Sure, we’re reviewing one more cinewhoop. This time it’s the HGLRC Talon Professional 3-inch. What makes it completely different? The digital camera cage is detachable and will be put in on a distinct quad, so in principle you’ll be able to share the identical digital camera and air unit throughout a number of quads and doubtlessly avoid wasting cash. On this evaluate, we’ll have a look at what’s particular in regards to the Talon Professional and whether or not it’s the proper cinewhoop for you.
Study extra about cinewhoop on this purchaser’s information: https://oscarliang.com/cinewhoop/
The place to Purchase
Get your HGLRC Talon Professional cinewhoop from AliExpress: https://s.click on.aliexpress.com/e/_c2IzQXwT
It doesn’t include spare propellers, so ensure you seize some right here: https://s.click on.aliexpress.com/e/_c3qhynw3
Specs
Listed below are the specs supplied by HGLRC:
- FC/ESC Board: F722 40A 6S V2 AIO
- FC Dimensions: 175mm × 175mm × 56mm
- Motor: SPECTER 1804 2450KV
- Wheelbase: 116mm
- VTX configuration: Energy equipment model (no FPV Setup), Draco A1 LITE+Air Unit / Zeus 800mW VTX, HGLRC L2 digital camera (analog model)
- Receiver: Hglrc ELRS dual-band single antenna receiver
- Flight time: 10 Minutes With hglrc 6s 1450 mah 160c battery
- GPS: M100 Mini
- Propeller: 3inch (HQProp DT75MMX3)
- Advocate battery: 6S 850-1450MAH
- Battery connector: XT60
- Drone weight: 233g (HD model) / 218g (analog model) / 198g (energy equipment model)
Putting in DJI O4 Professional
Relating to FPV digital camera and VTX choices, it appears HGLRC is transferring away from DJI. While you order the Talon Professional, the obtainable variations are analog, their very own Draco system, or the Energy Equipment model, which comes with out an FPV setup. It does assist the DJI O4 Professional Air Unit, however it’s a must to purchase and set up it your self.
Personally, I feel this is perhaps a mistake. DJI continues to be by far the preferred FPV system. Realistically, only a few persons are utilizing HGLRC Draco, which places their new merchandise right into a extra area of interest market. Possibly they’re attempting to push adoption of their very own FPV system, however that’s going to be an uphill battle. I feel they need to enhance the system first and develop the consumer base earlier than attempting to pressure it onto their BNF quads.
I shall be utilizing the DJI O4 Professional on this quad for my evaluate.
Be aware that it doesn’t include any directions, handbook, or diagram exhibiting set up the air unit, so it took me some time to determine it out. I’m going to point out the method right here.
It is usually lacking some screws for mounting the air unit and digital camera cage, which is barely annoying, and it doesn’t include the O4 cable both, so ensure you have these readily available.
Lacking screws:
I had spare M2 screws, however no M2.4 screws. For now, I needed to “steal” the 2 M2.4 screws from the body, use them for the digital camera cage, and safe the body with small zip ties as an alternative. And why use M2.4 screws? They’re so unusual that it’s actually puzzling.
Design and Nearer Look
The principle promoting level of this cinewhoop is the modular digital camera cage design, which implies you’ll be able to share the identical digital camera and air unit throughout a number of HGLRC quads. Proper now, although, there is just one quad that makes use of this cage, so for the time being there isn’t any actual benefit to this modular design. So far as I do know, HGLRC is planning to launch one other cinewhoop in a distinct measurement that can even be appropriate within the close to future.
It has an RGB LED strip across the ducts that reveals a rainbow sample by default, which appears cool at night time. Sadly, it isn’t configurable in Betaflight. You possibly can disable it by disconnecting the facility plugs contained in the quad.
On the rear, the receiver antenna has two components: the shorter one for two.4GHz and the longer one for 868MHz/915MHz. Don’t get too excited, it’s only a dual-band single-antenna receiver, which implies you should utilize both 2.4GHz or 900MHz, however not each on the identical time. It is usually not Gemini-X appropriate.
What’s Gemini-X? https://oscarliang.com/expresslrs-gemini/#Gemini-Xcrossband-Gemini-X
Flight Controller
The FC is an AIO (multi function – every little thing is built-in on the identical board): HGLRC F722 40A 2–6S BL32 AIO V2. It doesn’t have a devoted BEC for the air unit, so the O4 is powered instantly from the battery. That isn’t best, as a result of voltage spikes are unhealthy for the VTX, however to date in my testing it has held up positive.
