Most use drones just for fun while others use it for aerial photography. However, these UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) can be used for additional purposes other than the aforementioned because some drones are capable of carrying heavy objects.
Drones can carry more than just a camera. In search and rescue operations, drones can be used to carry antidote or another form of life-saving medicine in areas where it’s not safe to travel.
However, not all drones can do this. Small and lightweight drone’s can’t take off with a heavy payload. You need a heavy lift drone that’s capable of carrying several kilograms to get the job done.
If this is what you are looking for, then you’re just on the right page. In this article, I’ll give you an overview when heavy lift drones are very useful. I’ll also give you a list of the best heavy lift drones in the market.
Best Heavy Lift Drones
If you are looking for a heavy lift drone that can get the job done for you, here is a short list of the drone that you need to buy.
1. Griff Saviour
Specs
Flight time: 30 – 45min
Payload: 200kg (excluding drone weight)
If you are looking for heavy lift drones that can carry over a hundred kilos payload, I highly recommend that you check Griff Aviation fleet. The company has several drones that can get a heavy job done for you.
For my list, I suggest that you check Griff Saviour. This heavy lift drone has a payload of 200kg excluding the drone weight. Aside from an impressive payload, this drone has a long flight time up to 45 minutes. It also uses water-resistant motors and a state-of-the-art gimbal technology for extensive monitoring and full panning capability. I love this one, it is one of the best drones I’ve seen.
Griff Saviour as its name suggests is designed to be a formidable ally on Search and Rescue (SAR) missions. It is equipped with class-leading flight time and detection technology and uses two platforms which are as follows:
- Saviour S1 – A support UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) with state-of-the-art observation technology to provide information to operational HQ.
- Saviour S2 – Rescue operation capable, life-saving equipment deployment ready.
You may also check Griff Guardian, Griff Rancher, and Griff Roughneck all of them have a payload capacity of over 150kg.
Read More: 5 Best Professional Drones: Buying Guide for Beginners
PROS
- Water-resistant motors
- Impressive lifting capacity
- Long flight time
- High-quality and high-performance
- Invaluable member of SAR team
CONS
- Can’t be purchased just anywhere you have to contact Griff
2. Vulcan UAV Airlift
Specs
Not Available
Airlift series is Vulcan UAV’s heaviest lift system to date. This heavy lift drone has a payload capacity of up to 25kg.
This drone is designed with an extremely tough and resilient airframe, cross-braced for ultimate strength and stiffness. Its central core is a sealed transparent tube that allows visual checks of all the control systems while keeping them fully protected. This is very helpful because you don’t need to open the aircraft to see what’s going on inside if you want to check it. I love this one, it is one of the best drones I’ve seen.
All of its key power electronics, communication and batteries are fitted on top of the aircraft and be quickly and easily covered with the shower cap waterproofing system. The placement also makes it very accessible in case you want to check or replace any of the said parts.
PROS
- Payload capacity of up to 25kg
- Resilient airframe
- Extremely tough
- Smart design
CONS
- Specs are not available
3. AZ 4K UHD Camera Drone Green Bee
Specs
Payload capacity: 20kg
Flight time: 20min
Camera: 4K
AZ 4K UHD Camera Drone Green Bee 1200 has stepped up their game to fill the need for drones that can do a serious heavy lifting. This quadcopter has a payload capacity of 20kg and a flight time of 20 minutes per battery which should be enough to get the job done.
If you are into photography or cinematography and you need a drone that can carry additional sensors and other accessories for your camera, this will be a good option for you. This also performs well if you need to move your research and development technology around your working area whether indoors or outdoors.
AZ 4K UHD camera drone has a unique design. It’s black and blue color combination gives it an even cooler look. For mobility and storage, this comes with foldable arms that are designed with strong duralumin that also contributes to the drone’s stability. I love this one, it is one of the best drones I’ve seen.
So, if you need a heavy lift drone for your photography needs, this is something that you should consider.
