# Choosing Your First FPV Drone: A Beginner’s Guide
Jumping into the world of FPV (First-Person View) drones is an exhilarating experience, but choosing your very first drone can be a daunting task. The market is flooded with options, from tiny indoor “whoops” to large cinematic rigs. This guide will simplify the process and help you choose the right entry point.
## The Most Important First Step: The Simulator
Before you even think about buying a real drone, you must invest time in an FPV simulator. Crashing is an inevitable part of learning, and it’s far cheaper to crash a virtual drone than a real one.
* **Popular Simulators:** Liftoff, VelociDrone, DRL Simulator, Tryp FPV.
* **Required Hardware:** You will need a proper FPV radio controller that can connect to your computer via USB.
Spending at least 20-30 hours in a simulator will build the muscle memory required to control a real FPV drone, saving you hundreds of dollars in repairs.
## Types of Beginner FPV Drones
For your first real drone, you should choose one that is durable, relatively inexpensive, and easy to fly. There are three main categories to consider.
| Drone Type | Description | Best For |
| :— | :— | :— |
| **Tiny Whoop** | A very small, ducted drone that is incredibly lightweight and safe to fly indoors. They are extremely durable and perfect for learning the basics of flight control in a confined space. | Indoor flying, learning basic orientation and throttle control. |
| **Ready-to-Fly (RTF) Kit** | These kits come with everything you need to get started: the drone, goggles, and a radio controller. They are designed for beginners and take the guesswork out of component matching. | The absolute beginner who wants a simple, all-in-one package. |
| **Bind-and-Fly (BNF) Drone** | A pre-built drone that does not include goggles or a radio. You must buy your radio and goggles separately and “bind” them to the drone. This offers more flexibility and higher quality components than most RTF kits. | A beginner who has practiced on a simulator and is ready to invest in good quality, long-term gear. |
## Our Recommendation for Beginners
For the best balance of performance, durability, and future-proofing, we recommend starting with a **3.5-inch Bind-and-Fly (BNF) drone**. These drones are large enough to be stable outdoors but small enough to not be overly intimidating. They offer a true FPV experience and are incredibly durable.
Pairing a quality BNF drone with a good radio controller and goggles is the best long-term investment. The **UAVMODEL Explorer 3.5″ BNF** is an excellent choice, offering a great flight experience and robust construction that can handle the inevitable crashes of a learning pilot.
## What to Expect on Your First Flight