Student's Drone Hits 491 MPH!

An experimental jet-powered model aircraft developed by a Georgia Tech aerospace engineering student has reportedly achieved a top speed of 491 mph. Tomas Salvo, the student behind the project, has created three working prototypes, each capable of maintaining this speed for four minutes. During its fastest recorded run, the Reaper aircraft, as it is named, carried a 2.6-pound payload. This accomplishment, if verified, could surpass the current record of 465 mph set in 2017.

Salvo independently designed and built the aircraft, utilizing a 250-newton turbojet engine, a custom air intake, and a 3D-printed titanium exhaust nozzle. The construction features molded carbon-fibre sections and laser-cut internal components. The aircraft is designed to launch from a rail or truck-mounted launcher and can reach an altitude of 6,600 feet within 20 seconds. The total development cost for the project is estimated at $13,000, funded personally by Salvo.

This development occurs as amateur aircraft builders compete for a $750,000 prize offered by Boom Supersonic for a qualifying supersonic flight. While Salvo aims to exceed 500 mph, his current reported speed does not meet the supersonic threshold required for that competition. The Boom Prize mandates a flight faster than Mach 1 for at least five seconds, with specific rules regarding propulsion and funding, and remains open until 2030.