Woah, the Rotor Riot Vision40 just freakin’ works! It flies incredibly well for a 1S tiny whoop. In this in-depth review, I’ll share why the Vision40’s combination of performance, features, and durability makes it my top tiny whoop recommendation right now.
If you asked me even just a couple years ago whether you could squeeze a digital video system into a micro quadcopter as small as the 75mm Rotor Riot Vision40, I would have confidently told you no way.
I probably have old footage somewhere of myself insisting that digital video transmitters are still too heavy for quads smaller than 3-inch toothpicks or 95mm micros. The performance hit was just too substantial on the even smaller builds.
Well, all of that is changing now thanks to advancing miniaturization of digital FPV tech. The Rotor Riot Vision40 proves that tiny whoops can now fly great with HD digital video on board.
In this review, I’ll break down:
- How the Vision40 stacks up to other tiny whoops
- An overview of all its components and features
- In-depth flight footage showing just how impressively it performs
- My final thoughts on why this is my new favorite tiny whoop
Let’s get into it!
Table Of Contents
Vision40 Versus Other Tiny Whoops
With a 75mm wheelbase, the Vision40 isn’t a canonical 65mm “tiny whoop” but sits in between at 75mm. However, many FPV pilots actually prefer the feel and performance of 75mm whoops over 65mm.
The slightly larger frame accommodates bigger motors and batteries compared to 65mm quads, providing more thrust and flight time, at the cost of some additional weight.
Out of the box without a battery, the Vision40 comes in at a fairly beefy 37 grams. That’s already heavier than most off-the-shelf 65mm whoops even fully loaded.
Rotor Riot recommends 450mAh 1S batteries which tip the scales at around 50 grams all up weight. So we’re looking at about twice the heft of a featherweight 65mm analog whoop build.
Of course, that wouldn’t be an apples to apples comparison given the size difference and digital video capabilities. So how does the Vision40 stack up against other 75mm whoops?
The BetaFPV 75mm Analog Whoop comes in at a svelte 31 grams without a battery. So the Vision40 remains chunkier thanks to the HD digital gear onboard. But the difference isn’t nearly as drastic as comparing to 65mm quads.
The key question then is…how does that extra weight impact flight performance? There’s only one way to find out! 👇
Components and Features Overview
Despite the diminutive size, the Vision40 is packed with high-end components:
Frame: Happymodel Mobula7 V4
Motors: 1002 10,000KV
Flight Controller + ESC: T-Motor F411 13A BLHeli32 4-in-1
VTX: Walksnail 1S Digital Video Transmitter
Receiver: ExpressLRS EP2 Receiver
Starting from the ground up, Rotor Riot chose the popular Happymodel Mobula7 frame for the Vision40. It’s a proven design that offers a nice balance of durability versus weight. There are probably slightly lighter frames out there, but shaving a few grams off the airframe likely wouldn’t make a huge impact on such a compact build.
The more interesting component choice is the 1002 motors. Whoop motors have traditionally been 0802 sized (8mm diameter, 2mm height). The 1002 represents a sizable 25% increase to 10mm diameter motors.
Bigger motors allow for more torque and thrust, which can counteract the weight penalty of going HD digital. I’ve honestly felt that 0802 motors are a bit undersized even for 75mm 1S builds, so I love seeing the bigger 1002 spec here.
The T-Motor F411 flight controller integrates BLHeli_32 ESCs capable of up to 13 amps continuous output. Again I think 13A is overkill given the small battery size powering these quads. But having a robust, 32-bit ESC with the ability to adjust PWM frequencies is great for dialing in the responsiveness of these tiny power systems.
The Walksnail 1S video transmitter delivers the full performance and range of Walksnail’s HD digital FPV system in an ultra lightweight package capable of running off 1S LiPo power.
In the past, only the HDZero system made digital video transmitters small and light enough for micro quads. But many pilots prefer Walksnail’s superior range and penetration over HDZero’s lower latency. Now you really can have your cake and eat it too!
