BlackBird quadcopter sets new speed record at 661 km/h

Australian aviation engineer Benjamin Biggs claims to have created the world's fastest remotely controlled quadcopter. His homemade device, named BlackBird, reached an average speed of 661 km/h. Although this achievement hasn't yet been verified by Guinness World Records, the claimed result already surpasses the current official record.

The competition for the title of fastest electric quadcopter has been ongoing for the past two years. Previously, the record belonged to South African team Mike Bell, whose Peregrine 2 drone gradually improved its performance—from 482 km/h in 2024 to 656 km/h in early 2026. BlackBird's new result marks another turn in this technological race.

According to measurement rules, Biggs performed two runs—with the wind and against it. The maximum speed with the wind reached 690 km/h, while against the wind it was 635 km/h. After accounting for the mandatory 100-meter measurement distance, the average figure stood at 661 km/h. However, official record registration isn't possible yet due to the absence of a certified observer during the test.

From a technical perspective, BlackBird represents a highly optimized platform. The drone is powered by two SMC 7S batteries with 6,000 mAh capacity, combined into a 14S system. Each cell's voltage was increased to 4.35 V to ensure maximum output under load. The design follows a "tractor" configuration—with motors positioned at the front—allowing the propellers to operate in cleaner airflow and reducing aerodynamic losses. Specially wound AAX 2826 Competition motors connect directly to controllers without extra wires, which minimizes air resistance.

During the record flight, the motors spun at up to 34,000 revolutions per minute, while battery temperature after landing was about 76°C with 8% charge remaining. Experts note that further speed increases within current technologies might be challenging—the limits of lithium-ion batteries and propeller systems are already being approached. The next breakthrough will likely require new materials or fundamentally different power systems.