Holybro X500 V2 Almost-Ready-To-Fly (ARF) Kit
by Holybro

Holybro X500 V2 Almost-Ready-To-Fly (ARF) Kit – Premium 500mm Carbon Fiber Quadcopter Platform with Pre-Installed Propulsion and Integrated Power Distribution (Solderless Integration)

The Holybro X500 V2 Almost-Ready-To-Fly (ARF) Kit represents a streamlined, high-efficiency advancement for commercial sUAS developers, software engineers, and academic robotics researchers who want a rugged, mid-sized autonomous development drone without the time-consuming process of soldering core power loops. Unlike a traditional bare-bones frame, the X500 V2 ARF package arrives with the critical heavy-lifting propulsion machinery pre-configured and pre-routed right inside the airframe arms. It provides an exceptionally reliable mechanical and electronic foundation while leaving the choice of the primary flight controller, navigation sensors, companion computers, and radio networks entirely open for custom tailoring.

At its structural core is a high-rigidity chassis consisting of 2mm thick full carbon fiber twill plates and ultra-rugged 16mm diameter carbon fiber tube arms. These lightweight arms are anchored by fiber-reinforced nylon connectors featuring convenient alignment notches on both the motor and body sides, resulting in an effortless, perfectly squared assembly process that takes less than 15 minutes. Mounted directly to the extremities are premium Holybro 2216 KV920 brushless motors and highly responsive BLHeli_S 20A ESCs, both featuring native, heavy-duty XT30 connectors that plug straight into the pre-installed central Power Distribution Board (PDB). This brilliant modular engineering completely eliminates the need for field soldering. For added flight security, the kit includes upgraded 1045 propellers equipped with specialized propeller retainers to completely prevent accidental in-flight fly-offs.

The central compartment features an expanded multi-deck layout designed specifically for modern autonomous systems architecture, boasting a generous 28mm internal clearance between the top and bottom decks. It incorporates native mounting patterns ready for Pixhawk-class flight controllers alongside a dedicated companion computer platform board pre-drilled to cleanly secure high-power edge-AI hardware like the Raspberry Pi 4 or NVIDIA Jetson Nano. For landing and utility carriage, a robust 16mm/10mm carbon fiber landing gear structure supports a dual 10mm underslung longitudinal rod rail system. Spaced 250mm long, these rails are perfectly optimized for carrying enterprise camera gimbals, mapping cameras, cargo drop boxes, or multi-sensor depth arrays (such as the Intel RealSense family via optional mounts). Capable of an 18-minute hover time when using a standard 4S 5000mAh LiPo and built to manage a payload up to 1,500 grams, this ARF kit delivers the open-source utility and industrial-grade durability demanded by modern drone integrators.

Avionics Configuration Warning: This package is an Almost-Ready-to-Fly (ARF) Kit. While it supplies the complete frame, motors, ESCs, propellers, and power distribution board, it does not include a flight controller (such as a Pixhawk module), GPS, telemetry radio system, RC remote transmitter, receiver, or main flight battery. These vital navigation and control components must be purchased separately.

Technical Specifications

• Frame Class Configuration: 500mm Class Open-Architecture Quadcopter Development Platform

• Motor-to-Motor Wheelbase: 500 mm

• Chassis Construction Material: Full Carbon Fiber Twill Top & Bottom Decks (144 mm x 144 mm, 2.0 mm thick)

• Arm Structural Tubing: Ultra-lightweight, high-tensile 16 mm diameter carbon fiber tubes

• Arm Interconnects: Fiber-reinforced nylon connectors with integrated alignment notches

• Integrated Brushless Motors: 4 x Holybro 2216 KV920 Motors (Pre-wired with XT30 plugs)

• Integrated Speed Controllers: 4 x BLHeli_S 20A Electronic Speed Controllers (ESCs) with XT30 interface

• Power Distribution Infrastructure: Modular PDB featuring an XT60 main battery plug and 4x dedicated XT30 ESC inputs

• Propeller Specification: 1045 High-Efficiency Multirotor Propellers (6 pcs included, comes with safety propeller retainers)

• Landing Gear System: Reinforced 16 mm vertical & 10 mm skid carbon fiber tubes with strengthened plastic tee joints

• Landing Gear Ground Clearance: 215 mm height profile

• Main Internal Deck Clearance: 28 mm spacing between top and bottom plates

• Companion Computer Deck Interface: Pre-drilled pattern for Raspberry Pi 4 (49x58mm) and NVIDIA Jetson Nano (58x86mm)

• Payload Rail Carriage Matrix: Dual 10 mm diameter carbon rods, 250 mm longitudinal span

• Net Base Frame Weight: 610 grams (Chassis and structural hardware baseline)

• Maximum Practical Structural Payload: Up to 1500g cargo capacity (Calculated at 70% hover throttle configuration, without battery)

• Recommended Battery Parameters: 4S LiPo ranging from 3000 mAh to 5000 mAh 20C+ utilizing an XT60 connector (Not Included)

• Performance Metric (Hover Endurance): ~18 minutes (Measured hovering with an unladen 4S 5000mAh battery pack)

What's Included

• 1 x Holybro X500 V2 Carbon Fiber Center Chassis Assembly (Top & Bottom Decks)

• 4 x 16mm Carbon Fiber Tube Arms (Pre-assembled with 2216 KV920 Motors and BLHeli_S 20A ESCs)

• 4 x Fiber-Reinforced Nylon Motor/Body Arm Brackets

• 1 x Holybro X500 Central Power Distribution Board (PDB) with pre-soldered XT60 & XT30 ports

• 6 x 1045 Propellers (with complete propeller retainer kit)

• 1 x Heavy-Duty Carbon Fiber Landing Gear Assembly (16mm & 10mm structural tubes)

• 1 x Multi-Purpose Companion Computer Deck / GPS Mounting Platform Board

• 1 x Enlarged Adjustable Battery Mounting Plate

• 2 x 10mm Diameter x 250mm Long Carbon Fiber Under-Chassis Payload Rails

• 2 x Heavy-Duty Hook-and-Loop Battery Tie-Down Straps

• 1 x Complete Pack of Assembly Fasteners, Hex Screws, Standoffs, and Manual Hand Tools