The Making of ERA
If you're searching for a top-notch 5-inch flying platform that perfectly balances flight performance and durability, you've come to the right place. We've spent 1.5 years refining this platform, tackling numerous challenges along the way. This frame boasts all the subtle details that make a significant difference, which enthusiasts will appreciate during flights.
Everything is custom-made and of the highest quality. We didn't compromise on costs, we created something we want to use ourselves.
Our Greatest Challenge
Ensuring ERA returns after crashes. FPV Freestyle is often flown in hazardous, abandoned places. No one wants to risk their life retrieving a €600 quadcopter from an old factory roof. However, we also live by the motto, "no quad left behind."
What Sets This Frame Apart?
The game-changer is the nylon camera cage. Unlike the common CNC aluminum camera cages, nylon is significantly lighter and more impact-resistant. It absorbs shocks without cracking or breaking, and its ability to deform under stress and then return to its original shape provides superior camera protection. After extensive testing of various nylon blends, we found the perfect one. Not a single nylon cage broke during our prototype phase (of the final material).
Production Process
Producing each camera cage is labor-intensive. After receiving the injection mold cages, we conduct thorough quality checks with custom tools, install heat inserts and custom 7075 standoffs using specialized equipment and handle nearly every step by hand. Each frame/cage undergoes personal quality assurance.
What Makes ERA Fly So Well?
For Freestyle flying, maneuverability is key, with the center of gravity being the most crucial factor. Placing the Action Cam close to the propline optimizes weight distribution. Additionally, the frame's minimalistic design plays a significant role. By keeping the frame as compact as possible, ERA ensures that unnecessary weight and bulk are minimized.
Resonance Characteristics
Our unfiltered gyro graph exceeded our expectations, despite noise performance not being our primary focus. The interlock design creates a form fit with the arms, eliminating slop and generating outward-facing force into all arms. The bottom plate is under tension from the center screw, contributing to the frame's stiffness.
It feels like magic.