and it fit perfectly without any modifications. The camera and VTX antenna connectors are in the same locations, ensuring that the setup remains unchanged.
Pinout diagram:
Conclusion
The BetaFPV Air 5in1 FC is a great upgrade for Tiny Whoop enthusiasts who want a streamlined, integrated solution without the hassle of extra wiring. It provides all the core features needed for high-performance FPV flights in a lightweight, compact form. With the added convenience of an onboard receiver, it’s an excellent choice for those looking to simplify their builds while still enjoying top-notch performance.
Purchase the BetaFPV Air 5in1 FC here:
- BetaFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-ox6b
- AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DF6jZPZ
The slight price increase over the 4in1 FC is justified by the added functionality, making it a strong contender in the Tiny Whoop flight controller market for casual pilots.
16 comments
Hey Oscar. How to physically cut power to a (faulty) VTX chip on BetaFPV air g4 5in1? I understand it’s the RTC670.
There seems to be a common issue with this FC as the soldering on the ELRS chip starts to lose its connection to the board after some intense use. it happend to two of my AIR65 already. I did not have the professional tools to repair it, so I unsoldered everything and put the FC in a cold oven, heated it to 230°C for 20min, then turned the heater of and only slightly opended it to have it cool very slowley. Afterwards, it looked brwon and the power connector came apart and needed some glue, but it worked afterwards perfeclty again. Maybe this helps others in deciding and repair.
I have update bluejay lates firmware,but I arm my broke the motor didn’t not move.how do I solve this problem .tq
I was a similar issue. After you flash the ESC, you have to set the motor direction to reverse in ESC-configuration than write settings. I also had to set My minimum startup power to 1050 and max startup power to 1124 to get it to arm properly.
I don’t have elrs, and I have both the 4 in 1 and the 5 in 1,
And I can’t get the receiver to register on either of them. It’s a r-xsr, and I know it works because I use it on my 5 inch.. maybe I’m waiting it wrong? What pads do I need to use for sbus on these flight controllers?
You need to connect the SBUS signal to one of the spare UART, RX pad.
Follow this guide to get the uninverted SBUS signal from your receiver: https://oscarliang.com/sbus-smartport-telemetry-naze32/#f4
To be honest, I think it’s time to get a radio with ExpressLRS support, R-XSR receiver is very outdated.
Hi Oscar,
I’m trying to identify the C2C and C2CK pins on the bottom side of the board next to ESC 2. They’re not shown in any diagram I’ve been able to find and aren’t printed on the board. Is there a way to identify which pad is which? My ESC flash failed and I need to jump it with an arduino.
Just follow the traces between the pads and the chip, i explain how to identify them here: https://oscarliang.com/flash-blheli-c2-interface/
I’m loosing video signal after 2-3 meters. I’ve check betaflight configuration and everything seems to be in order, antenna is also connected – any idea what can cause it? Can it be that vtx is damaged? But if vtx would be damaged I guess I wouldn’t get video at all?
Make sure VTX table is configured correctly, and you’ve not selected “PIT Mode”.
Hey, thanks for your reply. I wasn’t in PIT Mode, and I think I had correct VTX – I’ve took it from CLI on this page: support.betafpv.com/hc/en-us/articles/32980449219865-CLI-and-Firmware-for-Air65-Racing. Anyway I’ve flashed it with firmware from page I’ve included in this comment and issue is gone – no idea why it stopped working mid fly though.
Thanks, Oscar, your site is a godsend!
I’m also having a problem with the Air65 video. I checked all the frequencies with Autoscan on my Skyzone Cobra X v2. It detects good video on 2-3 frequencies. When I move a few steps away from the Betafpv Air65, noise appears and the image disappears.
I logged into the drone through the app, and the video transmitter says “missing.” Settings are inaccessible. But the headset shows it at close range. What could be wrong?
I’m flying at home, calmly, in Angle mode. Can you help me fix this?
Go to the OSD menu and see which channel the drone is on: https://oscarliang.com/vtx-control/#Access-VTX-Control-in-Betaflight-OSD
Then select that channel on your radio.
Personally I’d avoid using auto scan it doesn’t always find the right channel.
You can also increase RF power in the OSD menu.
What is the vtx antenna connector type? I want to add RHCP antenna…. UFL? MMCX? IPEX?
It’s UFL.
Can an external VTX aka TBS Nano, be added for Racing? Are there availible UARTS/Video in?