Chalk up the world’s fastest drone as another unlikely South African record. Thanks to Cape Town-based father-son team, Mike and Luke Bell, South African engineering is once again being recognised and celebrated globally …
The device in question is battery powered drone and it can reach speeds that would make most light aircraft jealous. Known as the Peregreen 2, the world’s fastest drone achieved an average top speed of 480.23 km/h, or 142m every second. It’s has a 3D-printed carbon fibre shell and aero-thermal engineer Chris Rosser helped refine the drone’s aerodynamics and control systems.
THE WORLD’S FASTEST DRONE IS SOUTH AFRICAN
Luke Bell is already a well-established content creator on YouTube, where he regularly reviews drones, cameras and does cool custom builds. He is also an ambassador for Sony and gets to test cutting-edge technology. Any drone/engineering enthusiasts should definitely follow him to keep track of future projects.
Moreover, Luke’s dad, Mike, has an impressive feather in his cap. An accomplished architect, he designed the iconic Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, which hosted games in 2010 FIFA World Cup and several Springbok test matches. Luke and Mike planned meticulously for their world-record attempt and had to overcome several technical challenges, particularly with overheating batteries.
OFFICIALLY RECOGNISED BY GUINNESS
The world’s fastest drone is a custom-built quadcopter. Their first attempt at the record – with the original Peregreen – reached an impressive 397 km/h but was never officially recognised as the fastest. So, Luke and Mike went back to the drawing board.
To meet Guinness’s strict criteria, Peregreen 2 had to complete two successful flights in opposite directions. This is to eliminate any potential effects of wind. And we all know the Western Cape has enough of that. During its official runs, the drone actually peaked at an extraordinary 510 km/h. But when accounting for both directions of flight, the record evened out to 480.23 km/h.
As such, the device holds the official Guinness World Record title for: “Fastest ground speed by a battery-powered remote-controlled (RC) quadcopter.”
But what do you think? Are you excited to see South Africa’s engineering excellence on display here? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below …
