08 September 2025

California-based drone startup SiFly recently bested the previous "longest flight time" for a quadcopter with its Q12 model, setting a Guinness World Record in the process.

The SiFly Q12 now owns the top time with a confirmed and validated three-hour, 11-minute flight.

But extended flight times for drones aren't simply award record fodder or cases for manufacturer bragging rights. As the FAA looks to expand approved BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) distances, longer flight times will mean more extensive operational duties for drones.

“We’ve got millions of quadcopters being made every year for consumer applications,” said Brian Hinman, founder and CEO of SiFly, in an interview with FLYING. “Why can’t that thing scale up? And why can’t it be made efficient? There is no good reason why.”

How Does the Q12 Fly Longer and Farther?

“You have to have a system that operates for hours on a single charge, not minutes on a single charge,” he said. “In addition, you need a system that goes many, many miles, rather than just a couple.”

Not surprisingly, SiFly is seeing tons of preorders for its Q12. 

So, how did the company expand time and distance?

• The company is approaching an "optimal battery weight" fraction of approximately two-thirds.

• The battery cells discharge at around one-sixth the rate of other drone and eVTOL batteries.

• The Q12's large rotors require less power to generate lift, as well as avoiding high disc loading and power-devouring flight.

• In addition, the Q12's smooth and flat blades don't suffer from taper and twist that increases aerodynamic drag.

“You put all this stuff together, and that’s how you end up in a place where you can hover for two-plus hours and cruise for three-plus hours,” said Hinman.