SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 19, 2025 / SiFly , a leading developer of long-endurance electric unmanned aerial systems, announced today that it has officially broken the Guinness World Record for the longest duration flight of an electrically powered prototype multirotor/drone (5 – 20 kg). Conducted on July 26, 2025, at Amaral Ranches in California’s Salinas Valley, the record-setting Q12 drone flight eclipsed the previous benchmark by nearly an hour, cementing SiFly’s position at the forefront of next-generation aerial technology.

To comply with Guinness World Records’ rigorous validation requirements, the flight was documented by eight official witnesses along with extensive video and photographic evidence. Among the witnesses were Paul Baker, Distinguished Engineer at Apple and Chris Silva, Research Aerospace Engineer at NASA Ames.

The record-setting flight was achieved using SiFly’s patented Q12 system, a next-generation vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drone designed to unlock long duration hover flights along with long range forward flight operations. This achievement underscores the Q12’s capacity to support missions that demand a persistent aerial presence, such as Drone-as-First Responder (DFR) programs, large-scale surveying, and extended infrastructure inspections.

“This world record goes far beyond endurance—it signals a fundamental shift in what’s possible for drones,” said Brian Hinman, Founder & CEO of SiFly. “With helicopter-level performance at drone economics, the Q12 creates entirely new markets, redefining industry expectations. Our growing order book already validates that customers see the value. We believe this achievement will inspire a new wave of innovation, transforming drones from niche devices into essential tools.”