When flying FPV, one of many choices accessible in your OSD (on-screen show) is a crosshair—a small marker within the middle of your display. Some pilots swear by it, whereas others discover it pointless and even deceptive. So, must you use a crosshair for FPV flying? The reply is each sure and no, relying in your expertise stage, flying type, and private desire. On this article, I’ll break down when a crosshair would possibly assist, why I personally don’t use one, and when it is likely to be time to show it off.
What Does the Crosshair Really Do?
DJI Avata 2’s Crosshair: A Extra Practical Design
The DJI Avata 2, when flown with the Movement Controller, encompasses a transferring crosshair that dynamically shifts based mostly on the drone’s flight path. This generally is a recreation changer for novices, because it visually signifies the place the drone is heading, serving to pilots make exact actions and changes.
Betaflight’s Crosshair: A Mounted Level
In distinction, the crosshair in Betaflight is only a mounted marker on the middle of your display. It doesn’t transfer, doesn’t replicate the place the drone goes, and may be deceptive generally—particularly for novices who assume it acts as an aiming reticle.
Why I Don’t Use a Crosshair in FPV
Personally, I by no means acquired used to utilizing a crosshair as a result of I discovered to fly with out it. I depend on my instincts, peripheral imaginative and prescient, and the precise movement of the drone to information my flight, not a synthetic level on the display.
Right here’s why I feel the crosshair may be problematic:
1. It Doesn’t Present The place the Drone Is Really Going
A typical false impression is that in case you line up the crosshair to the hole you need to fly by way of. However that’s not how FPV works.
Think about your drone is flying straight ahead. You assume the crosshair aligns together with your trajectory, proper? Probably not. When the drone is flying ahead it pitches ahead and so the crosshair can be pointing down barely, and never straight forward. And what if the drone can be descending or climbing? The crosshair may stay centered, supplying you with no indication of altitude adjustments. You would possibly suppose you’re lined up, solely to clip the highest or backside of an impediment.
2. It Can Be a Distraction
New pilots generally fixate on the crosshair as an alternative of studying the atmosphere. Flying FPV is about feeling the drone’s motion, understanding its drift, and reacting to real-time situations. Should you’re too centered on protecting a crosshair on course, you’re lacking out on spatial consciousness, which is essential for tight maneuvers.
3. FPV Isn’t Counter Strike
A crosshair is smart in a primary individual shooter online game like Name of Responsibility, the place your bullets go precisely the place you goal. However in FPV, your drone is continually in movement, tilting, rolling, and adjusting. A static crosshair simply doesn’t replicate the fluidity of actual flight.
4. Racing Line Syndrome
This jogs my memory of racing traces in some FPV simulators, the place there can be a guiding marker that helps you the place to go, novices would possibly need to substitute crosshair for these markers. However in an precise flights, you want to pay attention to obstacles and different drones within the air. Equally, a crosshair is likely to be a crutch that forestalls you from studying real-world flight methods.
When a Crosshair Would possibly Really Be Helpful
Whereas I don’t use crosshair, I’ll admit there are some conditions the place it may be useful:
1. FPV Racing
For racers, the crosshair isn’t about aiming at a gate however serving as a visible reference for fast corrections. It helps with timing maneuvers, particularly at excessive speeds, the place minor changes make an enormous distinction.
2. Skilled Cinematic Flying
When monitoring a transferring topic—like a automotive in a chase scene—a crosshair will help you preserve framing, just like having a grid, which cinematographers use to compose photographs extra successfully.
3. Stopping Movement Illness
Some pilots report that having a hard and fast reference level like a crosshair reduces movement illness by giving their mind one thing steady to concentrate on. Should you battle with dizziness or nausea in FPV, it is likely to be value attempting.
4. Studying to Fly Degree
In simulators, a crosshair will help new pilots keep stage when studying primary controls. As a result of novices are inclined to fly comparatively gradual and steady, so the crosshair stays roughly within the middle a lot of the occasions. Nevertheless, as quickly as you begin flying sooner and doing acrobatics, it may well beomce counterproductive—like coaching wheels that want to return off.
The way to Allow Crosshair in Betaflight
- In Betaflight Configurator, navigate to the OSD tab.
- Search for “Crosshair” within the record of obtainable OSD parts (below Craft Title).
- Click on the checkbox subsequent to Crosshair to allow it.
- Drag and place the crosshair the place you need it on the display (usually centered).
Remaining Thought: Ought to You Use Crosshair?
Right here’s my take:
- Should you’re a newbie, a crosshair would possibly assist with primary flight stability, however don’t depend on it an excessive amount of and too lengthy.
- Should you’re into racing, it may well function a reference for fast maneuvers.
- Should you fly professionally, it might assist with shot composition.
- For most individuals although, personally I don’t suppose you want it and you may flip it off.
Finally, it’s a private alternative, however in case you suppose the crosshair will make FPV flying simpler, it gained’t. As a substitute, concentrate on studying your drone’s movement, utilizing your environment for reference, and growing actual FPV instincts.
