About

Drone pilots operate under strict constraints where battery failure leads to equipment loss or regulatory violations. Accurate estimation of flight time is critical for mission planning, specifically when payloads change or batteries age. This tool calculates the theoretical and safe flight duration based on the fundamental relationship between battery capacity and current draw. It incorporates a safety margin to prevent deep discharge, which damages Lithium Polymer (LiPo) chemistry.

Commercial airlines adhere to IATA regulations regarding lithium batteries. Batteries exceeding 100Wh are generally prohibited in carry-on luggage without operator approval. This calculator automatically computes Watt-Hours to verify travel compliance.

Formulas

The core calculation for flight time derives from the battery's discharge rate relative to its total capacity.

Theoretical Flight Time:

CI × 60

Where C is Capacity in Amp-hours and I is the Average Current Load in Amps.

Watt-Hours (Travel Compliance):

E = C_mAh × V1000

Safety margins reduce the usable capacity to ensure the drone can land before voltage sag causes a crash.

Safe Time:

T_safe = T_total × (1 − Margin_%)

Reference Data

Drone Model	Battery Spec	Capacity	Energy	Avg Flight Time
DJI Mavic 3	4S LiPo	5000 mAh	77 Wh	46 min
DJI Air 2S	3S LiPo	3500 mAh	40.4 Wh	31 min
Autel Evo II	3S LiPo	7100 mAh	82 Wh	40 min
DJI Mini 3 Pro	2S Li-ion	2453 mAh	18.1 Wh	34 min
FPV 5-inch Freestyle	6S LiPo	1300 mAh	28.8 Wh	3-5 min
FPV 7-inch Long Range	6S Li-ion	4000 mAh	88.8 Wh	15-20 min
Cinelifter (Red Komodo)	6S LiPo x2	9000 mAh	199.8 Wh	5-8 min
Inspire 2 (TB50)	6S LiPo	4280 mAh	97.5 Wh	27 min

Frequently Asked Questions

Calculations assume a constant current draw. In reality, aggressive maneuvers, wind resistance, and altitude changes cause current spikes that deplete the battery faster than the average hover rate. Always treat the calculation as a best-case scenario for steady flight.

A standard Lithium Polymer cell has a nominal voltage of 3.7V and a fully charged voltage of 4.2V. High Voltage (LiHV) cells operate at 3.8V nominal and 4.35V charged. This tool uses nominal voltage for Watt-Hour calculations as per industry standards.

LiPo batteries degrade rapidly if discharged below 3.0V per cell. A 20% safety margin ensures you land with approximately 3.5V-3.7V per cell remaining, significantly extending the cycle life of the battery pack.

Batteries under 100Wh are generally allowed in carry-on luggage without quantity limits (within reason). Batteries between 100Wh and 160Wh require airline approval and are usually limited to two spares. Batteries over 160Wh are prohibited on passenger aircraft.