FPV freestyle flying is an exciting and creative form of drone piloting, where the focus is on performing stunning aerial tricks and stunts with fluid motion and full control. Unlike FPV racing or cinematic FPV, freestyle allows pilots to express themselves through maneuvers like power loops, barrel rolls, and advanced tricks such as Madd flips and juicy flicks. This guide will cover the essential beginner tricks, including yaw spins and front/back flips, and help you progress to more complex maneuvers. Additionally, we’ll explore how to build smooth combos, manage throttle effectively, and avoid common mistakes to ensure a safe and exciting flight experience.
What Is FPV Freestyle Flying?
FPV (First Person View) freestyle flying is a thrilling branch of drone piloting where the focus is on performing tricks, stunts, and expressive flight movements. Unlike racing, which is based on speed and precision, or cinematic FPV which aims for smooth shots, freestyle is all about creativity, fluid motion, and mastering full control of your drone in three-dimensional space.
Freestyle flying typically uses 5-inch quadcopters due to their balance of power, agility, and stability. These drones are often custom-built with durable frames, high-thrust motors, and responsive flight controllers. Freestyle also requires a good-quality FPV camera and goggles for real-time maneuvering.
Core FPV Freestyle Tricks for Beginner Level
Here are some essential tricks that every beginner should practice, along with tips for learning them.
Power Loop
This trick involves pulling back on the pitch while adding throttle to loop over an object. Key to success is timing your throttle input — too early and you’ll overshoot, too late and you’ll crash. Start by practicing in wide-open areas and gradually incorporate landmarks.
Simulator Tip: In Liftoff or Velocidrone, place a gate or object in a wide field. Practice full loops at different altitudes. Use FPV camera angle settings around 20°–30°.
Split-S
Roll the drone upside down and pitch forward into a dive to create an S-shape trajectory. This trick teaches you inverted control and altitude management. It’s often used to reverse direction quickly or dive behind objects.
Simulator Tip: Set up a high marker. Start with a simple roll and pitch combination above it, then increase speed. Practice orientation recovery after the dive.
Barrel Roll / Aileron Roll
Perform a full 360-degree roll using the roll axis while maintaining forward momentum. Start with small roll rates and moderate throttle to avoid losing altitude. Practice rolling left and right to build symmetry.
Simulator Tip: Fly through a tunnel or long structure while rolling. This helps develop spatial awareness and roll rate control.
Front Flip / Back Flip
These involve fast pitch movements forward or backward. Use these flips to build confidence in aerial orientation and to exit tight spaces with flair. Maintain consistent throttle to avoid dropping altitude mid-flip.
Simulator Tip: Set up waypoints. Flip between them and track throttle input to maintain altitude. Use rate tuning for better flip sharpness.
Yaw Spin
A rotation around the yaw axis, often while hovering or moving slowly. Though it seems simple, this trick adds dynamic movement and can be linked with flips or rolls for dramatic effect.
Simulator Tip: Try hovering over a ground marker and do slow yaw rotations. Then combine yaw spins with flips or rolls for visual flow.
Trippy Spin
This orbit maneuver requires you to circle a vertical object (like a pole or tree) while staying inverted and keeping the object centered in view. It demands precise roll, yaw, and throttle control simultaneously. Start wide and slowly tighten your orbit as you gain control.
Simulator Tip: Place a pole in the simulator. Go inverted and orbit while keeping the pole centered in your view. Use cinematic camera mode to fine-tune flow.
Intermediate to Advanced Tricks of FPV Freestyle
Once you’re confident with the basics, try progressing to these more complex tricks that require better stick control, coordination, and spatial awareness:
Madd Flip
Named after FPV pilot Mr. Steele’s flying style, this trick is a fast, disorienting maneuver that combines roll, pitch, and yaw. Start by executing a yaw spin mid-flip to create a sharp directional change. It’s flashy and great for transitioning between high-speed runs and technical segments.
Simulator Tip: Practice in Velocidrone freestyle maps. Use slow stick inputs at first to break down the trick into pitch + yaw + roll. Record and review your attempts.
Rewind
This trick involves doing a motion and immediately reversing it — for example, entering a power loop and then reversing the motion to come back through the same arc. It’s visually impressive and showcases perfect timing and muscle memory.
Simulator Tip: Use Liftoff’s track editor to create arcs or loops. Fly through, then rewind the exact motion. Use ghost mode to compare flight paths.
Juicy Flick
Often seen in “juicy-style” flying, this is a quick snap in one direction followed by an immediate flick back the opposite way. It mimics a whip or snap and adds rhythm to your freestyle flow. Use fast roll and pitch inputs with subtle throttle adjustments.
Simulator Tip: Practice short back-and-forth movements in open space. Use high camera angle and aggressive rates. Try pairing flicks with throttle blips.
Wall Taps / Proximity Tricks
These require you to fly extremely close to surfaces or even briefly tap them with your props or frame. It’s risky but rewarding, and ideal for urban environments. Practice in simulators before attempting in real life.
Simulator Tip: Use bando (abandoned building) maps in Liftoff. Fly close to windows and walls. Slowly reduce distance while maintaining control. Avoid direct collisions initially.
Each of these advanced tricks should be approached patiently. Watch high-level pilots for inspiration, use slow stick movements in early attempts, and always record your flights to analyze what went right or wrong.
Building Combos and Flow of FPV freestyle
Freestyle isn’t just about isolated tricks — it’s about linking moves together into flowing sequences:
- Combining Tricks: Chain a power loop into a roll, then a yaw spin, followed by a Split-S.
- Throttle Management: Keep your movements smooth by mastering your throttle. Too much, and you’ll lose flow; too little, and you’ll drop out of the air.
- Stick Harmony: Use coordinated inputs across pitch, roll, and yaw to create seamless transitions.
- Sim Practice: Use simulators like Liftoff or Velocidrone to build trick combos before flying real drones.
Common Mistakes of FPV Freestyle and How to Avoid
Every pilot makes mistakes, but recognizing them is the key to improvement:
- Overcorrecting Mid-Trick: Let the drone complete its motion before making recovery inputs.
- Unstable Throttle: Use expo or throttle curves to gain finer control at low stick positions.
- Skipping the Basics: Don’t rush into advanced moves — they rely on strong fundamentals.
- Unsafe Practice Zones: Always fly in wide-open or legal areas to reduce risk.
FAQ
How to fly FPV smoothly?
Practice throttle control, use expo settings on your transmitter, and fly in simulators to build muscle memory.
How fast is FPV freestyle?
Freestyle isn’t about max speed. Speeds can range from 30 to 100+ km/h depending on the move, but control is the priority.
What is the best way to learn FPV flying?
Start with simulators like Liftoff or Velocidrone. Then practice with a durable 5-inch quad in open fields. Watch pro pilot videos to learn flow and creativity.