Six years after developing the first hybrid fuel-electric drone, Quaternium has announced that it has set the New World Record of Endurance with the longest hybrid-drone flight.

The eight-hour, 10-minute non-stop flight was completed using Quaternium’s new drone, HYBRiX 2.1, of 25 kilograms maximum takeoff weight (MTOW), in Valencia, Spain.

According to Quaternium, HYBRiX is ideal for aerial missions such as surveillance or first response thanks to the advantage it offers in flight time.

The company notes that as catastrophes such as earthquakes, floods and forest fires continue to occur around the world, long-endurance drones are critical when evaluating the aftermath of these disasters, because of their ability to stay in the air for long periods and cover more area.

“During these situations, every second counts. This is what motivated Quaternium to develop a drone that could have a much longer endurance,” the company says.

“With HYBRiX, rescuers and firefighters will be able to identify hot spots and access property damage while searching for survivors. Thanks to the unique features of HYBRiX, these situations can be managed safely while achieving faster results.”

Through its innovation program Horizon 2020, the European Union supports HYBRiX project. Horizon 2020 fosters disruptive projects in innovation, excellent science and industrial leadership.