Build a 5-Inch DJI O4 Freestyle Drone: Parts List & Guide.

Want to build a 5-inch DJI O4 freestyle drone? You need eight things: a frame, four motors, a flight controller and ESC stack, a receiver, the DJI O4 Air Unit Pro, propellers, 6S batteries and a radio. This guide lists the exact parts we picked at FPV Depot, why each one made the cut, and how it all goes together.

A digital freestyle drone sends a sharp HD picture to your goggles, so you can see every gap, line and landing clearly. With the O4 Air Unit Pro you also record 4K at 120fps on board, and the footage is ready to edit.

The drone alone costs AED 2,743.90. With four batteries and a radio, the full kit is AED 4,876.36 (prices at the time of writing).

The Parts You Need for a Digital Freestyle Drone

We chose every part to work with the others. Click any part name to see its product page.

1. Frame: GEP-MK5 O4 Pro Wide X

The frame is the skeleton of your quad. The GEP-MK5 O4 Pro Wide X Carbon Fiber FPV Frame Kit has a 225mm wheelbase and 5mm thick arms, and the bare frame weighs about 165g. It is optimized for the DJI O4 Air Unit Pro, and the camera mount has dual TPU shock-absorbing mounts to keep the picture steady.

It takes 16x16 and 19x19 motor patterns and a 30.5x30.5 stack. The kit also includes a battery strap, anti-slip pads, screwdrivers and a screw pack, so you can start building straight away. Want to compare? Browse our 5-inch frames.

2. Motors: T-MOTOR ITS 2306.5 1750KV

The motors decide how the quad feels in the air. The T-MOTOR ITS 2306.5 1750KV is a freestyle motor with a 23.11 x 6.60mm stator and a 16x16mm mounting pattern. Each one weighs 34.5g.

On 6S, 1750KV gives smooth, controllable power for flips, rolls and power loops. You need four. See more in our 23xx motors collection.

3. Flight Controller and ESC: RUSH BLADE F722 Stack

The stack is the brain and the muscle. The RUSH BLADE F722 stack pairs an STM32F722 flight controller and an ICM42688P gyro with a 60A ESC (80A peak) running AM32. It supports 3S to 6S, has 16MB of blackbox memory and fits the standard 30.5x30.5 pattern.

The flight controller weighs 11g and the ESC 16.5g. To connect the O4 you need a power lead and one spare UART for the Betaflight OSD, so check the stack's wiring diagram before you solder. More options are in our FC and ESC stack collection.

4. Receiver: RadioMaster RP3 V2 ExpressLRS

The receiver links your radio to the quad. The RadioMaster RP3 V2 is a 2.4GHz ExpressLRS nano receiver with two T-antennas for diversity, so the link stays steady when the quad turns. It comes with ExpressLRS 3.0 pre-installed and runs on 5V.

Browse the full receivers collection if you want to compare.

5. Digital Video: DJI O4 Air Unit Pro

This is the part that makes the build digital. The DJI O4 Air Unit Pro streams 1080p at 100fps to your goggles with latency as low as 15ms, and records 4K at 120fps in H.265. DJI quotes a range of up to 15km in ideal conditions.

It supports Betaflight OSD, Racing Mode and Canvas Mode, and works with DJI Goggles 3 and Goggles N3. It is the biggest single cost in the build, and it changes the flying experience the most. See our HD VTX collection.

6. Propellers: HQ Juicy Prop J33 5"

Props are the cheapest way to change how a quad feels. The HQ Juicy Prop J33 is a 5-inch, 3-blade prop with a 3.3-inch pitch. It is injection-moulded polycarbonate, so it flexes on impact instead of snapping, and each prop weighs just 3.8g.

One pack has 2 clockwise and 2 counter-clockwise props, which covers all four motors. The shaft size is 5mm. Buy a spare set. You will use it.

7. Batteries: Tattu R-Line V6.0 1600mAh 6S

Batteries decide how long you fly. The Tattu R-Line V6.0 1600mAh 6S 160C weighs 240g and measures 77 x 37.5 x 40mm. It has an XT60 connector and a 160C discharge rating, so it holds voltage when you punch the throttle.