PROS
- Cool design
- Good camera
- Decent flight time
- Foldable arms
- Improved stability by 30{ea2cf71a94ac0ec497812eb0b7c2bc33f9b74ebf28048bb730380b7f1d9c4acc}
CONS
- Large frame
4. Vulcan UAV Raven
Specs
Takeoff Weight: 25kg
Payload: 10kg
Material: high-grade pure carbon fiber and custom-manufactured 6061-grade aluminum
Raven is Vulcan UAV’s main workhorse heavy lift multicopter for aerial photography and camera works. It can lift a 10kg payload while maintaining the drone’s high-level of speed and maneuverability.
You can bank on its quality and durability because this is made from high-grade pure carbon fiber and custom-manufactured 6061-grade aluminum. This folding aircraft in X8 configuration is extremely tough and is designed with ultimate safety in mind. It can withstand the harshness and rigidity that commercial applications require from it in the real world. I love this one, it is one of the best drones I’ve seen.
Raven is the first aircraft to successfully go through CAAs (Civil Aviation Authority) and CAOSC (Congested Areas Operations Safety Case) assessment process and has the highest risk exemption ever granted in the U.K.
This heavy lift drone has been used in the movie industry in the UK and abroad. It was also the only multicopter that was allowed to fly at the Rio Olympics 2016 with three aircraft carrying out over 350 flights over the two weeks of the games.
Overall, Raven is a high-quality and high-performance heavy lift drone. It has already proven its efficiency in the world as many are already using this in their business.
PROS
- High-quality and durable
- Successful in CAAs and CAOSC assessment
- Useful for aerial photography and other camera works
CONS
- Only a few specs about the drone are known
5. Freefly Alta 8
Specs
Payload: 15kg
Flight time: 16min
Freefly ALTA 8 is another great heavy lift drone if you need your quad to carry heavier loads. This aircraft is optimized with a payload of up to 15 pounds.
It has Sky View and Ground View configurations that allow you to capture cinematic aerial shots like you’ve never experienced before. This drone is great for aerial photography, filming and more.
ALTA 8 is user-friendly. You can easily unpack it and start using it in under 5 minutes. I’m pleased to tell you that this has a decent flight time of about 16 minutes when weighted down with its full capacity.
ALTA 8 is easy to control and allows you to fly your payloads smoothly and confidently.
PROS
- Easy to control
- Flies smoothly
- Decent flight time
- Delivers cinematic aerial shots
CONS
- Flight time is less than 20min
6. OnyxStar HYDRA-12
Specs
Payload: 12kg
Motors: 12
OnyxStar brings HYDRA-12 because the company sees the need for a drone to carry more payload due to technological requirements like the need to embed several sensors and central units that add weight to the drone.
HYDRA-12 has 12 motors and can carry up to 12kg of payload which makes it a very useful tool for conducting supersized operations. Despite carrying a heavy payload, the drone remains precise, reliable and efficient.
This is widely used for measuring operations in demanding environments like academic research. Also, this has already been successfully performing risky operations by lifting high-value sensors of many kinds. HYDRA-12 is capable of carrying so many kind of sensors.
This heavy lift drone includes many features that make it easy and safe to fly. For instance, it has Geo-fencing, failsafe mechanism, flight control redundancy, waypoint navigation, automatic takeoff and landing, and more.
OnyxStar did a great job in bringing HYDRA-12 in the market. It does the job well and it is very user-friendly.
PROS
- Powerful
- Reliable
- Efficient
- Easy to use
- Has failsafe mechanism
- Packed with very useful features
- Capable of carrying many kinds of sensors
- Works well in demanding environments
- Numerous safety features
CONS
- You need to contact the manufacturer for price and more details
7. DJI Agras
Specs
Dimensions: 1471 x 1471 x 482mm (unfolded, without propellers)
Dimensions: 780 x 780 x 482mm (arm folded)
Payload: 10kg
Max Takeoff Weight: 24.5kg
Max Operating Speed: 8m/s
Max Flying Speed: 22 m/s
Hovering Time: 24min with 12.5kg takeoff weight
Hovering Time: 10min with 22.5kg takeoff weight
Agras is a heavy lifter drone from DJI. This octocopter is created for the agricultural business.
