Getting Started

Drone types, the tools you need on your bench, and how a quadcopter actually stays in the air.

KV, ESC, VTX, PID, ELRS, AUW and more: plain-English definitions of the drone terms you will see in every build guide.

4 min read

Practice in a simulator before your first real flight. How simulators work, which to try and how many hours to fly before going outside.

4 min read

Learn to solder motor wires, battery leads and flight controller pads cleanly, with the right iron temperature, flux and technique.

4 min read

The soldering iron, hex drivers, smoke stopper and other tools you need on your bench to build and repair a drone the right way.

3 min read

Building a drone teaches you to fix it; buying gets you flying today. Compare cost, time, skills and repairs before you choose.

3 min read

Tiny whoop, 3-inch or 5-inch? Pick your first drone build by where you fly, your budget and how much you want to crash and…

3 min read

FPV racers, camera drones, cinewhoops, long-range and fixed-wing: a clear guide to drone types and which one fits what you want to do.

4 min read

A realistic budget for your first DIY drone: parts, radio, goggles, batteries and tools, with low, mid and premium build options.

3 min read

Learn how a quadcopter flies: how thrust, motor torque and the flight controller work together to lift, steer and stabilize a drone.

4 min read

Guides