The X-Wing fighter may not be real, but the Fly Wing X Wing Fighter FPV is probably the closest most of us will ever get to piloting an aircraft with an X-wing configuration—and feeling like we are sitting right inside the cockpit.
No, it will not help you destroy a moon-sized battle station. It will, however, let you experience first-person-view flight from the nose of a futuristic VTOL aircraft inspired by one of science fiction’s most iconic silhouettes.
The Fly Wing X Wing Fighter FPV combines vertical take-off and landing capability with fixed-wing flight. In VTOL mode, it takes off and hovers like a quadcopter. Flip a switch, and the aircraft transitions into forward flight, seamlessly shifting into fixed-wing mode. Better still, the onboard flight controller handles the transition automatically, so you do not need the qualifications of a starfighter pilot to make it happen.
We cannot not talk about immersion when it comes to an FPV, and oh boy, the immersion on this one is through the roof, or in this case, the canopy. For starters, the experience is built around DJI’s O4 Air transmission system, delivering a crystal-clear 1080p live feed at up to 100 fps with latency as low as 24 milliseconds. Best of all, this live-feed camera can follow head movements for an even more convincing pilot’s-eye perspective.
And you’d be seeing more than the beautiful sky you are flying through; you’d also be looking at a detailed cockpit view with real-time flight information. That’s right. It has working “avionics” in the form of functional screens displaying flight information, complete with an artificial horizon and a radar display. Yup. This little guy has an integrated radar system, which I do not believe exists in mainstream RC aircraft.
With a detection range of up to 350 meters (1,148 feet), it can track as many as six aircraft simultaneously, displaying their position and direction in real time on one of said screens. This brings us to one other thing it can do: air combat. All that, plus the fact that it has a flight stick in the scaled cockpit that moves in sync with your input on the controller, is peak immersion.
The onboard camera records 4K video at 60 fps with an ultra-wide 117.6-degree field of view, letting you relive the moment when back on the ground. Meanwhile, RockSteady 3.0+ stabilization helps keep footage smooth whether you are cruising across open fields or pulling aggressive aerobatic maneuvers.
And yes, part of the immersion also involves aerobatics. In fixed-wing mode, you can choose Cruise Mode for stabilized flight or Acro Mode for complete agility, which allows you to pull off those wild aerial stunts—rolls, loops, inverted flight… you name it—that have been playing over in your head.
As far as performance goes, the aircraft can hit speeds of up to 120 km/h (74.6 mph), which is at the upper end of RC aircraft. Meanwhile, power comes from a 23.1 V, 6,920 mAh lithium-polymer battery, offering up to 60 minutes of flight time on a single charge. Integrated 5 A fast charging can replenish the pack to 50 percent in around 40 minutes.
The airframe itself is designed to survive more than just careful flying. The X Wing features a high-strength EPP foam core, ABS reinforcement on the leading edges, and a 6061 aerospace-grade aluminum spar on the inside. All told, the combination of the motor, the material, the design, together with the flight control system and control algorithms, enables the X Wing to fly in winds up to Beaufort Scale 5, or approximately 7 m/s (15.7 mph).
Rounding up the feature list is an integrated aviation lighting system that improves visibility and creates a distinctive glowing “X” signature at the rear. The aircraft is also foldable, making it easier to transport than most starfighters.
Whether you are an FPV enthusiast, an RC pilot, or simply someone who has always wanted to sit in the cockpit of an X-wing, the Fly Wing X Wing Fighter FPV appears to be much more than a sci-fi-inspired gimmick. It is a serious FPV aircraft that just happens to look like it belongs in a galaxy far, far away. And no, it will not do hyperspace jumps.
The Fly Wing X Wing Fighter FPV will come as a ready-to-fly kit with everything you need to start flying when it hits the market. However, exactly when that will happen is unclear. Neither is the asking price. Rest assured, it is going to cost quite a bit of money. In the meantime, you can check out the promo video embedded below.
Images: Fly Wing.
