DJI Spreading Wings S1000+

The DJI Spreading Wings S1000+ is a professional hexacopter introduced by DJI in 2014 as part of the company’s Spreading Wings series, which was created to meet the growing demand for reliable, heavy‑lift aerial platforms for filmmaking, industrial inspection, and mapping. Building on the earlier S1000 model, the + version added larger 945‑mm arms, reinforced carbon‑fiber composite frame and upgraded motors, allowing a maximum payload of up to 6 kg and a flight time of roughly 25 minutes with a standard 5‑kg load. Its four‑axis gimbal‑stabilized camera mount supports interchangeable cinema cameras such as the RED EPIC or GoPro HERO, while the integrated GNSS/GLONASS dual‑frequency navigation system provides sub‑meter positioning accuracy and autonomous waypoint missions. The S1000+ also introduced DJI’s Lightbridge video transmission, delivering a 1080p downlink at 30 fps up to 5 km, and a robust flight control suite with failsafe return‑to‑home, obstacle avoidance and real‑time telemetry. By delivering industrial‑grade payload capacity in a compact, user‑friendly package, the S1000+ helped popularize professional‑grade aerial cinematography and set a benchmark for subsequent heavy‑lift drones, influencing both commercial productions and precision‑agriculture workflows worldwide. Its continued use in training programs underscores its lasting impact on drone education.