College student unofficially breaks world record for fastest jet-powered drone with 491 mph aircraft built in his dorm — Reaper aims to grab the $800,000 Boom Prize
Georgia Tech aerospace engineering student Tomas Salvo has unofficially broken the drone speed world record with his Reaper jet-powered drone reaching 491 mph.
The Reaper drone, built in Salvo's college dorm, reached 790 km/h (491 mph) while carrying a 1.2 kg payload, surpassing the previous record of 465 mph. The project features a custom-molded carbon fiber shell, laser-cut internal structure, and a 250N jet engine with a titanium 3D-printed nozzle, costing $13,000 to construct.
Performance Capabilities
The Reaper drone system consists of three aircraft that can maintain their top speed for four minutes on a full tank. The drones can be launched from rails or trucks, climb to 2,000 meters in under 20 seconds, and fly 50 kilometers at full speed. Salvo describes the system as 'reliable and repeatable' with potential for further optimization.
My college dorm project just broke the world speed record. Reaper hit 790 km/h (491 mph) carrying a 1.2 kg (2.6 lb) payload. These 3 Reapers are now the world's fastest small jet-powered drones.
Future Goals
Salvo aims to refine the drone's performance to exceed 800 km/h (500 mph) in future testing. The project is designed to compete for the $800,000 Boom Prize, an incentive offered by Boom Supersonic CEO Blake Scholl for innovative aerospace achievements.
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