Hackaday · Creativity & design

3D Printed Jet Aims for Transonic Speed Record

The Mach Initiative has developed an ambitious radio-controlled jet, dubbed Kingchaser, aiming to achieve transonic speeds of Mach 0.8.

The Kingchaser's airframe is primarily 3D printed from PETG, reinforced with carbon fiber rods and an aluminum frame. The section around the engine uses heat-resistant PPS-CF, wrapped in carbon fiber.

This project builds upon a smaller PLA version, Kingfisher, which was claimed to be the first 3D printed jet. The team is now targeting a speed record with a larger aircraft and a more powerful 300 N thrust engine.

Achieving Mach 0.8 (approximately 990 km/h or 615 mph) would significantly surpass the speed of existing record-holding drones. The switch to PETG was made to withstand the anticipated aerodynamic heating at these speeds.

A notable detail in the design is the polished smooth skin of the aircraft, crucial for minimizing skin drag, which is a dominant factor at transonic speeds.

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