Radio

I started out cheaping out on a radio and getting the QX7. Turns out it was a very good decision. I have never had an issue with the controller neither would I want to change anything as of right now. With this radio, I made two modifications right off the start. I added a NiMe Battery with a charging port on the bottom left. If you run LiPo, you would need to take out the battery and charge it every few weeks. In addition to the battery mod, I added a Crossfire Module on the back (Crossfire Lite). It can output up to 2W which is significantly more than any stock radio. Very happy with this radio controller and well worth the money.

Goggle

Goggles are a big commitment. It means you are either choosing team analog or team HD. HD has its perks and also has it’s con. I do intend on upgrading to the DJI HD system in the future, but starting out with analog you can’t go wrong. Cheap analog goggles can go for anywhere from $50 - $200 (used). I have the Fatshark HDO2 wit the TrueD Furious module with Immersion RC antennas (LHCP). There was not really a reason I chose this one. It was just on sale and it had good reviews. So far no complaints and no plans on upgrading to Rapidfire.

Battery

Starting out with my first 5” I have always flew 4S 1500 MaH. It was the default for me. I have about 10 of these batteries and on an average flight, they last me anywhere from 2 minutes to 4 minutes. I’ve seen pilots push these batteries to 10 minutes but that’s with proper optimization with props, weight, motors, etc. I currently rock two brands of 4S 1500 MaH, Luminere and Tattu. The Luminere batteries are a few dollars more expensive and from my experience they both fly the same so save you a few bucks if you intend to buy in bulks. I also have a 6S 2200 MaH for my 6”. Average flight time of 6 minutes.