US college student builds 'Reaper' drone — which he says set a new world record speed of 491mph
Georgia Tech student Tomas Salvo says his $13,000 Reaper aircraft reached 491 mph, attracting Pentagon interest and attention from enthusiasts.
A Georgia Tech aerospace engineering student has reportedly constructed a jet-powered drone that may have set a new world record for remotely controlled planes, reaching a top speed of 491 mph. Tomas Salvo, the student, developed the Reaper independently while living in university accommodation at Georgia Tech. Salvo built three operational prototypes of the $13,000 aircraft, each able to maintain its top speed for four minutes using a full fuel supply.
The drone is equipped with a 250-newton turbojet, a custom air intake, and a titanium exhaust nozzle. It can fly 31 miles when operating at maximum speed. Salvo's achievement has garnered attention from Prescott Paulin, Director of Industry Engagement at the Department of War's Research and Engineering office, who invited him to visit the Pentagon CTO’s Mission Capabilities team.
The Reaper project also aligns with a competition offered by Boom Supersonic, which offers a $750,000 prize for a supersonic flight.
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