Silicon Valley drone startup SiFly has officially claimed a Guinness World Record after flying its Q12 drone for more than three hours — nearly an hour longer than the previous record. The groundbreaking flight took place on July 26 at Amaral Ranches in California’s Salinas Valley, witnessed by eight official observers, including Apple Distinguished Engineer Paul Baker and NASA Ames Research Aerospace Engineer Chris Silva.
The Q12, SiFly’s flagship vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drone, was designed to combine long-duration hover capabilities with long-range flight, making it ideal for missions that require a persistent aerial presence. According to SiFly, the achievement demonstrates that drones can finally compete with helicopters for endurance-heavy jobs like Drone-as-First-Responder (DFR) programs, wide-area mapping, and infrastructure inspections.
“This world record goes far beyond endurance; it signals a fundamental shift in what’s possible for drones,” says Brian Hinman, SiFly founder and CEO. “With helicopter-level performance at drone economics, the Q12 creates entirely new markets, redefining industry expectations.”
The Q12’s capabilities are indeed impressive:
- Two hours of continuous hover
- Over three hours of forward flight
- 10-pound payload capacity
- 90-mile flight range
- Fully modular, all-electric architecture
These specs position SiFly as a serious contender to disrupt the $35 billion industrial drone market projected for 2030, which is currently limited by short flight times and lighter payload capacities. The Q12 could even take on missions traditionally handled by light helicopters, offering a lower-cost, lower-emission alternative.
Momentum is already building. Just 90 days after emerging from stealth mode, SiFly secured pre-orders and letters of intent for hundreds of Q12 units, with initial deliveries slated for early 2026. We are told that strong interest is coming from public safety agencies, infrastructure inspectors, mapping firms, and even agriculture operators.
With the FAA’s proposed Part 108 rules paving the way for more Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) missions, SiFly’s timing couldn’t be better. The record-breaking flight not only sets a new benchmark for drone endurance but also opens the door to a new era where drones become essential tools for persistent, large-scale operations.
Watch SiFly’s record-breaking flight here:
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