Finally, the included EP2 receiver provides CRSF control link to the flight controller with ExpressLRS for incredible response times free of interference or failsafe issues.
Rotor Riot definitely didn’t cut any corners kitting out the Vision40 with high-end gear. Next let’s see how it actually flies!
Maiden Flight Impressions
Alright, enough spec sheet comparisons–it’s time to take this beast for a proper rip!
Despite the extra heft that comes with packing a full HD digital video setup inside this compact frame, the performance remains incredibly impressive. All that power system muscle shines through to deliver a wildly fun flying experience.
Compared to my experience with 1S 65mm quads, the Vision40 felt vastly more locked-in and smooth drifting around the park. And it had zero issues blasting through the same power loops and gaps that would lead to clumsy crashes on underpowered 65mm builds.
I honestly couldn’t believe I was flying a 1S whoop! This is the level of performance I imagined someday achieving with future 2S or 3S micro builds. Yet here Rotor Riot has done it at 1S with the Vision40.
The 10mm motors provide way more torque and responsiveness than I’m used to on older 75mm quads running 0802 motors. It lets the Vision40 fly prop guards on and off with confidence and versatility.
Despite the very limited flight space within my backyard, I had no trouble pushing the Vision40 to its limits, boosted by Walksnail’s HD digital video feed. The combo of control, speed and visibility makes flying feel effortless.
After a few reckless split S maneuvers and transporting the fun out into the park, I achieved a solid 4 minute flight time. For as hard as I was thrashing it on a single 1S 450mAh battery that’s fantastic!
The prohibited tree branch spot lent itself nicely to testing crash durability too as I wedged a branch straight into the prop. No big deal, a quick prop swap and we were back zipping around. That’s the beauty of a protected prop whoop!
Overall my maiden Voyage left me beaming with just how capable and fun the Vision40 performed. The flight experience feels like a perfect balance of power, agility and prop guard security that finally delivers on the full potential of 1S 75mm quads.
Who Should Consider the Vision40?
The Rotor Riot Vision40 pairs an incredibly capable airframe and power system with Walksnail’s cutting-edge 1S digital video transmission technology. That combo makes this an appealing option suitable for:
Beginner FPV pilots – The prop guards provide peace of mind while learning to fly FPV. And Walksnail digital video ensures you always have a front row seat to the action with way less static breakup versus analog video.
Intermediate pilots – Strong performance lets you graduate beyond just racing gates to learning more aggressive freestyle maneuvers. And Walksnail HD video takes the experience to another level for finding gaps and pushing your limits.
Tiny whoop enthusiasts – 75mm quads strike an awesome balance of indoor agility plus enough power to rip outdoors. Top-notch components make the Vision40 the new high-water mark for 75mm performance.
Walksnail ecosystem users – Along with the Nano Kit, this positions as one of the best micro FPV options for Walksnail pilots wanting HD digital video in a tiny and affordable package.
The Vision40 does still come with a price premium over analog whoops. But you get premium performance and future-proof tech in exchange. This won’t be the last 1S digital tiny whoop Rotor Riot releases either…so the good times have only just begun!
Final Thoughts
The Rotor Riot Vision40 earns my highest recommendation as the most capable micro FPV quad I’ve had the pleasure of flying so far. It packages beastly performance and cutting-edge HD digital video technology into a prop-guarded pocket rocket.
Despite skepticism that digitizing something as small as a 75mm whoop could work well, the Vision40 emphatically proves otherwise. Both newcomers and seasoned FPV addicts will find a lot to love with this progressive fusion of technologies facilitating previously impossible feats.
From buttery smooth drifting on 1S power all the way to confidence boosting crashes, it’s hard not to just grin like an idiot while flying this feisty beast. The Vision40 overdelivers across all the metrics that matter most.
So if you’re eager to unlock higher levels of tiny whoop enjoyment, I can’t hype up the Vision40 enough. This iteration sets a compelling vision for the future of micro FPV performance.
Have you flown the Vision40 yet? I want to hear your experience with this groundbreaking HD digital tiny whoop in the comments!
