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Quickstart

This page gets you from unboxed board to a flying vehicle as quickly as possible.

What You Need​

  • 305ap flight controller
  • MicroSD card (Class 10 or faster, 32 GB or smaller recommended)
  • USB-C cable
  • QGroundControl installed on your PC
  • GPS module (connects to USART6 + I2C4)
  • RC receiver (see RC Setup)
  • ESCs connected to PWM outputs 1–8

Step 1 — Insert SD Card​

The 305ap stores parameters, logs, and mission data on the SD card. Insert the card before powering up for the first time. Parameters will not persist across reboots without a card.

Step 2 — Flash Firmware​

See Flashing for the full guide. The quick version:

  1. Connect via USB
  2. Open QGroundControl → Vehicle Setup → Firmware
  3. Select PX4 Flight Stack and flash

Step 3 — Connect GPS​

Plug your GPS module into the GPS connector. This port provides:

  • USART6 (ttyS5) for NMEA/UBX serial data
  • I2C4 for compass (if your GPS module includes one)

Step 4 — Connect RC Receiver​

See RC Setup for receiver wiring options. SBUS and CRSF are both supported.

Step 5 — QGroundControl Setup​

Follow the QGC vehicle setup wizard:

  1. Airframe: select your vehicle type and frame
  2. Sensors: calibrate accelerometer, gyro, compass, and level
  3. Radio: calibrate RC channels
  4. Flight Modes: assign switches
  5. Power: configure battery cell count and voltage divider
No safety switch

The 305ap has no hardware safety switch. PX4 will arm via the RC stick command or GCS arm button only. Ensure props are clear before arming.

Step 6 — Pre-Flight Check​

  • SD card inserted and detected (check QGC status bar)
  • GPS lock acquired (green LED)
  • No red error flags in QGC
  • RC link active and calibrated
  • ESC direction confirmed on bench (no props)

After passing the checklist, the vehicle is ready to fly.