Translated with AI
A Chinese hydrogen-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) set a world record for the longest flight distance among multicopters and drones of this type, covering a distance of 188,605 kilometers. The achievement was announced Thursday in the Guinness Book of World Records during the 7th Zhejiang International Intelligent Transportation Expo, held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, eastern China.
According to Beihang University, the Tianmushan-1 drone completed a flight lasting over four hours in Hangzhou on November 16. The flight data and performance achieved fully met Guinness World Records standards.
It is noted that the drone's entire flight was monitored in real time and officially confirmed. During testing, the drone's propulsion system maintained stable operation throughout the entire flight, and its controllability was deemed exemplary.
The Tianmushan-1 is a landmark achievement in the field of small aircraft and was developed by the Tianmushan Laboratory of Beihang University. The aircraft successfully completed its maiden flight in August 2024, and entered serial production in April 2025.
The zero-emission unmanned aerial vehicle has a 1,600 mm wheelbase and an unladen weight of 19 kg. It can carry a payload of up to 6 kg. According to the university, the drone can operate for up to 240 minutes without recharging, in temperatures ranging from -40 to 50 degrees Celsius.
It is also reported that Tianmushan-1 is capable of autonomous flights at distances of up to 100 km beyond the operator's line of sight (BVLOS).
The drone is used for high-speed environmental patrols, inspection of oil and gas pipelines, operation and management of renewable energy facilities, replenishment of reserves on islands, management of urban transport, and emergency response.
The new world record is said to demonstrate the significant commercial potential of hydrogen-powered drones.
