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3D-Printed Kingchaser Jet Aircraft Completes Maiden Flight, Aims for Mach 0.8 Record
Key points
- Kingchaser, a 3D-printed RC jet, had its maiden flight.
- Aims to achieve Mach 0.8 to break world speed record.
- Constructed from PETG, PPS-CF, carbon fiber, and aluminum.
- Developed by University of Bath graduates (Mach Initiative).
Maiden Flight and Record Ambition
The Kingchaser, a remote-controlled aircraft primarily constructed using 3D printing, has successfully completed its maiden flight. This aircraft, developed by the Mach Initiative team of University of Bath graduates, is designed to achieve a speed of Mach 0.8. The team's objective is to surpass the current Guinness World Record for the fastest model aircraft, a record held for nine years by German pilot Neils Herbrich.
Evolution from Prototypes
The Kingchaser's development began with a miniature prototype named the Kinglet, which utilized an Electric Ducted Fan (EDF) for propulsion and a modular design for rapid iteration. Following the Kinglet, the team developed the Kingfisher, a larger aircraft powered by a Jetcat P60 miniature jet turbine engine, capable of 63 N·m of thrust and a top speed of 205 mph (330 km/h). The Kingfisher served as a testbed for jet engine integration, though it was not intended for the record attempt.
Kingchaser Design and Materials
The Kingchaser, weighing 20 lb (9 kg), is approximately 20% larger than the Kingfisher. Its external structure is mainly PETG. For the engine housing, the team switched from annealed PET-CF to PPS-CF due to warping issues with larger annealed parts. The PPS-CF housing is further reinforced with carbon fiber layers, aluminum, and steel for engine mounting. Titanium exhaust sheets and aluminum tape are used for heat shielding from the engine.
Future Goals
The Mach Initiative plans to equip the Kingchaser with a 150Nm jet engine to achieve its target speed of 614 mph (988 km/h). This speed would significantly exceed the current fastest electric drone's speed of 434 mph, positioning the Kingchaser as a contender for the world record in model aircraft speed.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
The Kingchaser, a 3D-printed remote-controlled aircraft, completed its maiden flight and aims to break the world record for the fastest model aircraft by reaching Mach 0.8. Developed by University of Bath graduates, the aircraft uses PETG, PPS-CF, carbon-fiber rods, and aluminum in its construction. This development demonstrates advancements in using 3D printing for high-performance aerospace applications.