Four packs give you a full session at the field. Always charge LiPo packs on a proper smart charger. More packs are in our 6S battery collection.

8. Radio: RadioMaster TX16S MK3 MAX

The radio is your link to the quad, and it will serve you for many builds. The RadioMaster TX16S MK3 MAX has a 5-inch 800x480 touchscreen, AG02 quad-bearing Hall gimbals and a built-in Gemini dual-band ExpressLRS module covering 2.4GHz and 900MHz. It works with the RP3 V2 above.

It runs on two 18650 or 21700 cells, or an external 2S LiPo. See other choices in our radio collection.

What Else Do You Need?

Three things are not in the parts list, so plan for them:

• Goggles: DJI Goggles 3 or Goggles N3 show the O4 video feed. See our goggles collection.
• A smart charger for the 6S packs. See our chargers collection.
• Tools: a soldering iron, solder and flux, hex drivers, side cutters, a multimeter, heat shrink, blue thread locker, a smoke stopper and a micro SD card for the O4.

How Heavy Is This Build?

The parts we listed weigh about 586g: frame 165g, four motors 138g, flight controller 11g, ESC 16.5g, four props 15.2g and one battery 240g. That is before the O4 unit, the receiver, wires and screws.

The battery alone is about 41% of that figure. It shows why we picked a 1600mAh pack: it is a solid size for a 5-inch, and a bigger pack would add weight fast.

How to Build a 5-Inch DJI O4 Freestyle Drone

Take your time. Most beginner problems come from rushed soldering and skipped checks.

1. Prep the frame. Sand any sharp carbon edges, then wash off the dust. Carbon dust conducts electricity, so keep it away from your electronics.
2. Mount the motors. Use blue thread locker and screws that are short enough not to touch the motor windings.
3. Solder the ESC. Tin the pads with flux first, then solder the motor wires and the battery lead. Add a capacitor across the battery pads to calm voltage spikes.
4. Stack the electronics. Fit the ESC and flight controller on the 30.5x30.5 pattern.
5. Install the O4 Air Unit Pro. Connect its power lead and UART as shown in the manual. Do not leave it powered on the bench for long, because it runs hot without airflow.
6. Add the receiver. Connect the RP3 V2 to a free UART and tuck both antennas where the carbon will not block them.
7. Check before power-up. Test continuity with a multimeter, then plug in your first battery through a smoke stopper.
8. Set up Betaflight. With the props off, set motor direction, the receiver protocol, flight modes, failsafe and the OSD.
9. Bind and pair. Bind the receiver to your radio and pair the O4 with your goggles.
10. Fit the props last. Put clockwise and counter-clockwise props on the right motors, and tighten each nut until the prop cannot move.

What Does It Cost?

• Drone only (frame, motors, stack, receiver, O4 Air Unit Pro, props): AED 2,743.90
• Four Tattu 6S 1600mAh batteries: AED 905.96
• RadioMaster TX16S MK3 MAX: AED 1,226.50
• Full kit: AED 4,876.36

Goggles and a charger are extra.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need to build a digital freestyle drone?

A frame, four motors, a flight controller and ESC, a receiver, a digital video system like the DJI O4 Air Unit Pro, props, batteries, a radio and compatible goggles.

Is a 5-inch drone good for a first build?

Yes. Parts are easy to find and a 5-inch is the freestyle standard. It is powerful, so practise in a simulator first and fly in a wide-open space.

Which goggles work with the DJI O4 Air Unit Pro?

DJI Goggles 3 and DJI Goggles N3.

Why build on 6S?

6S gives more power at lower current than 4S, which suits the 2306.5 motors and the 60A ESC in this build.

Where can I buy FPV parts in the UAE?

FPV Depot is an Abu Dhabi-based online store for FPV drones and parts. Every part in this guide links to its product page.

Browse all our FPV drone parts and build yours today. Happy flying!