- The biggest thing to happen to the aviation industry in 50 years.
- The aircraft can be used for passenger travel, cargo operations and military support.
- Per-hour flight charges to be at an unbelievably low cost of just $328.
- It’s impressive teardrop shape to not only provide more comfort to passengers, but also enhanced performance.
- The Celera 500L to use its long-range and high fuel economy to support military missions
- The company’s goal is to have achieved FAA certification by 2023 and begin actual production to customers by 2025.
The Drive reports Otto Aviation’s aims to disrupt the aviation landscape with a design that flies at jet speeds, but uses a fraction of the gas, and has more range.
Come out of the Shadows
Otto Aviation’s Celera 500L has officially come out of the shadows and the company has now outlined its vision for the potentially revolutionary high-efficiency aircraft, including possible unmanned variants and military versions configured for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
The press release did not provide specific details about the aircraft’s first flight or when it occurred, but says it has flown 31 times in total, so far.
Travel Industry Revolutionised/ Universal Appeal
William Otto Sr., the Chairman and Chief Scientist of Otto Aviation, said in a statement,
“In many cases, individuals and families will be able to charter the Celera 500L at prices comparable to commercial airfares, but with the added convenience of private aviation. We believe when the price of private air travel is competitive with commercial air travel, an enormous market opportunity will result.”
“We believe the Celera 500L is the biggest thing to happen to both the aviation and travel industries in 50 years,” he continued.
“Beyond using our aircraft for passenger travel, it can also be used for cargo operations and military applications. Since the results from our prototype test flights have been so promising, we’re ready to bring the Celera 500L to market.”
Aircraft Specifications
Otto Aviation says the Celera 500L had a maximum cruising speed of at least 450 miles per hour and a range of over 4,500 miles.
It also has impressive fuel economy, achieving 18 and 25 miles per gallon, according to Otto Aviation.
The company says that the Celera 500L will have an unbelievably low per-hour flight cost of just $328.
Its high-efficiency Raikhlin Aircraft Engine Developments (RED) A03 V12 piston engine is another important part of the equation. The A03 has a multi-stage turbocharger and can run on Jet A1 fuel, as well as kerosene or biodiesel.
The aircraft’s teardrop shape also provides a roomier main cabin compared to many similarly-sized business jets, as well as small turboprops. This will improve passenger comfort for long-duration flights.
Otto notes that a range of 4,500 miles, together with a typical takeoff run of around 3,300 feet, means that the Celera 500L will be able to fly between virtually any airports in the United States without need to stop to refuel.
Military Support
Though primarily aimed at civilian and commercial operators, Otto’s new website also highlights the potential for the Celera 500L to use its long-range and high fuel economy to support military missions, including transporting personnel and cargo, as well as conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
A version of the aircraft, possibly unmanned, equipped with any number of sensor suites could be an impressive persistent surveillance and communications relay platform able to orbit over particular areas for very long periods of time and cover a wide swath of the battlefield from its high perch.
Future Goals
Otto’s goal is to have achieved FAA certification by 2023 and then have a manufacturing facility delivering actual production Celera 500Ls to customers by 2025.
The aircraft certainly represents an incredibly ambitious and disruptive set of capabilities that could significantly change the course of aviation and transportation overall.
Getting such an exotic concept into a flying form is an incredible feat in itself for the Otto Aviation team, one that requires large resources and comes with considerable high-risk, to say the least.
