The BetaFPV Air65 Champion Edition is here, with only 1,000 units available. This limited-edition tiny whoop features high KV motors with dual ball bearings, and the power needed to handle some serious FPV fun. Today, I’ll dive into what makes the Air65 Champion Edition stand out, from its build quality to its performance, and whether it’s a worthy addition to your collection.
Here are the Tiny Whoop parts and accessories I recommend: https://oscarliang.com/best-tiny-whoop/
Table of Contents
Where to Buy
You can get the Air65 Champion Edition from:
- AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DCFw2kf
- GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-b8vn
- BetaFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-6qwg
Note: The battery is not included. Get the recommended BetaFPV LAVA 1S LiHV here:
- 1S 260mAh: https://oscarliang.com/product-cmo2
- 1S 300mAh: https://oscarliang.com/product-8zi8
The Air65 Champion Edition comes with the following accessories:
What’s Different About the Champion Edition?
At first glance, the Air65 Champion Edition looks identical to the previous Air65 models, just with a different color frame and motors. But BetaFPV has also made several notable upgrades to the Champion model:
- 0702 30,000 KV Motors: These higher KV motors deliver more power and speed but come at a slight efficiency cost.
- Dual Ball Bearings: The dual ball bearings in the motors provide smoother performance and higher speed compared to previous versions. They also reduce friction and wear, making the Champion Edition both powerful and durable over time.
- 5in1 AIO Flight Controller: Unlike the 4in1 board seen in previous models, the 5in1 board includes an external receiver, which makes wiring and repairing easy. Weight-wise, it’s similar to the 4-in-1 setup with an external ELRS receiver.
- Improved Camera Design: BetaFPV added a small sticker to the back of the camera to help eliminate light leaks seen in earlier models.
- Camera Canopy Modifications: BetaFPV has made a small change to camera mount, by trimming a bit of the canopy around the UFL connector, which enhances durability in crashes.
One drawback is the increased weight due to the heavier dual-bearing motors. The Champion Edition weighs about 17.9g, while the Air65 Freestyle and Race Editions come in at only around 17.1g.
Lightening the Build
If you’re looking to reduce weight, I recently built a custom whoop that’s 1.1 grams lighter than the Champion Edition, using a few different parts and techniques. Check out my build guide here for tips on making the Champion Edition even lighter: https://oscarliang.com/how-to-build-tiny-whoop/.
Flight Performance
Speed and Agility
Right out of the box, the Air65 Champion Edition is an absolute thrill to fly. The 0702 30,000 KV motors provide exceptional responsiveness, giving the drone a noticeable boost in speed and agility. The added power makes it ideal for freestyle maneuvers and quick turns, especially in indoor settings. The Champion Edition feels incredibly fast, making it a fantastic choice for racers and freestyle enthusiasts alike.
Battery Life
With a fully charged BetaFPV Lava 1S 300mAh battery, I averaged just over three minutes of flight time. While this is about 20 to 30 seconds less than the 27,000KV Race model, the increased performance is worth it if your focus is on faster lap times and a more exhilarating experience. If you prioritize longer flight times or a more relaxed cruising style, you might prefer the original Air65 with its lower KV motors.
Final Verdict: Is the Air65 Champion Edition Right for You?
The Air65 Champion Edition isn’t a dramatic upgrade from the original, mainly just the motors.
If you already own the Air65 Race or Freestyle versions, an easy upgrade is simply to purchase the 30,000KV motors separately and swap them in; the soldering is pretty straightforward. Another tip is to swap out the frame for a NewBeeDrone Cockroach LiteAF to save around half a gram, which I did in my custom build.
Get the 0702 30000KV Motors here:
- AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DlS2S2l
- BetaFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-fvyk
- RDQ: https://oscarliang.com/product-9upa
Get the NewBeeDrone Cockroach LiteAF Frame here:
- GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-5z6q
- NewBeeDrone: https://oscarliang.com/product-oexn
For those deciding between Air65 models, the Champion Edition offers the best performance of the lineup. Its 5in1 AIO board and canopy modifications are welcome improvements as well. But with only 1,000 units available, act quickly if you want the Champion. And if you do miss out, the original Air65 is still an excellent choice, offering slightly longer flight times and saving you about $10.
Get the Air65 from:
- AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DCFw2kf
- GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-b8vn
- BetaFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-6qwg
Note: The battery is not included. Get the recommended BetaFPV LAVA 1S LiHV here:
- 1S 260mAh: https://oscarliang.com/product-cmo2
- 1S 300mAh: https://oscarliang.com/product-8zi8
1 comment
People have been cutting out a piece of canopy from these and glued in the UFL connectors, and now the canopy mod is official, I wonder if they start to glue in the connector any time soon :-)