Frames

This can be a bit confusing for beginners so lets try and break it down. Think of the frame as the skeleton or the main body of the drone. Its job is pretty straightforward: it's what you mount all the other parts onto – the motors go on the arms, the flight controller and ESCs stack in the middle, the camera goes in the front, and the battery straps to it. It holds everything together securely and provides protection for the electronics inside.

Frames come in different sizes, and this is usually measured in two main ways:

Diagonal Motor-to-Motor Distance: This is the most common way to describe size, measured in millimeters (mm) from the center of one motor mount diagonally across to the center of the opposite motor mount. So, you'll see sizes like 100mm, 210mm, 250mm, etc.
Propeller Size: Frames are also often categorized by the largest propeller size they are designed to swing. This is measured in inches. So, a "5-inch frame" is designed for 5-inch propellers and typically has a diagonal motor-to-motor size around 210mm to 230mm. You get 3-inch, 5-inch, 6-inch, 7-inch frames, and so on.

The size of the frame is closely related to the type of battery you'll use and the purpose of the drone:

Smaller Frames (like 3-inch or under, <150mm): These are for smaller, lighter drones. They usually use 1S or 2S batteries. They're great for flying indoors, in small backyards, or tight gaps because they are nimble and less powerful, making them safer for learning in confined spaces.

Medium Frames (like 5-inch, 210mm-230mm): This is the most common size for general FPV flying. They typically use 4S or 6S batteries. This size is popular for freestyle flying (doing tricks) and racing because it offers a good balance of speed, power, and agility.

Larger Frames (like 6-inch, 7-inch, or bigger, >250mm): These are used for bigger, heavier drones. They usually require 6S batteries or even higher voltage batteries. These are often built for carrying heavier cameras (like GoPros) or for long-range cruising because the larger props are more efficient for covering distance.

So, the frame size determines how big your drone is, which motors and props fit, and that dictates what battery voltage you need, ultimately defining what kind of flying the drone is best suited for.

Different frame types

For experienced FPV pilots, the drone frame is a highly specialized piece of engineering, where design choices, material properties, and geometry are meticulously selected based on the intended flight style – be it competitive racing, aggressive freestyle, or smooth cinematic capture.

Beyond simply holding components, advanced frame design focuses on material science and structural integrity. Almost universally, high-performance frames are constructed from carbon fiber, chosen for its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio. Experts look at the carbon weave (like the common 3K twill) and, critically, the thickness of the carbon plates, especially the arms (often 5mm or thicker for 5-inch freestyle frames) and the bottom/top plates. Thicker carbon generally means more durability but adds weight. Manufacturers also use techniques like chamfered edges, strategic cutouts to save weight without compromising critical strength, and reinforcement points.

Frame geometry is specifically tailored for different disciplines:

Racing Frames: These prioritize minimal weight and aerodynamics. Designs are often symmetrical ("True X" or "Stretch X"), where the motors form a perfect square or a rectangle stretched along the pitch axis. This symmetry provides predictable flight characteristics and clean air for the rear propellers. Arms are typically narrower to reduce drag. While durable enough for minor crashes, outright crash survivability might be secondary to shedding grams and cutting through the air efficiently for maximum speed on a track.

Freestyle Frames: Durability is paramount for freestyle frames due to the frequent and often violent crashes involved in learning and executing tricks. Arms are generally wider and thicker, the body section is robust with substantial top and bottom plates, and there's significant consideration for protecting vulnerable components like the camera and battery. Designs often include robust aluminum cages for the FPV camera and strategically placed standoffs. Some freestyle frames use "Squashed X" or "Deadcat" geometries (where the front motors are closer together than the rear, or vice-versa, and arms might be angled) to help keep propellers out of the camera's field of view during aggressive maneuvers, though this can slightly affect symmetrical flight characteristics.

Photography/Cinematic Frames: The focus here is on smoothness and the ability to carry larger payloads while keeping propellers out of the shot. These frames often feature "Deadcat" or "Long-Back" designs with arms positioned far from the camera lens. Vibration isolation is key; some frames incorporate dampened mounting points for the camera and even the FC stack to ensure jello-free footage. These are often larger frames (6, 7-inch and up) to gain efficiency and lift capacity needed for action cameras (GoPro, DJI O3) or even dedicated cinema cameras. Durability against hard crashes is typically less of a concern than achieving stable, clean flight and cinematic camera angles.

Beyond the basic structure, advanced frames feature specialized mounting solutions: secure, adjustable camera mounts, dedicated spots for VTX antennas (often protected), GPS units, and purpose-built platforms or mounts (often 3D-printed TPU) for attaching external action cameras securely. The choice of frame is a deliberate decision weighing performance characteristics like agility and aerodynamics against requirements for durability, component protection, vibration isolation, and payload capacity, precisely matching the tool to the pilot's specific job or flying style.