On October 30, 2026, Georgia Tech aerospace engineering student Tomas Salvo said his jet-powered RC aircraft Reaper reached 491 mph (790 km/h) while carrying a 1.2 kg payload. Tom’s Hardware reported that Guinness World Records did not officially record the run, so the speed remains Salvo’s claim rather than an official Guinness record.

What the Boom Prize requires

Salvo’s reported 491 mph flight does not meet the Boom Prize’s Mach 1 threshold or its two-flight format. Boom Supersonic’s rules require a true Mach 1 or faster flight lasting at least five continuous seconds. Mach 1 is the local speed of sound, which varies with air temperature, rather than one fixed speed in miles per hour.

The aircraft must accelerate through the transonic range while level or climbing. The competition also requires:

  • Two qualifying flights by the same aircraft on the same day, witnessed in person by the judges or their designated observers.
  • Reciprocal headings for the supersonic portions of the flights.
  • A controlled landing after the first flight, followed by a second flight in the same airframe.
  • Measurement data demonstrating that the aircraft exceeded Mach 1 after accounting for uncertainty.
  • A fixed-wing aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of 25 kg, including fuel and landing gear, and a human remote pilot with continuous control and immediate abort authority.

The prize totals $800,000: $750,000 in cash and $50,000 in Boom stock.

Who can enter and how funding works

Every team member must be a U.S. person: a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or person granted asylum. Boom accepts individual entrants and teams, not corporate entities.

The rules allow commercially purchased engines, servos, and avionics. They prohibit corporate sponsorship, institutional investment, and government grants. Personal funds and donations from private individuals, including crowdfunding, are allowed when donors receive no equity, intellectual property, or control in return.

Tom’s Hardware reported that sponsorship helped Salvo obtain the JetCat engine. Boom’s rules distinguish that kind of support from a commercial engine purchase, which they permit.