Drones, amazing as they are, still have their limitations. When it comes to flight time, no drone can keep going forever. Every drone model has its own maximum flight time based on a combination of factors.
So if you’re looking for the drone with the longest flight time, read on as we discuss drone limitations and which currently available models can spend an impressive amount of time in the air.
Drone Flight Limitations
The two main factors that limit how far a drone can fly are its battery life and the frequency that the drone’s transmitter and receiver use. Although when it purely comes down to flight time, the drone’s battery is the big culprit.
Most drones used a lithium-based battery, normally either a lithium polymer (LiPo) or lithium ion battery. These are favored because they have a higher energy density than the older nickel-based batteries, which is important because drones use a lot of energy to stay up in the air.
And despite their quality, these batteries don’t last as long as you might think. A high-end drone can typically fly for about 20 minutes on one battery, while lower-quality toy drones can go as low as 5 to 10 minutes.
Luckily, drone batteries are rechargeable and replaceable. So many drone owners take multiple charged batteries with them when they set out and replace the battery as needed throughout the day.
What drone model has the longest flight time?
A couple of years ago, Impossible Aerospace made headlines for releasing a drone with a 2 hour flight time that the company dubbed the US-1. To date, this is the drone with the longest maximum flight time, with a battery that only requires about 45 minutes of charging. However, the drone isn’t widely available and is quite expensive. The drone company mostly caters to law enforcement, first responders, and military applications.
As for consumer drones, which is likely what you’ll be looking for, the DJI Mavic 2 Pro would be your best bet. It’s currently one of the top consumer drones with a maximum flight time of around 30 minutes. Plus, while it’s still pretty expensive, the Mavic 2 Pro is not a wildly lavish expense like the US-1.
If you have a specific drone in mind and are curious about its maximum flight time, you should be able to find information about it online. It’s also possible to calculate the drone’s flight time using a formula based on its battery capacity, discharge, voltage, and the drone’s weight. There are also some helpful calculators online that can do this calculation for you.
Keep Drone Regulations in Mind
No matter how long or far your drone can fly, always keep the local laws and regulations in mind. This differs by country and region so study up before you set out! For example, in the US, drones can only fly from 30 minutes before official sunrise to 30 minutes after official sunset (local time) or in twilight if your drone has anti-collision lighting. Although these rules are now changing too.