The ESC makes use of BLHeli_32 firmware. That isn’t actually a difficulty proper now, however it’s best to know that BLHeli_32 is successfully discontinued, so you’ll be able to now not replace the firmware on this ESC: https://oscarliang.com/end-of-blheli_32/
Additionally be aware that the FC is mounted the wrong way up, then rotated 45 levels. That isn’t an actual drawback if you happen to plan to fly the quad out of the field, however it might make issues extra sophisticated whenever you determine to flash Betaflight and need to reconfigure every little thing once more.
The board alignment needs to be set to:
- Roll: 180
- Pitch: 0
- Yaw: -45
I feel that is going to catch a whole lot of inexperienced persons off guard. After updating Betaflight, they’re going to surprise why the quad flips over the second they attempt to take off. If you do not need to take care of that, keep away from flashing Betaflight except essential.
GPS Module and Rescue Mode
GPS Rescue Mode is a unbelievable characteristic — it’s basically a return-to-home perform that brings your drone again to its takeoff level whenever you lose sign. It’s particularly precious for inexperienced persons and long-range pilots who need peace of thoughts in case of a failsafe or lack of orientation.
The Talon Professional ships with a GPS module pre put in on the rear, however the location shouldn’t be best. It sits beneath the RX antenna, so the sign is partly blocked and may endure from interference.
The GPS module itself is definitely fairly first rate. In my testing, it was in a position to lock onto 8 satellites in a couple of minute, however on this quad it took over 2 minutes due to the best way it’s mounted. See my GPS testing right here: https://oscarliang.com/gps-review/#Efficiency-Testing
That stated, it nonetheless carried out admirably in flight when Rescue Mode was activated. To verify GPS Rescue works correctly, don’t forget to tune it in your particular flying surroundings. Right here is my full tutorial: https://oscarliang.com/setup-gps-rescue-mode-betaflight/
Battery and Weight
The producer recommends 6S 850mAh to 1450mAh batteries, that are principally the identical sizes generally used on 5-inch freestyle quads.
The Talon Professional weighs:
- 233.5g with out battery (with DJI O4 Professional put in)
- 425.6g with a 6S 1100mAh LiPo
Flight Efficiency
My first impression: the Talon Professional is extraordinarily loud. It’s in all probability louder than my 5-inch freestyle quads. You possibly can nonetheless hear it from 300 to 400 meters away.
The quad hovers at round 36% to 38% throttle, and it feels heavy within the air, which is smart as a result of it’s heavy.
Regardless of being powered by 6S, the quad shouldn’t be quick. Prime velocity is barely round 100 to 110km/h.
It’s nonetheless able to doing Acro and freestyle strikes, however there may be some yaw washout when recovering from dives. It turns into unstable and makes a sudden uncontrolled yaw motion. This was once a quite common subject with whoops due to the ducted design, but it surely has improved so much over the previous yr or two as a result of producers have discovered deal with it by means of higher tuning and design. It’s disappointing that HGLRC didn’t catch this, and that the Talon Professional nonetheless suffers from it.
In calm climate, the Talon Professional 3-inch is generally steady and easy. When the wind picks as much as round 20MPH+, it might wobble a bit, however you’ll be able to normally easy that out in submit utilizing Gyroflow.
Relating to effectivity, I’m truly impressed. With a 6S 1100mAh LiPo, I get round 6 to 7 minutes of flight time with a mixture of freestyle and cruising. When you follow light cruising, you would in all probability push that to 7 to eight minutes.
There isn’t a bodily buzzer, so if you happen to crash in tall grass it may be laborious to seek out. The motors should not particularly loud both as soon as it’s sitting within the grass.
The right way to Setup
Firmware
- The flight controller (FC) board goal is HGLRC_F722_S, and it comes preloaded with Betaflight firmware model 2025.12.1. For inventory CLI Diff, see right here.
- ESC Firmware: BLHeli_32, Rev. 32.10
- ELRS Receiver Firmware Goal: ELRS C3 900/2400 Twin Band Nano RX, firmware 3.6.3
Betaflight Setup
Conclusion
To be sincere, I don’t assume this cinewhoop advantages that a lot from 6S. I feel it will make extra sense if it had been lighter and ran on 4S as an alternative. Proper now it’s a bit too heavy and a bit too loud for my style.
Get your HGLRC Talon Professional cinewhoop from AliExpress: https://s.click on.aliexpress.com/e/_c2IzQXwT
The modular digital camera cage additionally doesn’t supply a lot worth proper now, as a result of no different quad helps it but. I hope HGLRC follows by means of and releases extra appropriate quads quickly, ideally not simply extra cinewhoops, however open prop designs too.
They need to additionally stop the lacking screws subject, and possibly cease utilizing unusual screw sizes.
If you’re searching for a 3-inch cinewhoop, the GEPRC Cinelog V3 stays my go-to selection, which affords higher flight efficiency and consumer expertise: https://oscarliang.com/geprc-cinelog30-v3/