First FPV drone build

I’ve reached an exciting stage in my FPV drone journey—building my first quad from scratch. For weeks, I debated between buying a ready-to-fly Bind and Fly (BNF) drone or taking the plunge into building my own. In the end, the choice was clear: I know I’m going to crash and break it eventually, so I might as well learn how to build and repair it myself from day one.

Like many new pilots, I quickly stumbled upon Joshua Bardwell and his treasure trove of FPV knowledge on YouTube. While digging through his channel, I found a playlist for one of his previous FPV build kits, complete with a step-by-step video guide. That’s when I realized he had just released an updated version—the QAV-S 2—and it happened to be fully compatible with my DJI Goggles 2.

For my build, I decided on the O3 Air Unit version of the QAV-S 2 for its HD video capabilities. I also upgraded my transmitter to the Radiomaster Boxer Max with AG01 gimbals. I’m eager to try this radio out—my biggest frustration with the DJI FPV Controller has been how cramped it feels for my hybrid pinch/thumb grip style.

In upcoming posts, I’ll be sharing the full build process, setup tips, and my first impressions transitioning from the DJI Avata to a custom 5" freestyle FPV drone.