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Ben Biggs' Blackbird hits astonishing speeds – but it won't be appearing in the Guinness Book of Records yet
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(Image credit: Drone Pro Hub)
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An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter- Self-built Blackbird drone hits 428.8mph / 690kmh in Australian outback
- Ben Biggs is an aerospace engineer by trade
- Record remains unofficial due to lack of professional observer
I consider myself something of a drone expert, but then I come across a story like this and realize I'm very much at the novice end of the scale compared to some pilots. Drone Pro Hub recently posted a video on their YouTube channel, in which their quadcopter hit an astonishing world record speed of 428.8mph / 690kmh in the skies over the Australian outback.
This drone isn't some multi-million-dollar prototype from the likes of DJI or a US aerospace giant, either. The 'Blackbird' was designed and built from scratch by Australian engineer Ben Biggs, and its components are worth around $3,000 in total – which isn't that much pricier than a premium consumer camera drone.
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The drone's 100m average in this recent flight comes in at around 410mph / 661kmh (averaging the upwind run which topped 635kmh and the downwind run of 690kmh), around 3kmh faster than the official Guinness World Record for drone speed, set in December 2025 by Luke Maximo Bell with his own custom-built Peregreen V4 aircraft.
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So, this means Biggs and the Blackbird are the new official world record holders, right? Unfortunately for him, that's not the case. Because he couldn't find a professional observer to witness his attempt (getting a pro drone pilot available to venture into the wilds of rural Australia at short notice not being an easy task) it remains unofficial and out of the record books.
How the Blackbird hits top speed
As reported by Drone XL, the key to the upgraded Blackbird's incredible air speed appears to be Biggs' choice of motors. He chose four AAX 2826 Competition motors with extended leads, which feed directly through the drone's arms and are soldered directly to the speed controllers. That means no additional wiring, no additional weight, and that those arms can remain as thin and lightweight as possible.
Biggs also uses two batteries, which sets him aside from most of his rivals attempting to set the drone speed record. These batteries have a high voltage ceiling to keep heat output low and power high, and are overcharged slightly to supply more power to the motors at peak throttle. This means the drone can't fly for long, but when it's flying at high throttle it runs faster and cooler.
Before Luke Maximo Bell's record-setting attempt late last year, Biggs held the official speed record himself, and we fully expect him to return with an official observer in tow to make another attempt soon – one that will actually sit in the record books this time. And following that? Well, it can't be long until the world's first 700kmh drone flight, surely?
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Sam KieldsenSocial Links NavigationSam has been writing about tech and digital culture for over 20 years, starting off in video games journalism before branching out into the wonderful worlds of consumer electronics, streaming entertainment and photography. Over the years he has written for Wired, Stuff, GQ, T3, Trusted Reviews and PC Zone, and now lives on the Kent coast in the UK – the ideal place for a camera reviewer to ply their trade.
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