Alta X Gen2
Freefly Systems · United States · also known as Freefly Alta X Gen2 · Updated
Alta X Gen2 is a heavy-lift industrial quadcopter built by Freefly Systems of Woodinville, Washington, re-basing the original Alta X airframe on the flight-controller and payload interfaces introduced with the company's Astro platform. It has a maximum take-off weight of 34.9 kg and carries up to 15.1 kg of payload, with Freefly quoting roughly 17 minutes of flight time at maximum payload and up to 40 minutes unloaded.
Overview
Freefly sells the Alta X Gen2 as the successor to its original Alta X heavy-lift multirotor, carrying over that airframe's folding quadcopter layout while adopting the Skynode flight controller, Smart Dovetail payload interface and Pilot Pro ground controller first built for the Astro Max. Freefly's own marketing copy rounds the payload figure to 15.9 kg (35 lb), while the detailed specification table on the same page lists 15.1 kg (33.3 lb); this entry uses the detailed table's figure.
The aircraft is sold in two configurations: a standard kit, and a separate NDAA-compliant, DCMA/DIU Blue List configuration that pairs the airframe with a Doodle Labs radio link and Pilot Pro controller, disables Wi-Fi and LTE by default, and ships with Remote ID preinstalled for FAA compliance, including BVLOS operations. Freefly states the platform is built in Woodinville, Washington, and backs each aircraft with a 500-flight-hour reliability target after more than 40 validation tests.
Design and capabilities
Unfolded, the airframe measures 1,570 mm across (61.8 in) without propellers and 2,273 mm (89.5 in) with its 840 x 230 mm folding carbon-fibre-reinforced-nylon propellers fitted; it folds down to 877 mm (34.5 in) for transport. Four motors draw from dual 12S smart batteries (44.4 V nominal, 50.4 V peak) through AS150U anti-spark connectors, rated at 100 A continuous and 130 A instantaneous peak for over three seconds, giving an equivalent Kv of 115 RPM/V. Ground clearance is 450 mm on medium landing-gear legs or 580 mm on long legs. The airframe is rated from -20°C to 50°C and to an IP43-equivalent ingress-protection standard.
Avionics are built around a Freefly-customised Skynode flight controller running Auterion Enterprise PX4, paired with Auterion Mission Control and Auterion Suite ground software. Positioning uses dual u-blox F9P receivers across L1/L2 GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou and Galileo, backed by a Murata inertial measurement unit; onboard connectivity includes Wi-Fi, USB-C and Ethernet, with support for Herelink and Doodle Labs radios and an onboard Cortex-A53 computer with LTE in North America. The Smart Dovetail payload interface — a Pixhawk Payload Bus-compatible connector carrying power, MAVLink, Ethernet, serial and hardpoint lines — spans four payload bays, with one typically left open for a companion computer such as an Nvidia Jetson.
Use cases
Freefly positions the Alta X Gen2 for heavy-lift commercial and public-safety missions, including LiDAR mapping, infrastructure and powerline inspection, wildland-fire operations, and specialised cargo work such as avalanche-control charge deployment and atmospheric research sampling. The standard kit and the NDAA/Blue-listed configuration let operators choose hardware cleared of restricted components where that is a procurement requirement, while sharing the same payload ecosystem and ground-control software as Freefly's Astro line.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Freefly Alta X Gen2 cost?
The standard kit is listed at US$39,650 on Freefly's store; a separate NDAA-compliant/Blue-listed configuration costs US$45,650. Batteries and a charger are sold separately on both.
How much payload can the Alta X Gen2 carry?
Freefly's detailed specification table lists a maximum payload of 15.1 kg (33.3 lb) on a 34.9 kg (76.9 lb) maximum take-off weight.
How long does the Alta X Gen2 fly?
Freefly quotes up to 40 minutes, 2 seconds with no payload, falling to about 17 minutes at maximum payload.
Is the Alta X Gen2 NDAA-compliant?
Not in its standard configuration. Freefly sells a separate NDAA-compliant, DCMA/DIU Blue List configuration with a Doodle Labs radio link and preinstalled Remote ID.
What flight controller does the Alta X Gen2 use?
A Freefly-customised Skynode flight controller running Auterion Enterprise PX4, the same software stack used on Freefly's Astro Max.
