Enter your battery capacity, aircraft current draw, and discharge cutoff — get estimated flight time, usable capacity, and pack recommendations in seconds.
Flight time (min) = (mAh × usable fraction) ÷ average amps × 60. A 2200mAh 3S pack at 20% cutoff drawing 22A gives roughly 4.8 minutes of pure motor runtime — real flight time is 6–8 minutes on a beginner trainer due to varying throttle. Use the calculator below for your specific pack and aircraft.
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Flight time estimates depend on three variables: battery capacity, average current draw, and how much capacity you leave unused as a safety buffer. The table below shows real-world baselines for common aircraft under moderate throttle — actual results vary with flying style and conditions.
Manufacturer flight time estimates assume ideal constant-current discharge under controlled conditions. In practice, throttle varies, wind increases load, and real average current is higher than the nominal hover or cruise figure. Treat this calculator's output as a conservative estimate — real flight time under active flying conditions will typically be shorter than pure math suggests.
The most reliable levers are capacity (higher mAh = longer runtime, within weight limits) and flying style (smooth throttle management lowers average current draw). Switching from a 2200mAh to a 3200mAh pack adds roughly 40% runtime if the airframe can carry the extra weight. See the RC Batteries Guide for pack selection details.
10-page PDF covering equipment checklist, pre-flight routine, LiPo handling protocol, and the 5 most common beginner mistakes — formatted for field use.