New DJI world record for a suicide (one way) flight... 128,731 feet linear distance.  This was not an autonomous mission - he flew it RC.  The pilot had a 7 mph tailwind and flew it 42 mins straight out.  He auto-landed 24.4 miles from homepoint with full RC signal the entire flight.  Landed with 17% (modded) battery.  Aircraft was a DJI P3P.  

https://app.airdata.com/main?share=TxWMAy&page_id=GENERAL

New round-trip world record - 85,697 ft - that's 16.23 miles out and then turning around, flying back, and landing safely at the home point.  Aircraft was a P3A.

https://phantompilots.com/thread ... age-95#post-1370558

Edit:  Again.  This time with a P4.  https://phantompilots.com/thread ... age-53#post-1370860

Great Eyesight !

Mark The Droner Posted at 2017-4-1 12:07
New world record set yesterday.... over 13 miles out and then back to home flying a P3A.  No, it's not an April Fool's joke.

http://www.phantompilots.com/thr ... age-77#post-1146382

just wow !

Here's the vid.  Amazing flight with camera and gimbal attached.  Drone is a DJI P3A right out of the box.  55 minutes.  Unmodded P3A - except for the battery mod and four Master Airscrew props.  People say the DJI P3A/P is the king of long distance and they are right.  This even beats the old Flytrex world record set by some guy who flew straight out over the mediterranean in a self-made drone in the middle of the night over two years ago.  One thing particularly rare about this flight is the entire flight is on video with the stock camera.  Most long distance guys rip the camera and gimbal off to minimize weight before attempting this.  If they can provide any video at all, it's with a ten dollar 5 volt video camera off a kid's drone.  This flight is with the OEM camera and gimbal.  

http://x.flytrex.com/challenges/distance/

https://www.dropbox.com/s/dyxrdphjay3iwqg/P3_85430feet.mp4?dl=0

Absolutely utterly amazing!  

Congratulations Keith McCormick!

Mark The Droner Posted at 2018-6-12 16:07
Here's the vid.  Amazing flight with camera and gimbal attached.  Drone is a DJI P3A right out of the box.  55 minutes.  Unmodded P3A - except for the battery mod.  People say the DJI P3A/P is the king of long distance and they are right.  This even beats the old Flytrex world record set by some guy who flew straight out over the mediterranean in a self-made drone in the middle of the night over two years ago.

http://x.flytrex.com/challenges/distance/

I somewhat have the feeling that buddy/friend of yours is you yourself ;-)

I understand this drive for the extreme. I had it myself.
I did long range over the sea at low height. Trying to minimize any conflict with other airborne items.

My maximum with antenna mod was 5km (at full throttle in P-mode). I then had to return because of battery.
I also tried a battery mod that allowed going below the 10% but it wouldn't show me the battery % anymore.
Too risky so I got rid of it.

The good thing after having tried the limits once: I don't need that anymore.
It's the same with my car: It does 260 km/h. Did it once and now I'm fine cruising at 200 km/h on our nice Autobahn.

I'm finding more and more nice things to discover with a drone by flying low, slow and nearby.
Gotta grow up somehow ;-)

Haha!  I'm not even in the top 30.  Most if not all the long distance guys live in flat lands with open fields or marsh or desert (e.g. Iowa, Florida, Arizona, etc.).  I live in hills and valleys with trees everywhere.  Thanks for your kind words though.  :-D  

Eric13 Posted at 2018-6-12 17:05
I somewhat have the feeling that buddy/friend of yours is you yourself ;-)

I understand this drive for the extreme. I had it myself.

I understand too. My own efforts seem quite puny given those figures.

Did a couple of distance tests on my drone about two weeks ago, P4P, stock standard. Wanted to see how far across the farm I could view in flood times. (very optimistic given that we are in drought at present)

My controller has been modded with the Itelite Shockwave Duo Range Booster by Rise Above Custom Drone Solutions, primarily to give me good signal when mapping large paddocks or flying over timbered areas.

Longest distance in a test is as follows:-

Because of wind, I did not wish to push it so at 60% battery I engaged RTH.

Max distance 20,908.6 feet or 6373 meters. Altitude 80 meters. Landed 12% battery. Throughout the flight, had full signal strength on the controller.

Markon Posted at 2018-6-12 18:39
I understand too. My own efforts seem quite puny given those figures.

Did a couple of distance tests on my drone about two weeks ago, P4P, stock standard. Wanted to see how far across the farm I could view in flood times. (very optimistic given that we are in drought at present)

That's pretty good!  Especially for a P4

https://phantompilots.com/thread ... -leaderboard.72554/

Mark The Droner Posted at 2018-6-13 01:56
That's pretty good!  Especially for a P4

https://phantompilots.com/threads/official-p4-range-leaderboard.72554/

Thank you, Mark The Droner

I think that flight speed has a major impact on max distance
My first couple of tests were at max speed about 5.4km  distance from home point
The 6.3km flight was more like 30kph on the outward bound leg

Mark The Droner Posted at 2018-6-13 01:56
That's pretty good!  Especially for a P4

https://phantompilots.com/threads/official-p4-range-leaderboard.72554/

Thank you, Mark The Droner

I think that flight speed has a major impact on max distance
My first couple of tests were at max speed about 5.4km  distance from home point
The 6.3km flight was more like 30kph on the outward bound leg

My understanding is the most efficient speed is just under the top speed (excl sport mode).  But the distance guys don't seem to care about that - from what I know they just go all out the entire flight (but they don't use sport mode or ATTI because it kills battery too fast).