How far a drone can fly depends on a number of factors but typically, fixed-wing drones fly the furthest such as the SolarXOne which can fly up to 600km.
Here is an overview of the typical distances different types of drones can reach:
- Cheap toy drones under $50 can fly up to 100 meters
- Hobby drones around the $300 price bracket can reach up to 4km such as the DJI Mini SE
- Professional and commercial multi-rotor drones can fly longer ranges up to 15km such as the DJI Mavic 3.
- Fixed-wing drones have significantly longer flight times such as the DeltaQuad which can fly up to 100km in a single flight and the SolarXOne which flies up to 600km.
How far can you legally fly a drone?
If flying a drone in the US, you must abide by the rules set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) which state that the drone must stay within the operator’s visual line of site.
Additionally, recreational drone operators are limited to a maximum altitude of 400 feet above ground level. There are also certain areas, such as airports and national parks, where flying a drone is either restricted or prohibited altogether.
If you want to fly a drone further than your visible line of sight a BVLOSS waiver is needed. Check out the regulations for flying beyond visual line of sight here.
How far can a multirotor drone fly?
Multirotor drones such as the Atlas T Multicopter can fly up to 20km, more commonly known multirotor drones such as the DJI Mavic 3 fly up to 15km.
Multi-rotor drones can’t fly as far as fixed-wing drones due to their design, limited battery life and inability to glide.
Why multirotor drones can't fly as far a fixed wing drones
Multirotor drones and fixed-wing drones have different designs and functions, which affects their maximum flight range.
Fixed wing drones are able to passively glide without requiring battery power but one of the biggest advancements is the ability to host solar panels, charging the drone as it flies.
Multi-rotor drones don’t have the surface area to effectively host solar panels. The University of Singapore created a multirotor solar powered drone in 2018 but it has many challenges to becoming a commercial product. It’s more of a flying solar panel than a usable drone.
Multi-rotor drones, are designed to be more agile and maneuverable than fixed-wing drones. They are able to hover in place, fly in any direction, and make quick turns. However, these capabilities come at the cost of flight time and range. Multirotor drones have a limited flight time due to their battery capacity and the amount of energy they consume to stay in the air.
How far can a fixed wing drone fly?
When combined with solar, fixed wing drones can fly continuously for 100’s of kilometers.
One example of a solar fixed-wing drone is the SolarXOne. This drone is a lot larger than most commercial drones measuring 4.5m but can fly continuously for 12 hours with a maximum distance of 600km. The DeltaQuad flies up to 100km without any solar power.
For 5 drones changing the way we work, check out this fixed wing drone article .
How to make my drone fly further ?
The distance a drone can fly from the controller is dependant on the strength of the strength of the signal between the controller and the drone. Here are a few ways you can maximise the distance you can fly your drone:
- Fly in areas with minimal interference: Drones use an electromagnetic frequency of 2.400–2.483 GHz and 5.725–5.825 GHz on the electromagnetic spectrum. This just means they usea a certain wavelength to communicate but wifi and bluetooth devices also use this wavelength. The less devices in the area that use the same frequency the stronger your signal will be. The transmission of these waves can also be effected by physical barriers such as buildings and mountains.
- Fly in calm weather: The strength of the signal can also be affected by the weather, to get the greatest flight distance from your drone fly when there are no strong winds or extreme weather conditions.
- Upgrade your battery: Some drones such as the DJI Mini Pro 3 have the option to use a battery with better technology, extending the flight time of the drone.
The Wrap Up On How Far Drones Can Fly
Thanks to new solar technology being applied to fixed-wing drones, drones can fly 100’s of kilometres. However, when most people think of drones, the multi-rotor type is what commonly comes to mind. This type of drone faces lots of engineering challenges so as a result, commercial multirotor drones (such as the Mavic 3) tend to fly up to 15 kilometers and hobby drones are limited to shorter distances of 50-100 meters.
