FPV (First Person View) drones are all the rage right now in the hobby world. Their ability to provide an immersive piloting experience has made them hugely popular. One of the companies leading the charge in FPV drones is Gap RC. Their new Crocodile 7.5 drone is an absolute beast, living up to its aggressive name. In this post, we’ll take an in-depth look at the Crocodile 7.5 to see if its bite is as big as its bark!

Overview of the GEPRC Crocodile75 V3

The Crocodile 7.5 is Gap RC’s largest FPV drone to date. It builds upon the success of their earlier Crocodile 7 model but takes things to the next level. Some key specs:

7.5 inch propellers
6S compatible (up to 26V)
2306 1350KV motors
F7 flight controller
DJI Air Unit support (digital FPV)
Long range 915mhz video system
GPS and GPS Rescue
Large capacity batteries supported (4000mah-6000mah)

This combination of large propellers, high power motors, and 6S voltage produces insane levels of thrust. The Crocodile 7.5 is all about speed, power and long range exploration.

Some key features include:

Deadcat style frame

The deadcat style frame places the propellers high above the central body. This allows great camera angles without propellers in view. It also aids stability by keeping the mass centered on the pitch/roll axis.

Enclosed electronics

The sides of the Crocodile 7.5’s body are enclosed with plastic shrouds. This protects the internal electronics from dust, dirt and moisture. Given the places this drone can go, sealing up the sides is a great idea.

Large battery support

The Crocodile 7.5 can mount enormous LiPo batteries ranging from 4000mah to 6000mah. This gives insane flight times of up to 30 minutes! Carrying heavy payloads is no problem with this much power.

GPS and GPS Rescue

The Crocodile 7.5 includes a GPS module. This allows enabling GPS rescue features if your FPV feed cuts out. It will auto stabilize and return home – a great safety feature.

DJI Digital FPV Support

The Crocodile 7.5 can integrate DJI’s latest digital FPV system. This gives an HD low-latency video feed direct to your DJI goggles. No more fuzzy analog video!

Up to 915mhz Video

For analog video, the Crocodile 7.5 supports transmitting video on the 915mhz band. This gives excellent penetration through objects and extremely long range.

Let’s now take a closer look at the Crocodile 7.5’s components and building experience.

Unboxing and Contents

The Crocodile 7.5 comes neatly packaged in a sturdy box. Inside you’ll find:

The Crocodile 7.5 airframe
Set of propellers
Prop installation tool
Battery straps
Battery grip pads
Long range 915mhz antennas
Assorted hardware accessories
Manuals and documentation

The included parts are high quality. The battery straps, tools and propellers will come in handy for continued use.

Frame and Structure

The Crocodile 7.5 frame is constructed entirely from thick, durable carbon fiber. This keeps the weight low while maintaining stiffness for stable flight.

Some notes on the frame:

6mm thick arms – these are nearly indestructible!
Enclosed sides protect electronics
Replaceable arms if needed
GPS/VTX mounts on backside
Holes for battery straps
Removable camera cage

Motors and Propellers

The Crocodile 7.5 uses a set of 2306-size brushless motors. These are quite large for a mini-quadcopter drone. But the Crocodile 7.5 is no ordinary mini.

Specs on the motors:

2306 stator size
1350Kv
Supports up to 6S voltage (26V)
Produces 1500g+ thrust per motor!

To get enough grip and thrust, the motors spin enormous 7.5 inch propellers. These props can move huge volumes of air to lift heavy payloads.

The motors and props give the Crocodile 7.5 nearly unlimited vertical performance. It can hover and accelerate even with giant batteries or cinema cameras on board.

Flight Controller and Electronics

The Crocodile 7.5 flight controller handles the challenging task of stabilizing this beast. The F7 board provides these capabilities:

F7 microprocessor with faster loop rates
ICM20689 IMU sensor for precise stabilization
BMP388 barometer for altitude hold
5 UART ports for peripherals
40A BLHeli32 4-in-1 ESC
Supports 6S with 150A maximum
OSD for flight telemetry
Blackbox flight log recording

This advanced processor and sensor suite keeps the Crocodile 7.5 flying smooth even with its immense power. Multiple UARTs allow connecting peripherals like GPS, video transmitters, receivers and more.

The ESC on the flight controller can output up to 150A total across its 4 outputs. This allows the motors to draw full power.

The built-in OSD provides inflight telemetry like battery voltage, height, distance and more.

FPV Video System

The Crocodile 7.5 was designed for both analog and digital FPV setups. You can choose which system to go with.

For analog, the drone includes a video transmitter that can broadcast on either 5.8ghz or 915mhz frequencies. 915mhz gives excellent penetration and range, while 5.8ghz is good for shorter range.

The better choice is going digital. The Crocodile 7.5 natively supports DJI’s HD low-latency FPV system. You can install a DJI Air Unit module in the drone which talks to your DJI goggles. This gives an incredible HD video feed anywhere the drone goes.

