Drone technologies are evolving at an unprecedented pace. As advances in artificial intelligence and robotics transform military and industrial strategies, drones have become a driving force in rapidly evolving military and industrial landscapes. But despite around $30 billion being invested in drone development worldwide, space innovations continue to come from unlikely places. Nowhere is there a better example than the group of YouTubers who just set the unofficial record for the fastest drone ever made.
The quadcopter, nicknamed Blackbird by its engineering team, broke the previous record by almost 50 mph, reaching a staggering speed of 453 mph during its exceptional journey. The developers, Australian duo Aidan Kelly and Ben Biggs, who run the YouTube channel Drone Pro Hub, added custom carbon fiber rotors that feature an ingenious serrated edge to push aerodynamic limits. The addition of sharp pitch blades was another innovation that allowed them to climb the drone speed rankings. Although not an official Guinness World Record, given that Biggs and Kelly’s test lacked an official observer, the video proof of the duo’s feat is impressive.
The team has solidified itself at the forefront of the drone development game. How quickly their sawtooth rotor design catches on with the military – especially with its Amazon-style military drone marketplaces – commercial and hobbyist drone builds will be a scenario to watch. Given the rapid advancement of drone technologies, it won’t be shocking to see developers emulate the duo’s designs.
A drone that breaks all records
According to Drone Pro Hub, they achieved their incredible feat without using any specialized equipment. Partnering with friends of the program, they designed their carbon fiber propellers to feature an extremely high pitch and sawtooth leading edge. Although the duo keeps the exact pitch a secret, their video explains how the serrated edges create more efficiency by forcing air to flow directly over the blades. The edges of the previous propellers created drag by channeling air sideways, away from the flight path. The disadvantage of such a system is that it requires significantly more power at low speeds, which puts additional pressure on the batteries during takeoff.
The record-breaking run was the second time the duo had used the upgraded Blackbird drone, the first resulting in the destruction of a prototype due to loss of video signal. At its peak, that first run eclipsed the speed of 630 km/h (391 mph), more than double the speed of an Apache helicopter. Unfortunately, the team fell far short of the Guinness World Record. In attempting the record a second time, the team battled winds ranging from 21 to 37 mph.
They completed several runs with their latest Blackbird to calculate a verifiable average. Their first downwind test shattered previous records, reaching an incredible speed of 730 km/h (453 mph). On their second attempt, the Blackbird accelerated against the wind, peaking at 640 km/h (397 mph). The average of 685 km/h (426 mph) was a new record, although slightly lower than the team’s original goal of 700 km/h.
What’s next for Drone Pro Hub?
The duo claims that the Blackbird has become the first electric vehicle to break the 700 km/h mark. To generate this record speed, the Blackbird sustained 400 amps for 10 seconds, subjecting its electrical system to incredible pressure that left the Blackbird’s batteries hot and smoking. A hard landing on the last run created additional damage, although it didn’t appear fatal.
Aidan said in a video that Drone Pro Hub “is coming for the next Guinness Record run.” As it stands, the fastest official ground speed of a battery-powered remote control quadcopter is 657.59 km/h (408.60 mph). The record is held by South African father-son duo Mike and Luke Bell, who achieved the record during an official race outside Cape Town. This feat beat Ben and Aidan’s previous record from December 2025 of 626 km/h (388 mph). Luckily for their fans, Kelly and Biggs came back with a bang.
Pro Drone Hub plans to release the plans via its website for anyone who wants to build their own Blackbird. Enthusiasts can sign up to join Pro Drone Hub’s Blackbird waitlist for the opportunity to purchase the plans. The plans are “designed to work on most FDM printers”, and while they are supporters of Bambu Lab’s industry-leading printers, the plans should work on one of several 3D printing alternatives. The Blackbird’s carbon fiber materials are certainly harder to find, but the team’s PCB Way suppliers are listed in their video description.
