GoKawiilGeorgia Tech student's dorm-built jet drone hits 491 mph, claims world record
Aerospace engineering student Tomas Salvo says his jet-powered RC aircraft 'Reaper' reached 491 mph while carrying a 2.6-pound payload, surpassing the 465 mph record set in 2017. Salvo built three prototypes in his dorm room since last February, each using carbon-fiber shells, laser-cut parts and custom turbojet engines, at a total cost of about $13,000.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
If verified, the record would highlight how amateur builders with modest budgets can rival specialized aerospace teams using accessible manufacturing tools like 3D printing and laser cutting. Salvo's stated goal of entering the $800,000 Boom Prize suggests the project could also be a stepping stone toward attempting supersonic RC flight, though that remains a far more difficult technical challenge than his current record.
- Tomas Salvo claims a new 491 mph speed record for jet-powered RC aircraft, beating the 2017 mark of 465 mph.
- The Reaper drone was built in a college dorm for roughly $13,000 using custom carbon-fiber and 3D-printed titanium parts.
- Salvo hopes to use the aircraft to compete for Boom Supersonic's $800,000 prize for amateur supersonic RC flight.
Creality Ender 3 V3 3D Printer — Building record-breaking RC jets starts with precision prototyping, and a reliable 3D printer lets hobbyists design and iterate custom parts just like Salvo's laser-cut and 3D-printed components. The Ender 3 V3 is a popular choice for makers who want to bring complex aerospace-inspired designs to life at home. It's a great entry point for anyone inspired to start their own high-speed engineering project.
See Creality Ender 3 V3 3D Printer on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: techspot.com — Kishalaya Kundu, 2026-11-02
Published there as: “Forget hobby drones: College student builds 491 mph jet-powered speed demon”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.