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Student's Jet-Powered Drone Unofficially Breaks Speed Record at 491 mph
Key points
- Tomas Salvo's 'Reaper' drone hit 491 mph.
- Unofficially broke previous 465 mph record.
- Built in a dorm for $13,000.
- Aims for $800,000 Boom Prize.
New Speed Record Achieved
Aerospace engineering student Tomas Salvo has unofficially broken the world record for the fastest jet-powered drone. His 'Reaper' project achieved a speed of 491 mph, surpassing the previous record of 465 mph. The drone was assembled by Salvo in his dorm room at Georgia Tech.
Drone Construction and Cost
The 'Reaper' drone features a custom-molded carbon fiber shell and a laser-cut internal structure. It is powered by a 250N jet engine equipped with a titanium 3D-printed nozzle. The total cost for building the drone was $13,000. The titanium nozzle allowed for better center of gravity by repositioning the engine.
Pursuit of the Boom Prize
Tomas Salvo is competing for the $800,000 Boom Prize, sponsored by Boom Supersonic CEO Blake Scholl. This prize includes $750,000 in cash and $50,000 in Boom stock. To win, the aircraft must achieve Mach 1 for at least 5 seconds while climbing or level, use air-breathing propulsion without oxidizers or rockets, land intact, and complete two flights in one day. The competition is open to individuals or teams without corporate or government backing.
Comparison with Other Projects
The 'Reaper' project outpaced another contender, the 'Kingchaser' by Mach Initiative, which recorded a test flight speed of 273 mph. While the Kingchaser has a larger 300N engine, its test flight was limited by space for acceleration. The Kingchaser team, though ineligible for the Boom Prize due to citizenship, still aims for an official Guinness World Record.
✨ 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
Aerospace engineering student Tomas Salvo built a jet-powered drone, the 'Reaper', that unofficially reached 491 mph, exceeding the previous record of 465 mph. The drone was constructed in a dorm room using custom carbon fiber and a 3D-printed titanium nozzle, costing $13,000. Salvo aims to win the $800,000 Boom Prize, which requires an air-breathing aircraft to pass Mach 1 and land intact.