This is designed for precision variable rate application of liquid pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides to bring new levels of efficiency and manageability to agriculture.
This includes three high-precision radars on the front slope, rear slope and the bottom of the spray tank. The radars on the front and rear slopes detect the terrain and allow the aircraft to adjust its height approximately. Meanwhile, the radar at the bottom provides high-precision height. As the radars scan, the drone can perceive the change of terrain and adjust its altitude and maintain it above the crops.
The drone is agile and easy to control. It is very responsive to the pilot’s input. DJI Agras has three flight modes: Smart mode, Manual Plus mode, and Manual mode. This is very helpful in spraying a farm which is a daunting process.
I must say Agras is worth it because it is durable, high-quality and high-performance. You can never go wrong with DJI. So, if you need a drone to maintain or manage your farm, this is highly recommended.
PROS
- Foldable arms
- Precision spraying
- Three flight modes
- High-precision radars
- Very useful for spraying farm
- Responsive and easy to control
- Professional controller
- Efficient and manageable
CONS
- Short flight time compared to other brands
- Expensive
8. DJI Spreading Wings S1000+
Specs
Takeoff Weight: 6-11kg
Total Weight: 4.4Kg
Hover Time: 15min
DSLR cameras are undeniably great at taking photos and it would be a pure pleasure if you can use it for aerial photography. Unfortunately, it’s too big for camera drones to carry. But there’s already a solution for that! DJI manufactured Spreading Wings S1000+ to take your DSLR in flight.
You can now use your heavy DSLR without worries because S1000+ has a payload capacity of 11kg and its arms and landing gear are made of sturdy carbon fiber for remarkable stability and strength. Your DSLR is safe in this drone, so you can fly it with confidence.
Another thing I love about this drone is its foldable arms which makes it highly portable. This drone is ready to fly in 5 minutes, so you don’t have to worry about the time in setting up to make it work.
You’ll be able to capture professional-quality photos and videos using this drone because it has a wide range of shooting angles, is compatible with Zenmuse gimbals that provide unmatched stability during flights, and it comes with anti-vibration dampers that reduce vibrations for clearer footage.
If you have a DSLR and you need a drone for it, this is the one to buy! I assure you, you won’t regret this because DJI won’t let you down.
Read More: 5 Best Fixed Wing Drones – Buying Guide for Beginners
PROS
- Highly portable
- Perfect drone for DSLR
- Has anti-vibration damper
- Remarkable stability and strength
- Professional-quality photos and videos
- Compatible with Zenmuse gimbal
CONS
- Expensive
- Short flight time
9. DJI Matrice 600
Specs
Dimensions: 1668 x 1518 x 759mm (Propellers, frame arms and GPS mount unfolded)
Dimensions: 640 x 582 x 623mm (Frame arms and GPS mount folded)
Payload: 6kg
Range: 5km
Takeoff Weight: 15.1kg
Intelligent Battery: 6
Max flight time: 35min
DJI Matrice 600 is designed for professional aerial photography and industrial applications. It is built to closely integrate with a host of DJI technologies.
Since this is built for industrial purposes, Matrice 600 is tough and powerful. It has a payload of 6kg which is enough to carry additional sensors or accessories. Also, it has dust proof propulsion systems that simplify maintenance and actively cooled motors for reliable operation during extended periods of time.
One of the best things with Matrice 600 is its smart flight safety and intelligent ESCs that ensures the drone to perform accurately, safely and efficiently. Its A3’s self-adaptive flight systems adjust flight parameters automatically based on different payloads.
This also comes with powerful app controls because M600 supports DJI GO app and the brand new DJI Assistant 2 app. Through these app controls, you get a live HD view, battery status, redundancy status, transmission strength and so much more about the drone.
