Georgia Tech aerospace engineering student Tomas Salvo shook the Internet by sharing video footage of his custom-built Reaper RC drone launching at an astonishing 491 mph (790 km/h) while carrying a payload of 2.6 pounds (1.2 kilograms). According to the report of Tom’s materialit maintained this incredible speed for a full four minutes, climbing to a maximum height of 6,500 feet, with a total range of 31 miles at full speed.
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His original tweet has now been viewed more than two million times, making it one of Friday’s most viral Internet posts, but you have to go through its publication history to understand the genesis of this project and its greatest ambitions.
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However, all this space engineering and technology doesn’t come cheap. Salvo estimates his total project costs will be approximately $70,000, including $40,000 just for engines and testing costs; $6,000 for fuel and fuel systems; and an additional $20,000 in unanticipated expenses to replace damaged parts or redesign and remake underperforming parts.
Crushable speed of light
Her GoFundMe page is looking to raise $50,000, with more than $16,000 already pledged. If you pledge $500 or more, you can add yourself to a private mailing list for future updates, while if you pledge $5,000 or more, you can witness a test flight in person.
Immediately, Salvo wants to compete for the first Boom Prize, announced by Blake Scholl, CEO of Boom Supersonic, for “the first amateur-built radio-controlled aircraft to break the sound barrier.” The total payout for this prize currently stands at $800,000 ($750,000 in cash and $50,000 in Boom stock), but even at 491 mph, Reaper will need to gain an additional 276 mph in speed to reach Mach 1 and break the sound barrier.
The next test flight of the Reaper M1 prototype is scheduled for late November and early December, but if you want to follow Salvo’s progress, you should follow him on.
Gn world
