Along with other vital features to consider when buying a drone, speed is crucial.
Drone racers want a fast drone to compete effectively, while commercial users want a drone that can move swiftly during filming, or when they need to conduct an emergency landing.
But how fast do drones fly?
Generally, the speed of popular quadcopters is around 45 mph, but some top models fly at 70 mph. An FPV racing drone with modifications often maxes out at over 100 mph, with one setting a world record at 179 mph.
Surprisingly, a military predator drone is slower and flies at 135 mph.
You should know that there are many different factors that affect a drone’s speed, and more importantly, controlling drones at high speeds require stronger piloting skills.
So, keep reading the guide below to learn more about different drones and their speeds.
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What Is the Average Speed of a Drone?
On average, a drone flies at around 45 miles per hour, however, it’s best not to fly your drones at full speed for safety reasons.
There is a significant difference between a camera drone and a racing drone though.
Camera drones are moderately proportioned, making them fly slower than racing drones.
Check out the drone speed comparison table below for info on the most popular models.
| Drone Model | Speed |
|---|---|
| DJI Inspire 2 | 70mph |
| DJI Phantom 4 Pro | 55mph |
| DJI Mavic Pro 2 | 45mph |
| Autel Robotics Evo | 44mph |
| DJI Mavic Air | 42mph |
| DJI Mavic Pro | 40mph |
| SYMA | 12mph |
How fast do racing drones fly?
Racing drones can go faster, especially if the pilot is an expert – balancing at high speed is critical. Some pilots exceed the limit to 120mph, and recently the highest rate is a world record of 179mph.
As a drone racer, your drone requires a particular setup focus on speed, performance, and agility. See below how fast racing drones can go.
| Racing Drones | Racing Speed |
|---|---|
| DRL RacerX | 179mph |
| Speedy Gonzalas | 145mph |
| Diatone GT200 2017 | 99mph |
| Eachine Falcon 250 | 90mph |
| Nytfury’s ARC 200 | 75mph |
| Blade Mach 25 | 70mph |
Can a drone go 200mph?
Just recently, a student built a drone that could fly 200mph. Though still in testing, Allan Inestroza wants to ensure the drone can work underwater and race.
Drone Types
Check out the three main types of drones, their speeds, and the factors affecting their rate.
Racing Drones
These drones’ sole purpose is speed. That’s why they fly faster than all other drones. They are basically for competitions.
The average speed of a racing drone is between 60-120mph.
However, racing drones are customized to enable them to fly faster than their limit – like the modified racing drone flying at 179mph.
Some factors that ensure the high speed of racing drones are the size and weight.
Racing drones are symmetrical and most of the structural features are stripped down, making them compact and lightweight yet robust. They also feature flight control software.
As a fan of racing drones, nothing is more enjoyable than watching the speeds these drones can achieve during a few sporting events.
Consumer Drones
Consumer drones have an average speed limit of 45 to 70mph.
Consumer drones like the DJI Mavic 2 are more advanced than the beginner drones, such as the DJI Mavic Mini or Mini 2; hence require a pilot with some experience.
Most consumer drones fly using four blades, though there are drones with 6 or even 8 blades, such as the Yuneec Typhoon or DJI Matrice drones.
These blades affect the speed of the drone by providing stability and torque.
Police drones are a type of off-shelf model for commercial drones. They fly at a speed of over 50mph for over 30 minutes.
Also, they use unique visual and thermal cameras to help in day and night operations.
Military Drones
Undeniably, drones have several functions like delivery, search operations, photography, and racing.
However, the most popular use is for military purposes like surveillance and investigations of targeted attacks.
Military drones are usually adaptable regarding speed and how far they can see.
Currently, the ongoing project for military drones is the construction of the F-35 Lightning II stealth aircraft drone. This unique drone can fly over 7,400 kilometers per hour.
What Affects Drone Speed?
Drone speed depends on several factors, such as:
- Environmental elements like wind or rain
- Drone design
- Propellers and motor type
- Law
Let’s look at each factor in-depth.
Environmental Factors
Wind affects small and light drones more quickly than large ones.
When a drone hovers on the ground, the wind forms an equal force to the airspeed of the drone.
Therefore, the drone’s ground speed depends on the wind force and flight direction. In case of strong wind, the drone tends to drift away, making the pilot unable to control and maintain position.
Conversely, rain/moisture affects the drone’s speed.
Though it’s a top factor to consider, most drones don’t come with an IP rating. So, when rain, fog, or snow enters the drone, it damages the control system, affecting how fast it can go.
Drone Design
Apart from the type of drone, its design contributes to its speed. The two crucial designs include fixed-wing and rotary-wing.
A fixed-wing drone design emulates that of an airplane.
Such a drone can lift itself, gliding in flight to change to desirable altitudes.
Fixed-wing drones fly faster because they use less power. These drones have a tailwind that’s highly beneficial in the wind’s