If you want to level up your drone and want to get one for industrial purposes, this is something that you should consider seriously. Matrice 600 will surely be beneficial for your operations.
PROS
- Modular design
- Customizable
- Long range
- Long flight time
- Streams quality live HD content
- Suitable for commercial applications
CONS
- Very pricey
- Will not be able to carry heavy cameras
10. DJI Spreading Wings S900
Specs
Payload: Almost 6.8kg
Takeoff Weight: 8.2kg
Total Weight: 3.3kg
Hower Time: 18min
Hover Power Consumption: 1000W (@6.8Kg Takeoff Weight)
Power Battery: LiPo (6S, 10000mAh~15000mAh,15C(Min))
Working Environment Temperature: -10 °C ~ +40 °C
Spreading Wings S900 is a lightweight, strong and stable drone from DJI. This is a highly portable, powerful aerial system that is designed for demanding filmmakers.
Its arms and landing gear are made of sturdy carbon fiber that reduces the drone’s weight but increases its stability and strength. It also enables the aircraft to hover longer without sacrificing its performance.
DJI know how portable drones are more preferred, so they designed this drone with foldable arms to save space and to make it easier for you to carry when you are on the go.
Spreading Wings S900 can carry a maximum payload of 8.2kg and can last up in the air for 18 minutes. You will surely enjoy using this because it has a wide range of shooting angles thanks to its retractable landing gear and a special low gimbal mounting bracket.
Just like Spreading Wings 1000+, this is compatible with Zenmuse gimbals that are known for their stability and smooth footage even in difficult situations. Its dampers also help in reducing vibrations to achieve clearer footage.
Overall, Spreading Wings S900 is a great heavy lift drone. It can lift enough weight to help you get your job done. If you need extra sensor and accessories to capture amazing footage, no worries, you can bank on this drone to do it for you.
PROS
- Highly portable
- Great drone for DSLR
- Has anti-vibration damper
- Remarkable stability and strength
- Professional-quality photos and videos
- Compatible with Zenmuse gimbal
CONS
- Expensive
What is a Heavy Lift Drone?
Heavy lift drones are quads that can carry over 10 lbs of payload. Some of the best consumer-level heavy lift drones are capable of carrying items over 40 lbs.
If you need a drone that can carry more weight, Griff Aviation offers a fleet that you can choose from. They offer high-quality and high-performance drones with a payload capacity of over 150kg.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Drone
Heavy lift drones are the same because all of them can carry several kilograms of weight. However, if you are planning to buy one, you should consider these factors to get the best drone accordingly.
Purpose
You have to decide how you will use the drone and what are the things that it needs to carry because that will affect the payload. So, you should ask yourself, what are the things that the drone will carry? Does it need to carry extra cameras or sensors? Can this drone still accommodate those extra items?
Flight time
Since you will be using this type of drone to lift objects, it is important that you consider the flight time. It wouldn’t be useful if the drone can carry 20 kilograms but can only stay up in the air for 5 minutes. If this is the case, it might not even reach the set destination. Of course, the longer it can fly and take that weight, the better.
Make sure that the drone can stay in the air for an extended period with a certain payload. It is your responsibility to ensure that the drone has sufficient capacity to handle what it should do.
Read More: 10 Best Drones with Longest Flight Time
Type of Payload
Another thing that you need to be aware of is the mechanism that you will use to have the drone carry the payload. Can it be carried with the conventional connection or do you need a solution tailored to your specific situation? Keep in mind that any addition or customized solution will bear a weight of its own.
Conclusion
Drones are more than just for fun or a tool for aerial photography because it can do so much more. Heavy lift drones can help you manage your farm or move your tools. Most importantly, they are valuable tools for search and rescue operations. So, if you need a drone that can carry loads of weight, don’t hesitate to pick any of the brands mentioned above.
What’s the best heavy lift drone for you? Do you know any other great drone in this category that’s not on my list? Feel free to share it with us and help other readers decide which one is the best for them.