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

Verified

Edited By:

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's Q12 electric quadcopter set a new Guinness World Record for endurance with a 3-hour, 11-minute flight, significantly surpassing previous records for its weight class.
This achievement is particularly relevant as the FAA nears finalization of rules for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations, which will open up more extensive commercial missions.
SiFly achieved this by optimizing the classic quadcopter design through innovations such as a high battery weight fraction and aerodynamically efficient, large propellers, aiming to provide "helicopter performance with drone economics."
The company anticipates significant demand for the long-endurance Q12 in agriculture and public safety sectors, with plans to develop a larger Q250 model for heavier payloads.

See a mistake? Contact us.

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.