No matter which video system you choose, the deadcat frame design ensures propellers never show up in your footage.

GPS and Return to Home

The Crocodile 7.5 includes a GPS module to enable advanced autopilot features. GPS allows:

Enabling GPS Rescue – the drone will auto land if connection is lost
On screen telemetry like distance from homepoint
Storing unlimited waypoints for autonomous flight

Having GPS rescue on such a large drone is fantastic. If you ever lose video mid-flight, the drone will pause then auto land close to its starting point.

The GPS unit mounts on the rear in an enclosure to protect it from electromagnetic interference.

batteries and Power Systems

Given its high power potential, having a strong battery is essential for the Crocodile 7.5.

Some options for batteries include:

4S / 5S Lipos up to 3000mAh
6S Lipos up to 6000mAh
Large Li-ion packs up to 20,000mAh

The largest batteries allow flight times approaching 30 minutes! This is great for cruiser and filming drones.

For hardcore acrobatic flying, smaller 4S/5S Lipos in the 1500-1800mAh range are easier to handle. But flight times reduce to 5-7 minutes.

The Crocodile 7.5 can accept batteries with a huge range of capacities and voltages. Choose a battery that fits your mission profile.

Assembly and Setup

Assembling the Crocodile 7.5 is straightforward, with everything included in the box. Here’s the assembly process:

Install the four arms using the included hardware
Mount the central cage plate with the flight controller
Attach your receiver to the flight controller and bind it to your transmitter
Solder your battery connector to the power leads
Mount your FPV camera in the cage and route the video wire
Install your video transmitter and antennas
Perform radio and sensor calibration
Check motor spin directions
You’re ready to fly!

With large drones, take your time setting up and double check everything. But the Crocodile 7.5 comes together easily.

Flying the Crocodile 7.5

Now for the fun part – actually flying this beast! Here’s an overview of my first flights with the Crocodile 7.5 and how it handled.

Takeoff and Hovering

On my first takeoff, I was using a smaller 4S 1500mah battery to keep the weight reasonable. The Crocodile 7.5 lifted off and hovered solidly with no issues. Although you can tell the power is insane – this thing could lift a car!

Moving the sticks produces strong responses, but it seems well damped. Oscillations decay quickly after input. Very smooth and stable thanks to the F7 flight controller.

Cruising and Exploring

Cruising around at low throttle, the Crocodile just floats on rails – very calm and easy to control precisely. The sub 250g weight makes it feel light despite the large size.

At high throttle, this thing can move! It feels like flying a mini jet fighter as it zips across the sky. The speed is astounding, yet it remains easy to handle.

The low camera angle afforded by the deadcat frame lets you explore while staying oriented. And FPV range is extensive thanks to the 915mhz system.

Freestyle Maneuvers

Although not designed for freestyle aerobatics, the Crocodile 7.5 has the power to perform if you want. With rates cranked up, it can flip, roll and loop just like a racing drone.

The heft helps for air braking and resists the wind. You can throw it around with confidence that it won’t get knocked out of the sky. Very solid and stable.

Slow speed maneuvers are also easy – just dial back the rates a bit. The Crocodile 7.5 excels at slow graceful movements due to its damping and control authority at low speeds.

GPS Rescue

To test GPS rescue, I powered off my controller mid-flight to simulate signal loss. The drone paused, leveled itself, then slowly descended straight down to land within 20 feet of its takeoff point. Very cool!

Rescue mode gives great peace of mind for new fliers or when pushing range boundaries. If anything goes wrong, the Crocodile 7.5 will recover itself.

Big Battery / Long Flight Testing

My next test was an 8000mah 6S li-ion pack for long flight time. And wow, what a difference! I estimated it added 1.5kg of mass – nearly triple the standard weight!

Yet the Crocodile 7.5 lifted off with no issues. It required more throttle to hover, but lift was no problem. I achieved a 18 minute flight burning just 50% of the massive battery. This proves the Crocodile 7.5 can handle large payloads with ease.

Final Thoughts

After many flights, I can definitively say the Gap RC Crocodile 7.5 delivers on its promise of an insanely powerful FPV experience. The combination of control and speed is intoxicating. This drone never fails to put a smile on your face.

Some final pros and cons:

Pros:

Extreme power and speed
Very stable and easy to handle
HD digital FPV works great
Can carry massive payloads
Excellent efficiency and flight times
GPS rescue gives peace of mind

Cons:

Intimidating size and power for beginners
Wouldn’t use for indoor flying
If crashed, repairs could be costly

So if you’re looking for an FPV drone that can do it all, from racing to freestyle to cruising with a cinema camera, the Crocodile 7.5 belongs on your short list. It’s an absolute blast to fly thanks to its unlimited power and great handling. Just be prepared and fly responsibly to harness everything this beast can do.

I’m happy to answer any questions you have on the Crocodile 7.5! Just drop a comment below. And make sure to check out Gap RC for more details on this amazing FPV drone.

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