Free · 3D configurator
FPV drone configurator: build your drone and see how it would fly
Pick the frame, motors, propellers, battery, ESC, flight controller and video, and see it built in 3D on the workbench. You instantly see its weight, thrust-to-weight ratio, hover throttle, flight time and whether any part falls short. When it is ready, fly it in the simulator with real physics.
Drag the drone to rotate it and use the wheel to zoom. Your builds are saved in your browser; you can export and import them.
What the configurator tells you
Weight and thrust-to-weight
The sum of every part and the thrust of the four motors with their propellers and battery. Below 2:1 it will struggle to climb; above 10:1 it will be very twitchy.
Flight time
Minutes hovering and in mixed flying, from the draw of the motors and electronics and 80 % of the battery.
Parts that fall short
Full-throttle current against what the motors, ESC and battery can take; KV that does not suit the cell count; propellers that do not fit the frame.
Rules
From 250 g you need the A1/A3 training and operator registration; without GPS there is no GPS Rescue if the radio link is lost.
How it is calculated
Each motor’s thrust, RPM and draw come from a motor model (KV, resistance, no-load current) and a propeller model (diameter, pitch and blades), fitted to the thrust stands of two real drones flown in AIRLAB FPV: a 5" with 2207 1750 KV motors and 5.1 × 4.3 props on 6S, and an 8" with 2807 1050 KV motors and 8 × 4 props. The parts are generic and their data estimated: use them to compare builds and understand what changes, not as a replacement for the manufacturer’s datasheet.
Want to learn how to build it for real, joint by joint and with Betaflight? Try the FPV build workshop.
Questions
Is the configurator free?
Yes. It runs in your browser, with no sign-up, and saves your builds in your own browser.
Can I fly the drone I build?
Yes, in the AIRLAB FPV simulator: the “Fly this drone in the simulator” button leaves it selected as the “Workshop” aircraft. To open the simulator you need an account; you can start with the free trial, no card needed.
Is the data from real parts?
They are generic parts with typical values (weight, KV, current, capacity), and the thrust and draw model is fitted to real thrust stands. Use it to compare and learn; before buying, always check the manufacturer’s datasheet.
What thrust-to-weight ratio does an FPV drone need?
For freestyle, between 6:1 and 10:1; for long range, 3:1 to 6:1 is enough and gains flight time. Below 2:1 it has no margin to recover from a drop.
How long does a 5" battery last?
With a 6S 1300 mAh pack, about 4 minutes of freestyle and nearly twice that hovering. With a 4500 mAh Li-ion pack on a 7", over 20 minutes of calm flying.