Nick Burns tests the BetaFPV Air II frame on a 65mm whoop to check durability, weight and real-world fit. TL;DR: it survives indoor abuse, trims a few tenths off the scale, and shows small durability gains.
Why this matters
The tiny whoop scene values grams and crash tolerance. Small changes change flight feel and maintenance costs. Burns’ test matters because builders swap parts to hit sub-16 gram goals or reduce repair time.
Test plan and flight context
Burns flew the Air II indoors at a raised camera angle to stress the canopy and mounting points. He ran roughly ten batteries over about a week. Flights included a few crashes to replicate real wear and tear.
The on-camera footage had a sepia tone issue. Burns kept the camera to document recurring visual quirks and to ask if anyone has fixes. That odd tint does not affect the frame results, but it does make the footage... nostalgic.
Durability: does it actually last?
Short answer: yes. The Air II frame did not break during Burns’ week of indoor flights and crashes. The canopy shredded near the end, but the structural struts kept their shape.
Comparing an older Air 65 frame and the Air II showed fewer stress marks on the new design. Burns found no visible stress points on support struts, unlike the older frame that showed lumps and deformation.
Rigidity and flight feel
Burns noticed the Air II feels a touch firmer between motors when twisting the frame by hand. He calls it a small tactile difference—possibly placebo—but it translated to a slightly crisper response in flight.
He did not retune the AirSixtyFive flight controller for the new frame. The change in feel could be tuned out if pilots prefer a softer response. So the frame gains stiffness; flight feel remains adjustable.
Weights and measurements
Burns weighed multiple configurations. The original Air 65 frame measured about 2.65 grams for a specific piece. The Air II shaved roughly 0.05 grams on that same piece.
Complete builds showed bigger shifts. An out-of-the-box Air 65 with Air II framed components came in at about 17.25 grams. After Burns’ modifications and some canopy damage, the same build dropped to 16.59 grams.
Burns’ lightest whoop hit roughly 15.18 grams. He reached that by swapping cameras, trimming canopy mass and using non-metal screws and a minimal battery lead. Those tweaks stack to meaningful savings.
Design changes that actually matter
The Air II reduces the number of spurs or struts and repositions some for common impact zones. Fewer pieces equals less flex in the right spots and fewer fracture points under repeated crashes.
BetaFPV moved one strut inward to line up with other supports. The frame ships with a single arrow indicator for orientation on some colors, but other releases include two. Burns trimmed the triangular arrow to save grams.
Motor-screw recesses now include three little pads just outside the screw area. That prevents sharp metal screw tips from scratching floors or chipping furniture. It’s a small but practical change for indoor flyers.
Practical build modifications Burns applied
Burns used non-metal screws from Tiny Whoop, removed the battery connector back, and shaved the canopy. He also swapped the camera to a RunCam Nano 3 and shortened the battery lead to a thin wire.
He avoided heat-shrink on the battery lead to save grams and kept enough canopy to protect the camera. Those choices cut the weight while keeping the whoop serviceable after typical crashes.
Costs, availability and the red exclusive
BetaFPV lists Air II frames in purple, orange, blue, and clear for around $4.99 direct. AliExpress options showed about $4.68. WebleedFPV holds an exclusive red version priced differently; Burns linked a coupon code WEBLEED5 for 5% off.
Having an exclusive seller like Webleed can sidestep import tariffs for some buyers. Burns points that out as a practical advantage for readers who want the red variant without customs hassle.
Verdict for builders and racers
Burns recommends the Air II frame for whoop builders focused on durability and small weight gains. It is unlikely to break common impact points and offers straightforward ways to shave grams.
The gains are incremental, not revolutionary. Builders chasing sub-16-gram builds will welcome the design tweaks. Pilots wanting identical flight feel may tune the controller to soften the firmer response.
FAQ
Q: Will the Air II fit all Air 65 components?
Yes. The Air II was designed for Air 65 series components. Expect drop-in compatibility for boards, motors and cameras from recent Air 65 kits.
Q: Does the Air II actually save weight?
Not dramatically by itself. Individual parts might save a few hundredths of a gram. Aggregate modifications produced about 0.66 grams saved in Burns’ test.
Q: Is the frame more rigid?
Yes, slightly. Burns felt a firmer motor-to-motor torsion. The difference is small and tunable by adjusting flight controller PID or softening stick response.
Q: Which screws and tweaks save the most weight?
Swap to non-metal screws, trim or remove canopy decorations like the arrow, remove battery connector backs, and shorten battery leads. Those moves stack into real gains.
Q: Where to buy the red Air II frame?
WebleedFPV holds the exclusive red version. Use WEBLEED5 for 5% off when available. Other colors ship direct from BetaFPV or from AliExpress sellers.
Q: Does camera tint affect build choice?
No. The sepia camera issue Burns recorded is a camera or lens problem, not frame-related. Swap the camera if tint troubles a pilot’s video diagnostics.
Takeaway
Quick hits for skim readers and builders.
- Air II reduces common impact stress; it’s tougher than the older Air 65 frame.
- Weight savings are incremental—stack small mods to cut meaningful grams.
- Frame feels slightly stiffer between motors; tune the controller to preference.
- Practical changes—recessed screw pads, fewer struts—help indoor flyers avoid floor and furniture damage.
- Red is a WebleedFPV exclusive; use coupon WEBLEED5 when valid.
Final note
Burns’ hands-on test shows BetaFPV iterated sensibly. The Air II trades minute weight differences for targeted durability improvements. Builders will like the options and the small, practical details.
This article was based from the video Lighter More Durability and More \\ Betafpv Air II Frame
