Drone Compare Vision Aerial Vulcan SX vs Freefly Astro Max
Which to choose
Pick the Vision Aerial Vulcan SX for survey mapping (onboard RTK and a mechanical shutter vs add-on RTK and a mechanical shutter), longer flight time (65 min vs 39 min), higher wind resistance (14 m/s vs 10 m/s) and higher top speed (20 m/s vs 15 m/s).
Flight Time vs Price
Effective Megapixels vs Price i
Key Differences
- Price (US)$21,450 vs $22,995
- WeightN/A vs 3,523 g
- Max Flight Time65 min vs 39 min
- Max Flight DistanceN/A vs 20 km
- Max Speed20 m/s vs 15 m/s
- Wind Resistance14 m/s vs 10 m/s
- Field of View (#1)N/A vs 84.1
- Field of View (#2)N/A vs 63
- Field of View (#3)N/A vs 47
User Reviews
| Specification | Freefly Astro Max | Vision Aerial Vulcan SX |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Manufacturer | Freefly | Vision Aerial |
| Rating | 5 | — |
| Known Issues | — | — |
| Release Date | Feb 20, 2025 | Feb 17, 2026 |
| Availability | Available | Available |
| EU Drone Class | None | None |
| US Procurement | Blue Select | — |
| Platform Type | Multirotor | Multirotor |
| Pricing | ||
| Price (EU) | €21,155 | — |
| Price (US) | $22,995 | $21,450 |
| Links | ||
| Product Page | https://freeflysystems.com/astro | https://www.visionaerial.com/products/drones/vulcan-platform |
| Shop Page | https://store.freeflysystems.com/products/astro-max | — |
| Physical | ||
| Weight | 3,523 g | — |
| Max Takeoff Weight | 8,700 g | — |
| Folded Dimensions | 508 × 508 × 178 mm | — |
| IP Rating | IP43 | IP54 |
| Operating Temperature | -20°C to 50°C | -9°C to 46°C |
| Flight | ||
| Max Flight Time | 39 min | 65 min |
| Max Speed | 15 m/s | 20 m/s |
| Max Speed (EU) | — | — |
| Max Ascent Speed | 4 m/s | — |
| Max Descent Speed | 3 m/s | — |
| Max Flight Distance | 20 km | — |
| Max Altitude | 4,572 m | — |
| Wind Resistance | 10 m/s | 14 m/s |
| Payload | ||
| Camera | ||
| Camera 1 | LR1 (Sony ILX-LR1) | Sony ILX-LR1 |
| Sensor Size | Full Frame | Full Frame |
| Pixel Binning | — | — |
| Megapixels | 61 MP | 61 MP |
| Focal Length | 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 75mm | 35mm, 55mm |
| Aperture | f/3.5, f/2.8, f/1.8 | — |
| Zoom | — | 2x Clear Image Zoom |
| Mechanical Shutter | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| ISO Range | 100-32000 (Normal), 50-102400 (Extended) | ISO 100-32000 |
| Shutter Speed | 1/4000-30s (Mechanical), 1/8000-30s (Electronic) | 1/4000-30s, 1/8000-30s |
| Stabilization Type | Mechanical Gimbal | Mechanical Gimbal |
| Max Photo Resolution | 9504x6336 | 9504x6336 |
| Image Formats | JPEG, RAW (Proprietary), HEIF | JPEG, HEIF, RAW (Proprietary) |
| AEB | — | — |
| AEB EV Bias | — | — |
| Panorama Modes | — | — |
| Panorama Formats | — | — |
| Video Resolutions | 4K/60fps, 1080p/120fps | 4K/60fps |
| Video Codec | H.265 (HEVC), H.264 (AVC) | H.264 (AVC), H.265 (HEVC) |
| Video Formats | MP4 | MP4 |
| Color Profiles | Normal, HLG, S-Log3, S-Cinetone | — |
| Gimbal | ||
| Gimbal | ||
| Gimbal 1 | LR1 Gimbal | Gremsy Pixy LR |
| Stabilization Axes | 3-Axis | 3-Axis |
| Tilt Range | -90° to 30° | -120° to 40° |
| Pan Range | — | -320° to 320° |
| Roll Range | — | -40° to 40° |
| Navigation | ||
| GNSS | GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo | — |
| Hover Accuracy | — | — |
| RTK | Add-on | Yes |
| RTK Horizontal Accuracy | 1 cm + 1 ppm (RMS) | — |
| RTK Vertical Accuracy | 1 cm + 1 ppm (RMS) | — |
| Recovery Mode | — | Return to Home |
| Obstacle Sensors | — | Forward |
| Obstacle Avoidance | None | Active (Avoidance) |
| Sensing Technology | — | Radar |
| Sensing Technology (Add-on) | — | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Transmission Protocol | Herelink 1.1 | Herelink |
| Max Range (CE) | 12 km | 12 km |
| Max Range (FCC) | 20 km | 20 km |
| Live View Quality | 1080p/60fps, 720p/30fps | 720p/30fps, 1080p/30fps, 1080p/60fps |
| Cellular | ✓ Yes | — |
| App | ||
| Flight App | Auterion Suite | Vision Aerial Flight Deck |
| Supported OS | Android | Android |
| Resume from Waypoint | — | ✓ Yes |
| Mission Types | Waypoint | Waypoint, Area, Corridor |
| Features | ||
| Internal Storage | — | — |
| Max MicroSD | — | — |
| ActiveTrack | ✗ No | — |
| Hyperlapse | — | — |
| Night Scene | — | — |
| NIR Light | — | — |
| Laser Rangefinder | — | — |
| Laser Rangefinder Range | — | — |
| Remote ID | Built-in | Add-on |
| ADS-B Receiver | ✗ No | — |
| Data Encryption | ✓ Yes | — |
| Expansion Port | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| SDK Support | ✓ Yes | — |
| Mapping | ||
| Waypoints | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Terrain Follow | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Raw GNSS Logging | ✓ Yes | — |
| Cargo | ||
| Delivery Mode | — | — |
| Max Range (Loaded) | — | — |
| Max Flight Time (Loaded) | — | — |
| Accessories | ||
| Battery | ||
| Propeller | ||
| Remote Controller | ||
| Charger | ||