Acro mode
Also known as: acro, rate mode, manual mode FPV
An FPV flight mode with no self-leveling: the drone holds whatever angle you set until you change it, allowing flips, rolls and free, fluid movement.
Updated
What it means
In acro mode, the sticks control rotation rates rather than angles. Push the roll stick and the drone keeps rolling until you center it. Release the sticks and it holds its current attitude instead of returning to level. There is no GPS hold or automatic leveling.
This is how freestyle and racing pilots fly. It allows flips, rolls, dives and smooth, swooping lines that self-leveling modes cannot produce. It also makes the drone much harder to fly, because the pilot controls every movement directly.
Most FPV pilots learn on a simulator before flying acro on a real drone.
How it works in practice
Practice in a simulator for many hours. Learn to hover, fly lines, turn smoothly and recover from mistakes before risking a real drone. Then start in an open field with a durable drone, such as a tiny whoop or a small freestyle quad.
Rates and expo settings shape how the drone responds to the sticks. Lower rates feel calmer and suit cinematic flying, while high rates suit fast tricks. Adjust gradually and test each change.
Combine acro flying with a stabilized action camera or post stabilization to turn energetic flying into smooth, flowing footage. Many pilots fly a naked GoPro for this.
What to watch out for
Without self-leveling, a moment of disorientation becomes a crash. Fly within your skill level, and keep altitude for recovery. Crashes are part of learning acro, so budget for spare props and parts.
Acro FPV flying usually has no GPS return. If the signal is lost, the drone may fall. Set failsafe behavior carefully and fly within range, especially over water or people where a fall would be serious.
Many places have specific rules for FPV flying, such as requiring a spotter for visual line of sight. Check them before flying, and choose quiet spots where a crash cannot hurt anyone or damage property.
How RawClip handles it
RawClip does not stabilize footage, so smooth out acro clips in camera or with a gyro tool before upload. Then the AI cuts the most exciting flying from the session into one highlight.