Tomas Salvo, an aerospace engineering student at Georgia Tech, has shared video of his custom-built Reaper RC drone reaching a reported 491 mph (790 km/h) while carrying a 2.6-pound (1.2-kilogram) payload. According to reporting cited by Tom’s Hardware, the drone maintained that speed for four minutes, reached a maximum altitude of 6,500 feet and covered 31 miles at full speed.
Salvo’s original post has received more than two million views. The project has required an estimated investment of about $70,000, including approximately $40,000 for engines and testing, $6,000 for fuel and fuel systems, and $20,000 reserved for replacing damaged components or redesigning parts that do not perform as expected.
A GoFundMe campaign is seeking $50,000 and has already received more than $16,000 in pledges. Contributors giving at least $500 can join a private email list for project updates, while those pledging $5,000 or more can attend a test flight in person.
Salvo’s next objective is to compete for the inaugural Boom Prize, announced by Boom Supersonic CEO Blake Scholl. The prize offers $800,000—$750,000 in cash and $50,000 in Boom stock—to the first amateur-built radio-controlled aircraft to break the sound barrier.
Despite its reported 491 mph top speed, the Reaper would need to gain another 276 mph to reach Mach 1. The next test flight of the Reaper M1 prototype is planned for a window between late November and early December.
Sources: Mashable.