An experimental drone reaches 730 km/h thanks to new carbon fiber propellers

A pair of drone enthusiasts has achieved an extraordinary result, unofficially marking a new speed record with an aircraft capable of reaching 453 miles per hour, equivalent to about 730 km/h. This is an impressive performance compared to many commercial airplanes, which typically cruise at speeds around 550 miles per hour.

The two builders, Aidan and Ben, were not new to such feats. In December 2025, they had set a previous record of 388 miles per hour before being surpassed by another team that pushed a drone to 408 miles per hour. Determined to reclaim the title, they upgraded their Blackbird model by introducing new propellers specifically designed to achieve extreme speeds.

One of the key elements of the project involves custom-made carbon fiber blades developed to maximize efficiency at high speeds. The propellers feature a particularly aggressive pitch, oriented more towards the direction of movement compared to designs used in the past. This configuration enhances performance when the drone flies very quickly, although it results in lower efficiency during the initial phases of flight, such as takeoff and hovering, temporarily increasing energy consumption.

Testing Days for the Record Drone

The new blades also include a serrated leading edge designed to generate aerodynamic vortices that help control airflow along the blade surface. This solution reduces lateral air losses and stabilizes the boundary layer, decreasing aerodynamic drag and allowing the blades to maintain sharper angles without losing effectiveness.

On the first day of testing, the drone reached about 393 miles per hour, but issues related to antenna geometry, signal overload, and Doppler effects caused a loss of connection with the remote control. At those speeds, retrieving the aircraft was practically impossible, and the drone was destroyed. Fortunately, the team had a second prototype and more updated propellers.

The next day, facing unfavorable wind conditions, they conducted two flights—one with a tailwind and one against the wind—calculating a more balanced average. In the test with a tailwind, the drone hit 453 miles per hour, while in the headwind test, it reached 397 miles per hour. The resulting average speed of about 425 miles per hour still surpasses the previous record.

The final drone sustained damage during a rough landing due to battery exhaustion, but the team believes it can be repaired in anticipation of a future official attempt.