Can DJI Avata Do Flips? (Explained for Beginners)

The Avata is the first and only Cinewhoop drone from DJI. It’s also an FPV drone. Does that mean it can do acrobatic maneuvers like flips?

The DJI Avata can do flips and backflips only in Manual Mode. You can only perform this maneuver with the FPV Remote Controller 2.

It’s a simple trick; you only need a fail-proof procedure. And practice, practice, and practice!

Keep reading to learn the exact steps to perform a flip with the Avata.

What is a drone flip? #

Strictly speaking, a flip is a sudden 360° turn the drone performs in the pitch direction.

There are other kinds of flips, such as the side flips, that we know in drone jargon as rolls.

How to flip with your DJI Avata #

The Avata lacks the agility and speed to be a racing FPV drone. Having said that, this drone is unstable enough to do acrobatics such as flips with ease.

You only need to ensure the Avata has a full charge and is in Manual Mode.

Condition # 1 #

The reason is that the throttle output depends on the battery charge. When you have a battery charge below 50 percent, the Avata can’t deploy all its throttle power no matter how hard you push the throttle stick.

As a rule of thumb, ensure the battery is above 75 percent and preferably fully charged. Doing these extreme maneuvers drains the battery faster, so having it fully charged gives you more practice time.

Condition # 2 #

The other requirement is that the Avata must be in Manual Mode.

Here, the drone flies without any self-stability aids, like maintaining altitude without RC input.

This mode is crucial as the aircraft won’t have any restrictions to fly. It becomes unstable, can accelerate faster, and reaches top speed.

To enter Manual Mode, you must first be in Normal or Sport Modes.

1. Ensure your Avata and FPV Remote Controller 2 are fully charged or at least have 75 percent charge.
2. Move the Mode switch up to Manual. You can locate it to the left forward Flight Pause/RTH trigger.
3. Some steps appear in the Goggles. Move the sticks as in the Goggles view.
4. Once you move the sticks to the position the Goggles view show, the Avata enters Manual Mode.

We advise you to start in Normal Mode. By pressing the Flight Pause/RTH trigger, the Avata swifts from Manual to Normal Mode.

If you sense a control loss, press the Pause button, and the aircraft will hover in place, maintaining its altitude. Then you can press it once again to RTH if you need it.

This trick also works in Sport Mode, but it’s harder to control the drone in this mode when you lack experience recovering from an acrobatic maneuver.

Zero throttle #

Now in Manual Mode, the throttle control is indispensable.

In Normal and Sport Modes, we move the throttle stick to the max travel point. When we loosen the throttle stick, the Avata hovers in place.

Manual Mode works differently. If you move down the throttle stick, the engines won’t rotate the propellers, losing lift. The Avata won’t hover in place and fall.

This condition of zero-throttle output is the key to performing acrobatics safely.

Let’s say you flip your Avata and always have the throttle stick providing acceleration. Once you’re upside down, the drone will fall faster.

With zero-throttle output, the drone will fall by gravity. With the Avata upside down and full throttle control activated, the drone will fall by gravity, plus the acceleration of the throttle control.

So the idea is to practice bursting the throttle stick. Then move it down until your fingers adapt to this acceleration-deceleration motion.

Half-flip #

Now we can add a half-flip to start feeling comfortable with this motion.

The stick control is by default in Mode 2. Then the throttle works with the left stick going up and down, and the pitch works with the right stick going up and down.

All the steps below use this stick configuration.

To do a half-flip:

1. Reach an altitude of at least 65 feet by moving the throttle stick up.
2. Drop the throttle stick completely. Immediately move the pitch stick down and let it return to the center.
3. Now your Avata is upside down.
4. Move the pitch stick down and let the stick return to the center.
5. Once the Avata faces up, move the throttle stick to the middle to gain altitude.

The idea isn’t to leave the Avata upside down, as it will fall and crash. However, if you start with the flip, you can make the drone spin without control, making it fall.

A half-flip teaches you the skills to complete a flip safely, as with two half-flips, you complete the flip motion.

Flip #

At this point, you’re a master in half-flips and are used to the flipping motion. Now it’s time to flip.

With two half-flips, you are now aware of the time the drone delays to make a full flip. This awareness is helpful for not leaving the pitch stick more than the required time to perform a flip.

If the Avata starts spinning without control, you have the Flight Pause/RTH trigger to make your Avata self-stabilize.

To flip:

1. Reach an altitude of at least 65 feet by moving the throttle stick up.
2. Move down the throttle stick.
3. Immediately move the pitch stick down completely, and let it return to the center once the drone faces up.
4. Move the throttle stick up to the middle to gain altitude.

Where should I practice flips with my DJI Avata? #

A safe place to practice the flip maneuver is a wide-open area, like a court or park. Avoid places with obstacles and windy conditions.

However, a safer place to gain confidence in the skills to perform this stunt is the DJI Virtual Flight. In this simulator, you can fly the Avata in various scenarios that emulate wind, gravity, and drag.

You’ll have gathered valuable experience when you get to the field.

To use DJI Virtual Flight, connect your FPV Remote Controller 2 via USB-C cable to your mobile phone or Windows PC.

Remember to start slow outside, as the controls respond faster than in the simulator. Then you can lose control quickly, falling or crashing with strong stick movements.

Flipping over after a crash: Turtle Mode #

Your Avata can fall upside down on the ground after a crash, and you can’t reach it because it’s far away or in a difficult access location.

DJI equipped this drone with a self-flip mode called Turtle Mode. By selecting a function from the Goggles, the Avata fully powers two engines to flip the drone.

If you use the Goggles 2:

1. Put on your Goggles.
2. Find the touch panel on the right side of the Goggles 2.
3. Swipe your finger from the rear edge to the center to access the menu.
4. Swipe your finger down from the top edge until you highlight in yellow the Settings icon. Tap it.
5. Swipe your finger down from the top edge until you highlight in yellow the Control icon. Tap it.
6. Swipe your finger down until you highlight in yellow the Turtle Mode option. Tap it.
7. The Avata rear engines run full power and flip it. The Avata is now ready to take off.

Or, when using the DJI FPV Goggles V2:

1. Put on your FPV Goggles V2.
2. Find the 5D joystick on the right side of the FPV Goggles V2.
3. Press this button once to access the menu.
4. Move the joystick down until you highlight in yellow the Settings icon. Press it.
5. Move the joystick down until you highlight in yellow the Control icon. Press it.
6. Move the joystick down until you highlight in yellow the Turtle Mode option. Press it.
7. The Avata rear engines run full power and flip it.

Or you can use the default shortcut using the DJI FPV Remote Controller 2:

1. Find the C1 button.
2. Press the C1 button twice to start Turtle Mode.

Why can’t I flip with the Motion Controller? #

As of this writing, the Motion Controller can’t access Manual Mode.

Manual Mode is the only one that allows the Avata to be unstable enough to perform this maneuver.