When flying FPV, one of many choices obtainable 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, do you have to use a crosshair for FPV flying? The reply is each sure and no, relying in your expertise degree, flying model, 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 perhaps time to show it off.
What Does the Crosshair Really Do?
DJI Avata 2’s Crosshair: A Extra Purposeful 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 learners, because it visually signifies the place the drone is heading, serving to pilots make exact actions and changes.
Betaflight’s Crosshair: A Fastened Level
In distinction, the crosshair in Betaflight is only a fastened marker on the middle of your display. It doesn’t transfer, doesn’t replicate the place the drone goes, and could be deceptive typically—particularly for learners who assume it acts as an aiming reticle.
Why I Don’t Use a Crosshair in FPV
Personally, I by no means bought used to utilizing a crosshair as a result of I realized 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 man-made level on the display.
Right here’s why I feel the crosshair could be problematic:
1. It Doesn’t Present The place the Drone Is Really Going
A typical false impression is that in the event you line up the crosshair to the hole you wish to fly by means 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 also be descending or climbing? The crosshair might stay centered, providing you with no indication of altitude modifications. You would possibly assume you’re lined up, solely to clip the highest or backside of an impediment.
2. It Can Be a Distraction
New pilots typically fixate on the crosshair as an alternative of studying the surroundings. Flying FPV is about feeling the drone’s motion, understanding its drift, and reacting to real-time situations. In the event you’re too centered on preserving 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 sensible in a primary particular person shooter online game like Name of Responsibility, the place your bullets go precisely the place you intention. However in FPV, your drone is consistently 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 strains in some FPV simulators, the place there can be a guiding marker that helps you the place to go, learners would possibly wish to substitute crosshair for these markers. However in an precise flights, you want to concentrate on obstacles and different drones within the air. Equally, a crosshair is perhaps a crutch that stops 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 may also help you preserve framing, much like having a grid, which cinematographers use to compose photographs extra successfully.
3. Stopping Movement Illness
Some pilots report that having a set reference level like a crosshair reduces movement illness by giving their mind one thing secure to deal with. In the event you wrestle with dizziness or nausea in FPV, it is perhaps price attempting.
4. Studying to Fly Degree
In simulators, a crosshair may also help new pilots keep degree when studying primary controls. As a result of learners are inclined to fly comparatively sluggish and secure, so the crosshair stays roughly within the middle a lot of the instances. Nonetheless, as quickly as you begin flying sooner and doing acrobatics, it may well beomce counterproductive—like coaching wheels that want to come back off.
The way to Allow Crosshair in Betaflight
- In Betaflight Configurator, navigate to the OSD tab.
- Search for “Crosshair” within the checklist of accessible OSD parts (beneath 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).
Closing Thought: Ought to You Use Crosshair?
Right here’s my take:
- In the event 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.
- In the event you’re into racing, it may well function a reference for fast maneuvers.
- In the event you fly professionally, it might assist with shot composition.
- For most individuals although, personally I don’t assume you want it and you’ll flip it off.
In the end, it’s a private alternative, however in the event you assume the crosshair will make FPV flying simpler, it gained’t. As an alternative, deal with studying your drone’s movement, utilizing your environment for reference, and creating actual FPV instincts.
