Start here
Welcome! You do not need a complete race build on day one. Visit your local club, try a controller and goggles if equipment is available, and talk through your budget before ordering. This guide gives you a path from your first practice session to your first race.
A sensible order
- Needed now: choose a controller and practise in a simulator.
- Next: choose a compatible video system and a small whoop, or plan a 5-inch build with an experienced pilot.
- Before flying: learn charging, arming, failsafe and the rules at your flying site.
- Later: add race spares, specialist tools and upgrades as you need them.
Controller and simulator
Your controller is the radio you hold. The receiver on the drone must use a compatible radio system. The original club gear list uses 2.4 GHz ExpressLRS (ELRS). Check the actual variant in your basket: similar-looking controllers can be sold with different radio modules.
| Option | Why consider it? | Buy when |
|---|---|---|
| RadioMaster Pocket | Compact starting option; choose the ELRS variant for the setups below | First purchase |
| RadioMaster Boxer | Larger controller to try for grip and comfort | Alternative first purchase |
| RadioMaster TX15 | Another option from the original gear list; try one before choosing | Optional alternative |
Ask the club which simulator it uses so you can practise the same tracks. Check computer support and the controller USB connection before buying a simulator. Practise throttle control, smooth turns, landing and disarming. Progress at your own pace.
Goggles and video: choose a matching system
The control radio and the video system are separate decisions. An ELRS controller does not determine which goggles work with a drone.
Analog is the starting option in the original whoop list. Eachine EV800 and EV800D goggles are examples to compare; verify the exact model, receiver, antennas and power accessories with the seller.
HDZero is the digital option in the original 5-inch build. HDZero Goggle 2 is one option. Confirm the requirements for analog reception, including any receiver module or adapter, against the current product documentation before ordering. Budget for goggles power and antennas too.
Check all of these together: goggles/receiver, video transmitter (VTX), camera, antenna connector and antenna polarisation. Digital video systems are not interchangeable merely because they are digital.
Starting small: a whoop
A whoop is a small quad with guards around its propellers. The BETAFPV Air65 is the example in the original list. Check the exact revision, receiver, video system, battery connector and recommended batteries; bundles and revisions can differ.
| Item | What to check | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Whoop | ELRS receiver and video that matches your goggles | Needed for this path |
| Batteries | Manufacturer-recommended 1S batteries, connector and charge voltage | Needed for this path |
| 1S charger | Independent channels and support for the exact battery type/connector | Needed for this path |
| Spare props | Correct motor shaft fit and rotation | Useful spare |
The original list suggests six to ten batteries for a session. Start with a quantity that suits your budget. Ask a club pilot to help with binding, switches and your first flight.
Building towards a 5-inch race drone
Treat this as a parts checklist to review together, rather than a guaranteed ready-to-order bundle. Frame mounting patterns, camera mounts, motor screws, firmware and electrical ratings must be checked against the exact parts you select.
| Part | Examples from the original club list | Compatibility check |
|---|---|---|
| Frame | Bezerk iQ0 Neuron, B-Line Compressor, BCrow Pro V7 | Stack pattern, camera/VTX space, matching spare arms |
| Flight controller and ESC | JHEMCU F745 20x20 stack | Exact model, firmware target, voltage/current ratings and mounting |
| Control receiver | RadioMaster RP1 2.4 GHz ELRS or a compatible EP1 alternative | ELRS band, firmware compatibility and antenna placement |
| Camera | HDZero Nano 90 V2 | VTX compatibility, camera dimensions and lens protection |
| Video transmitter | HDZero Race V3 | Supply voltage, cooling, connector and mounting |
| Motors | T-Motor F60 Pro, 1950 KV example from the worksheet | Battery cell count, prop size, mounting and ESC rating |
| Battery | 6S 1400 mAh example from the worksheet | Entire power system rating, XT60 connector, size and weight |
| Video antenna | RUSH Cherry 2 RHCP example | Exact VTX connector, polarisation and secure mounting |
| Props | HQProp Flowerpig 5.1x2.9x3 example | Frame clearance, motor fit and direction |
Have an experienced builder check the complete list, including capacitor, wiring, connectors, battery straps and required mounting hardware. Frame-specific camera protection and antenna mounts can be useful; check the exact frame before ordering a print. Spare props and matching arms are useful later. Expensive upgrades can wait.
Batteries and charging
Follow the battery and charger manufacturers instructions for cell count, chemistry, maximum voltage, charge current, storage and disposal. A 1S whoop charging setup and a 6S race battery setup need different checks. Do not assume a LiPo and LiHV setting are interchangeable.
Learn the full charging process with someone experienced before your first charge. Charge in a suitable clear area, remain present, and do not use damaged batteries. Check balance leads and connectors before connecting anything. Ask the club how it handles battery storage, transport and damaged packs.
HOTA D6 Pro and HOTA F6 Ultra are examples from the original list. Verify the exact model, included power supply, mains/DC input, connector leads and per-channel capabilities before choosing. A charger alone may not include everything needed to power it.
Tools and spares
For a build: a suitable soldering iron, electronics solder and flux, wire cutters/strippers, a 2 mm hex driver, an appropriate prop-nut driver, a multimeter, heat-shrink and a smoke stopper. Confirm the sizes your parts use.
Later: spare props, matching frame arms, motor/receiver antennas, screws and straps. Buy compatible spares after choosing the build. A TS101 iron, HOTA chargers and basic hand tools are examples in the original worksheet; check power requirements and accessories rather than buying every item at once.
Setup and first power-on
Keep propellers removed for bench configuration and motor checks. Ask a club mentor to check soldering, polarity, mounting, receiver failsafe, arming/disarming, motor direction and prop orientation before the first flight. Do not copy firmware or configuration from a different flight-controller model.
Use the ExpressLRS getting-started documentation and Betaflight documentation for the exact hardware and software you have. Follow the VTX manufacturer instructions for antennas and cooling during bench work.
Your first club visit
Contact the club before arriving. Ask about visitor sessions, equipment to try, induction, membership/insurance requirements and who can help with setup. Bring your controller, charged equipment, spares and questions. Wait for the organisers instructions before powering a video transmitter or arming a drone.
Check the current CASA drone guidance and the rules that apply at the club site with the organiser. Club arrangements and flying permissions vary by site and activity.
Links, prices and next steps
This starting guide was adapted from the club starter gear worksheet. Product links are examples, not a compatibility guarantee or a requirement to use a particular shop. Check current AUD pricing, shipping, included accessories and stock before ordering; worksheet prices have not been carried forward as current quotes.
Before spending: share your budget, preferred flying and proposed basket with the club. Choose a complete compatible path, then build confidence one step at a time.
