The Drake Vulture is one of the best solo money-making ships in Star Citizen. The question is simple:

Should you sell Recycled Material Composite (RMC) directly, or refine Construction Rubble into Construction Materials?

After testing a full Vulture cargo load with both methods, the answer is clear:

RMC is faster, easier, and significantly more profitable.

• Star Citizen Vulture Salvage Profit: RMC vs Construction Materials
• Setup
• Construction Materials Profit Test
• Results
• RMC Profit Test
• Results
• Vulture Salvage Profit Comparison
• Winner: RMC
• Best Vulture Salvage Strategy
• Use Large Ship Wrecks
• Avoid Low-Yield Contracts
• Sell at Reliable Locations
• Is the Drake Vulture Still Worth Buying?
• FAQ
• How much money can a Drake Vulture make in Star Citizen?
• Is RMC better than Construction Materials in Star Citizen?
• What is the best salvage target for the Vulture?
• How long does it take to fill a Vulture with RMC?
• Should beginners buy the Drake Vulture?
• Summary

↖ Star Citizen Vulture Salvage Profit: RMC vs Construction Materials

↖ Setup

• The goal was simple:
• Fill one Vulture cargo hold.
• Sell the materials.
• Remove contract costs.
• Compare the real profit.

The test focused on real profit, not theoretical market value.

↖ Construction Materials Profit Test

Construction Materials look attractive because refining increases the value of collected rubble.

The problem is efficiency.

You need:

1. Salvage contracts.

2. Ship fracturing.

3. Rubble collection.

4. Refining time.

5. Final cargo transport.

For this test, 10,000 aUEC salvage contracts were used.

Around 5 good contracts are normally enough to fill a Vulture.

↖ Results

The biggest issue is not only the lower payout.

The entire process takes longer because refining adds another step between salvaging and earning money.

↖ RMC Profit Test

RMC is much simpler:

Find a large wreck → scrape the hull → sell the material.

For the test, a 20,000 aUEC salvage contract was used.

Large ships like the C2 Hercules are excellent targets because their flat surfaces make scraping faster.

↖ Results

↖ Vulture Salvage Profit Comparison

↖ Winner: RMC

The difference:

RMC earns around 130,000 aUEC more profit per Vulture load.

That advantage comes from three things:

no refining delay;

cheaper contracts;

faster turnaround.

More time scraping means more money.

↖ Best Vulture Salvage Strategy

↖ Use Large Ship Wrecks

Not every salvage target is equal.

The best targets usually have:

large surface areas;

easy scraping angles;

high material yield.

The C2 Hercules is one of the most comfortable Vulture targets because you spend less time repositioning.

↖ Avoid Low-Yield Contracts

Cheap contracts are not always profitable.

If a wreck gives poor material output, the travel time and setup cost can destroy your hourly income.

A better strategy:

pay slightly more for a good target;

spend less time flying;

maximize scraping time.

↖ Sell at Reliable Locations

The highest price is not always the best option.

If a location has:

broken elevators;

selling bugs;

unreliable terminals;

then a slightly lower price at a working location can be better.

Consistency matters more than chasing a few extra credits.

↖ Is the Drake Vulture Still Worth Buying?

For solo players, yes.

The Vulture gives you:

low entry cost;

simple operation;

strong solo income;

no crew requirement.

It is not the highest-earning salvage ship, but it is one of the best ships for turning gameplay time into aUEC.

↖ FAQ

↖ How much money can a Drake Vulture make in Star Citizen?

A full Vulture load of RMC can generate around 223,000 aUEC profit after contract costs.

Construction Materials produced around 93,000 aUEC profit in the same test.

↖ Is RMC better than Construction Materials in Star Citizen?

Yes, for most players.

RMC requires fewer steps, no refining, and produces significantly higher practical profit.

↖ What is the best salvage target for the Vulture?

Large ships with wide flat surfaces are usually the best targets.

The C2 Hercules is a strong choice because it is easy to scrape efficiently.

↖ How long does it take to fill a Vulture with RMC?

A full load takes around 45 minutes of active scraping, depending on travel time and experience.

↖ Should beginners buy the Drake Vulture?

Yes.

It is one of the easiest ways to enter industrial gameplay and start earning serious aUEC without needing a crew.

↖ Summary

The test result is straightforward:

RMC is the best money-making option for the Drake Vulture.

Construction Materials are interesting if you enjoy refining, but they lose badly when measured by profit and time.

For efficient Vulture gameplay:

1. Take a good salvage contract.

2. Target a large wreck.

3. Fill your hold with RMC.

4. Sell at a reliable location.

5. Repeat.

For solo players looking for consistent income, the Vulture remains one of the strongest early industrial investments in Star Citizen.