Luke Maximobell and his father have reclaimed the Guinness World Record for the fastest drone with their Peregreen V4, a fully 3D printed quadcopter that reached 657.59 kilometers per hour. The record-setting flight highlights advancements in drone design, aerodynamics, and the use of 3D printing in rapid prototyping and production.
Guinness verified the drone’s official two-run average at 657 kilometers per hour (408 mph), surpassing the previous record of 626 kilometers per hour (389 mph) set a month earlier by Australian engineer Ben Biggs with his Blackbird drone. The Peregreen V4 also achieved an upwind speed of 599 kilometers per hour, improving upon its predecessor’s 585 kilometers per hour.
“Last month, Biggs smashed our old record of 580 km/h, achieving 626 km/h with his Blackbird drone. Fortunately for us, we’ve spent the past five months improving every aspect of our drone,” Luke Maximobell explained.
3D Printing Accelerates Development
Luke Maximobell explained that the Peregreen V4 is the result of more than two years of iterative engineering, blending CFD modeling, physical testing, and rapid prototyping enabled by 3D printing.
The drone’s body was produced on Bambu Lab’s H2D dual-extruder printer, allowing the combination of materials such as PETG, PA6-CF, and TPU for key components like the camera mount and landing gear. This multimaterial approach let the team optimize flexibility, heat resistance, and aerodynamic performance without relying on external fabrication.
Beyond materials, the Peregreen V4 benefited from several hardware and design enhancements. The team selected T-Motor 3120 brushless motors with 900 KV windings for an ideal balance of thrust and reliability, an increase from 800 KV in the prior version.
The drone’s body underwent extensive CFD optimization via the AirShaper platform, producing a smoother, larger shell that minimized drag. Additional refinements included sanding and polishing the carbon-fiber composite surface and reducing propeller size from 7×5 inches to approximately 6 inches to improve efficiency at high RPMs.
During a one-hour testing session, the team completed four speed runs. Their fastest run heading northwest reached 656 km/h, while the fastest run southwest achieved 659 km/h. “This means we have achieved a new record: a Guinness World Record average of 657 km an hour. Now it’s on the next person to break our record, so we can try to break it back,” said Maximobell.
3D Printing Democratizes Drone Innovation
The Peregreen V4 highlights how 3D printing is democratizing drone design, enabling hobbyists, students, and independent engineers to experiment, iterate, and achieve high-performance results without industrial resources.
For example, Aalborg University students developed a hybrid drone capable of transitioning seamlessly between air and underwater navigation. Using 3D printing and CNC machining, they built a variable-pitch propeller system that adjusts for lift in air and propulsion underwater, with reverse thrust for precise maneuvering. Developed as part of a bachelor’s thesis, this project demonstrates how additive manufacturing allows non-professional teams to prototype complex dual-environment UAVs for applications like marine exploration and search and rescue.
Similarly, independent engineer Tsung Xu, working without formal aerospace training, designed and 3D printed a winged VTOL drone that achieved 130 miles of nonstop flight and three hours of endurance in just 90 days. The project represents a remarkable accomplishment in amateur aerospace engineering, showcasing endurance capabilities typically reserved for professionally developed systems.
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Featured image shows Peregreen V4. Image via Luke Maximobell.
