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At the expensive end, model flying wing aircraft now have very impressive performance.[1] Over 400 MPH. That one has a jet engine which costs several thousand dollars and has enough power to accelerate straight up.

There's some suspicion that the triangular aircraft seen buzzing U.S. Navy ships off the California coast are drones like these.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPGDAZyQ44k



The most powerful engine I'm aware of is the JetCat P100 Pro - over 1 kN of thrust or enough power to lift off 111kg off the ground [1].

Madness. But it will cost you more than a car.

[1] https://rcmodelturbines.com/de/jetcat/27-jetcat-p1000-pro.ht...


That's a fundamental problem with jet engines. They can be made smaller, but they don't get proportionally cheaper. Many people have tried. But human-rated jet engines don't seem to get cheaper below 6-passenger bizjet size. This is why light aircraft are still mostly powered by reciprocating engines.

NASA and Williams tried to crack that problem in the 1990s, without success.




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