How to Fly DJI Avata? (Manual Mode)

Place your link in the Sidebar Section.

Table of Contents

DJI designed the Avata as an easy FPV Cinewhoop drone to fly, right?

But have you flown it in Manual Mode? It’s a different experience that makes you feel like a complete newbie.

So it’s best to understand how to fly it before crashing it to death. How do you do it?

To safely fly the DJI Avata in Manual Mode, get comfortable flying in Normal and Sport Modes. Then start training in the DJI Virtual Flight app to get the sensations of flying without hovering stability. Later, train in large obstacle-free areas without harsh windy conditions.

What about detailed guidance on how to fly the DJI Avata in Manual Mode?

This article will take you through the entire process from a total Avata beginner to a Manual pro pilot.

Let’s dive in!

DJI Avata flight modes #

The DJI Avata is an FPV drone you can pilot like any other consumer-oriented drone.

You have flight aids that self-stabilize the aircraft, only allowing you to maneuver at certain angles and speeds. DJI maintains your Avata safely while you get the confidence and skills to fly in Manual Mode.

What changes in the different modes is the Avata control response. Therefore, knowing how the drone moves in the air is essential.

The pitch movement enables your Avata to rotate up or down. The yaw movement lets you twist the Avata to the left and right. And the roll is the clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the Avata.

You have the throttle stick or button to move the drone forward or backward.

Normal Mode #

Normal Mode is the most straightforward mode, as the drone can’t make fast movements. You won’t be able to go more than 18 MPH or turn aggressively.

That’s why it’s the preferred mode to learn how Avata works. The idea is to anticipate the next movement by developing muscle memory in your fingers while controlling the sticks and buttons for a safe flight.

You can use Normal Mode with both the Motion Controller and FPV Remote Controller 2.

Sport Mode #

Think of Sport Mode as an assisted Manual Mode.

As you can fly faster, reaching up to 31 MPH in Sport Mode, you need the Avata to respond quickly to the controls. A light button press or stick movement makes your drone instantly follow that command, and quite aggressively too.

Also, you can roll, yaw, and pitch at pronounced angles, giving you a sense of instability.

Always rest assured that the self-stabilizing system maintains your drone altitude.

Motion controller – Flight controls #

To fly the Avata in Normal and Sport Mode with the Motion Controller, select the mode you want to fly first.

Find the black textured Mode button below the red Lock button.
Press it once to go between Normal and Sport Modes. You can check the current mode at the left-bottom corner of the Goggles camera view.

Then hover your Avata:

Press the red Lock button twice to start the engines.
Hold down the Lock button for two seconds.
Now, the drone should begin hovering at approximately 4 feet.

With the Motion Controller, you go forward by pressing the accelerator trigger. The speed will depend on the trigger travel, so press it completely to go up to 18 MPH.

You can pitch the Avata by raising your hand to ascend or lowering your hand to descend.

When the drone hovers in place and you raise your hand holding the controller, it will ascend vertically. If you hold down the acceleration trigger while raising your hand, the drone will climb by going forward.

Notice you lack a roll and yaw control separately. This motion controller combines these two movements by rotating your hand clockwise or counterclockwise while holding the RC.

When the drone is steady while you rotate your hand clockwise, it will yaw to the right. But if you hold down the acceleration trigger while rotating your hand clockwise, the drone goes forward, spinning to the right combining yaw and roll.

FPV Remote Controller 2 – Flight controls #

This RC works differently.

You can use the FPV Remote Controller 2 with all modes. Here’s how.

Find the Mode switch right to the left forward trigger.
Toggle the Mode switch between Normal, Sport, and Manual Modes.

To hover your Avata, perform a Combination Stick Command CSC first:

Move both sticks diagonally down simultaneously to start the engines.
Now move the left throttle stick to hover the drone.
Push the stick gently to an altitude comfortable to start the flight.

You have noticed the movement of the left stick up or down controls the ascent or descent of the drone. The reason is the controller comes in Mode 2 by default, where you roll by moving that same stick to the left or right.

The right stick will pitch the Avata when you move it up or down. It will yaw when pushing the right stick left or right.

If you don’t feel comfortable with this configuration, you can use Mode 1 or Mode 3. To change the stick modes using the Goggles 2:

Put on your Goggles.
Find the touch panel on the right side of the Goggles 2.
Swipe your finger from the back edge to the center to access the menu.
Swipe your finger down from the top edge until you highlight in yellow the Settings icon. Tap it.
Swipe your finger down from the top edge until you highlight in yellow the Control icon. Tap it.
Swipe your finger forward until you highlight in yellow the Stick Mode option. Tap it.
Finally, select and tap the Stick Mode you feel comfortable with.

Or, when using the DJI FPV Goggles V2:

Put on your FPV Goggles V2.
Find the 5D joystick on the right side of the FPV Goggles V2.
Press this button once to access the menu.
Move the joystick down until you highlight in yellow the Settings icon. Press it.
Move the joystick down until you highlight in yellow the Control icon. Press it.
Move the joystick forward until you highlight in yellow the Stick Mode option. Press it.
Select and tap the Stick Mode you feel comfortable with.

Manual Mode #

Now that you’ve gained confidence in Normal and Sport Modes, it’s time to switch to Manual Mode.

FPV Remote Controller 2 – Flight controls #

If you try to fly in Manual mode, you’ll notice that toggling the Mode switch isn’t enough.

The Goggles prompt screen procedures you must follow with the sticks first. To enter Manual Mode, follow the steps below:

Toggle the Mode switch to Manual Mode.
Follow the Goggles on-screen steps by moving the sticks accordingly.
A prompt appears advising that Avata has entered Manual Mode.

Manual mode considerations #

As the Avata control changes, it now lacks self-stabilization aids. The Avata won’t maintain its altitude, so you must always control the throttle with the left stick.

First consideration #

One pro tip is to loosen the left stick on its vertical travel. This change eases the throttle control, as you can fix it in any position.

You get a similar experience to the altitude self-stabilization feature but need to move the throttle when the drone starts to lose height.

To loosen the left stick, follow the steps below:

Turn the FPV Remote Controller 2 and lift the left rear cover from the inside groove.
With the H1.5 hex key that came with your Avata, loosen the screw with the F1 legend.

Second consideration #

Keep in mind that the gimbal will keep the camera in a fixed position. We advise changing the angle between 10° and 20° max.

You should avoid flying with a high-pitch angle, as it will be hard to maneuver the drone. If the Avata reaches high-pitch inclinations, the propellers won’t produce the required lift. Then you can lose control of the Avata.

Third consideration #

Another tip to improve the control of the Avata is to hover the aircraft in Normal Mode at a high altitude. From there, swift to Manual Mode.

If you feel you’re losing control, press the left forward Pause trigger. The Avata immediately enters Normal Mode, hovering steady at some altitude.

However, this trick has a catch. If the drone starts to spin like crazy, it will fall like a rock even if you put the Avata in Normal Mode.

We advise you to start in the dedicated FPV DJI simulator. This way, you eliminate the fear when you see the drone becoming unstable, helping you make better decisions and avoid a crash.

DJI Virtual Flight #

DJI knows that flying an FVP drone isn’t easy, so it has a helpful tool for improving skills: the DJI Virtual Flight app.

This simulator allows you to fly Avata in different scenarios to practice. Begin with the Skills Training option, where the app guides you with established tracks and maneuvers.

It explains how you should move the sticks and give you hints to improve your piloting experience.

Then you can go to Free Flight or Time Trial, loosening your mind and gaining the confidence to quickly improve in the field.

Flying on the app isn’t the same as in real life, but it’s a necessary step to familiarizing yourself with using Avata.