Engineer's Drone Hits 411 MPH in Friendly Speed Battle

A homemade drone just blazed through the sky at 411 miles per hour, faster than most commercial airplanes take off, and it runs entirely on batteries.

Australian aerospace engineer Benjamin Biggs built the custom quadcopter from scratch after South African team Luke and Mike Bell broke his previous record just weeks earlier. The back-and-forth competition has become one of the most exciting technological rivalries in drone racing, with speeds jumping over 100 mph since May 2024.

Biggs achieved the incredible speed using a drone he calls the Blackbird. He completed two official passes following Guinness guidelines: one downwind at 395 mph and one upwind at 429 mph, averaging 411 mph through the required measurement zone.

The secret lies in creative engineering that balances extreme power with thermal management. Biggs uses two batteries wired together to create higher voltage, which pushes more power while generating less heat. He even slightly overcharges the batteries beyond standard levels to maintain peak performance during the high-speed runs.

His design also features motors mounted at the front pulling the drone forward, rather than pushing from behind. This lets the propellers cut through clean air instead of turbulent airflow from the frame. Every wire was custom-routed through ultra-slim arms to reduce drag, and the propellers were trimmed for maximum speed.

After the record run, the batteries still had 8% charge left and stayed relatively cool at 169 degrees Fahrenheit. "I think those motors will just fly all day like that," Biggs said after landing.

The only catch? Biggs couldn't get certified professional drone pilots on site to witness the attempt, so the record remains unofficial for now. That means the Bells technically still hold the title at 408 mph.

Why This Inspires

This friendly competition shows how sporting rivalry can drive real innovation. What started as a personal challenge between engineers on different continents has pushed battery and motor technology to new limits in under two years.

Each design iteration teaches valuable lessons about power efficiency, thermal management, and aerodynamics that could influence everything from delivery drones to electric aircraft. The engineers share their designs openly on YouTube, creating a community of makers learning together.

The speeds might be approaching the limits of current battery technology, but the spirit of innovation keeps accelerating.