Drones Modern Flying News

SiFly Shatters Drone Endurance Record

Company’s all-electric Q12 completes a 3-hour, 11-minute flight, beating the previous benchmark by nearly one hour.

Thursday, August 21, 2025 at 07:00 AM ET

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SiFly’s Q12 completed a 3-hour, 11-minute flight to claim the Guinness World Record for longest flight by an electric drone. [Courtesy: SiFly]

Key Takeaways:

SiFly, a California startup, set a new Guinness World Record for the longest flight of a prototype electric drone (5-20 kg) with its Q12 model, flying for 3 hours and 11 minutes, significantly surpassing the previous record.
This endurance breakthrough is critical for upcoming FAA regulations (Part 108) on Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations, which will unlock more expansive commercial missions requiring longer flight times.
The Q12's extended range was achieved through key innovations, including an optimized battery-to-drone weight ratio (around 60%), large and aerodynamically efficient propeller blades, and a streamlined fuselage design.
SiFly aims to deliver "helicopter performance with drone economics," envisioning broad applications for its Q12 and a larger Q250 drone in agriculture and public safety sectors, from mapping and surveillance to cargo delivery and emergency response.

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As the FAA nears a final rule on beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operations that could unlock more expansive commercial missions, a California-based startup has set a new benchmark for the longest flight of a prototype electric drone weighing 5-20 kilograms.

Uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) developer SiFly, which emerged from stealth in May, this week said Guinness World Records validated a 3-hour, 11-minute flight of its Q12 drone, eclipsing the previous high by nearly one hour. With the record-setting flight, the company believes it is close to unlocking the full potential of quadcopters, which are characterized by a quartet of rotors.

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.