DolphinRC Nightingale X5 Review — A Long-Range 5" Combo Kit [2026]
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DolphinRC Nightingale X5 — Built for Long Range, Not Just Racing
A 228mm, 5-inch power combo kit with an in-house F405 60A stack, 1950KV motors and camera protection aimed squarely at long-range and freestyle flying.
Is the Nightingale X5 worth buying?
Yes, if long-range freestyle is actually what you're flying — the 228mm wheelbase, 6S-ready power system and aluminum camera protection are built around endurance and durability rather than raw racing speed. It ships as a PNP kit (powered, no radio/receiver/goggles), so you're supplying your own electronics on top, and DolphinRC doesn't list a battery in the box, so budget for 6S 1450-1650mAh packs separately.
A 5-inch frame built around endurance
The Nightingale X5 is DolphinRC's long-range-leaning 5-inch platform: a 228mm wheelbase carrying an in-house F405V3 flight controller (STM32F405, ICM42688P gyro) paired with a 60A ESC and LieKong 2207 1950KV motors. At 440g for the frame and power system, it's built to run 6S packs in the 1450-1650mAh range, with aluminum camera protection and integrated LED/buzzer mounts baked into the frame design.
What makes it stand out
228mm wheelbase with camera protection
The frame's geared design keeps the camera view unobstructed while adding aluminum protection around the FPV camera — a detail that matters more once you've crashed a drone or two and lost a camera to a bent frame arm.
1950KV motors on a 60A ESC
LieKong 2207 1950KV motors paired with DolphinRC's own 60A ESC are tuned for 6S flight, which generally means more punch and better efficiency at altitude/long range compared to a 4S setup of similar motor size.
In-house F405V3 stack with ICM42688P gyro
The STM32F405-based flight controller uses the ICM42688P gyro, a chip that's become a common choice in current FPV stacks for its stability and noise characteristics — good sign this isn't a bargain-bin sensor.
PNP kit — bring your own radio and FPV gear
The box includes the drone in PNP (powered, no radio) configuration plus two propeller sets and two battery straps. You'll need to supply your own receiver, radio, FPV goggles/video system, and 6S battery — this is a combo kit for the airframe and power system, not a full RTF package.
Full spec sheet
| Frame | DolphinRC Nightingale X5 |
| Wheelbase | 228mm |
| Frame weight | 440g |
| Flight controller | DolphinRC F405V3 (STM32F405) |
| Gyro | ICM42688P |
| Motors | LieKong 2207 1950KV |
| ESC | DolphinRC 60A |
| Propellers | HQ J37WH (white), 2 sets included |
| Recommended battery | 6S LiPo, 1450–1650mAh (not included) |
| Configuration | PNP (powered, no radio/receiver) |
| Price | $224.99 |
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 228mm 5-inch frame built specifically for long-range/freestyle endurance rather than pure racing
- In-house F405V3 stack with a modern ICM42688P gyro
- 60A ESC and 6S-ready 1950KV motors give real headroom for bigger battery packs
- Aluminum camera protection is a genuinely useful durability detail
Cons
- PNP only — no radio, receiver, FPV system or battery included, so the real cost is higher than the sticker price
- 440g frame weight is on the heavier side for a 5" freestyle build
- DolphinRC doesn't publish independent customer ratings we could verify for this specific kit
- 6S-only power system means it's not a fit if you're standardized on 4S batteries
Answers before you buy
Does the Nightingale X5 come with a battery?
What radio/receiver does it use?
Is this a racing frame or a freestyle frame?
What's included in the box?
A solid long-range 5" combo, if you already have the rest of your gear
The frame and power system are well matched for freestyle and long-range flying, and the F405V3/ICM42688P combo is a legitimately modern stack. Just budget for a radio, receiver, FPV system and 6S batteries on top of the $224.99 sticker price — this is a combo kit, not a complete RTF setup.
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