DarwinFPV ApeStyle X5 Lite

DarwinFPV ApeStyle X5 Lite is a 5" frame suitable for freestyle and building a durable drone for beginners and experienced pilots. It is the bare frame used by DarwinFPV for its ready-to-fly ApeStyle X5 drones. The frame has a Wide-X layout with a motor-to-motor diagonal distance of 215 mm and weighs 147,1 g without electronics (±5 g).

Each arm is separate and individually replaceable (“single quick-release boom”), so only the damaged part needs to be replaced after a crash. The arms are made of 5 mm carbon fiber and feature reinforced roots with a mortise-and-tenon joint (“mortise and tenon”), which reduces arm play and lowers the risk of breakage at the mounting point. The bottom plate is 2,5 mm thick, while the middle plate and camera side plates are 2 mm thick. The extended top plate accommodates larger batteries; the manufacturer recommends a 6S 1500 mAh battery with an XT60 connector.

The frame supports 30,5 x 30,5 mm mounting and 25 mm stack height for the flight controller and ESC. The video transmitter mounts on 20 x 20 mm or 25,5 x 25,5 mm holes, with another 25 mm of space available. The camera side plates have 20 mm mounting spacing. Motors mount on 16 x 16 mm mounting holes; the manufacturer recommends 2207 to 2507 motors, an ESC with continuous current above 50 A, and Gemfan 51499-3 propellers.

At the front is a 3D-printed TPU part that serves as a GPS module mount, and a 3D-printed antenna mount is also included. The GPS module is not included (sold separately). The Lite version includes only the frame. The board with 49 LEDs and two buzzers, landing gear protectors (“foot pads”), and side covers are included with the more expensive Standard version.