
SiFly
SiFly, a drone company that only launched publicly in May, has quickly risen to prominence in 2025. Its latest milestone came fittingly on Orville Wright’s birthday, when its Q12 drone secured a place in the Guinness World Records.
Novo recorde mundial de voo
On July 26, 2025, at Amaral Ranches in California, the Q12 flew for 3 hours, 11 minutes, and 53 seconds—setting a new benchmark for the longest electric-powered drone flight in the 5–20 kg category. The flight surpassed the previous record by roughly an hour, according to the company.
Detalhes da tentativa de recorde
During the attempt, the Q12 flew autonomously in a 600-meter-wide (1,969-foot-wide) orbit at an altitude of about 50 meters (164 feet) and a speed of 50 km/h (31 mph), Flying magazine reported. The record attempt was validated by eight witnesses, including NASA aerospace engineer Chris Silva and Apple engineer Paul Baker.
“This record represents more than just endurance—it marks a turning point for drone technology,” said Brian Hinman, SiFly’s Founder & CEO. “We believe it will spark innovation that will transform drones from specialized gadgets into indispensable tools.”
Perspectivas futuras com novas regras da FAA
SiFly has already gained attention for advancing drone performance. The Q12 offers up to four times longer flight duration, ten times greater range, ten times quieter operation, and five times the payload of comparable electric drones, all while remaining cost-competitive with Chinese models. Engineers achieved these results by choosing larger-diameter rotors and using EV-grade lithium-ion 21700 batteries.
The outcome is a drone that delivers helicopter-like capabilities but at a fraction of the cost.
SiFly believes these extended flight times will be crucial under upcoming FAA rules that could soon allow routine Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight (BVLOS) operations. If approved, the new framework would eliminate the need for special exemptions, paving the way for long-distance drone applications like cargo transport and agricultural monitoring to become standard practice.
Read the original articel on: New Atlas
Read more: World’s First 8K 360° Camera Drone Delivers a Magic Carpet–Like Ride

