Posted on 09/30/2025 1:07:15 PM PDT by Red Badger
Executive jet operator Flexjet has been unveiled as the launch customer for the Phantom 3500, the revolutionary executive jet being developed by Otto Aerospace.
The announcement was made during the UP.Summit, an event dedicated to aerospace innovation, which took place in Bentonville, Arkansas, from September 28 to 29, 2025.
This is a landmark deal for Otto Aerospace (previously Otto Aviation) and secures an order for 300 aircraft from one of the largest executive fleet operators in the United States. Flexjet will also become an authorized service provider for Otto Aerospace’s aircraft.
The Phantom 3500 has a clean-sheet design which encapsulates decades of work by Otto Aerospace in the field of laminar flow. This is a physics principle through which air moves smoothly along a surface, minimizing drag and turbulence.
By optimizing for laminar flow, Otto Aerospace claims its aircraft is able to reduce fuel and emissions by 60% compared to traditional aircraft in the same category.
In this regard, the Phantom 3500 will be competing with business jets such as the Embraer Praetor 500, the Cessna Citation X, and the Bombardier Challenger 3500.
Another singular characteristic of the Phantom 3500 is that, in order to achieve this laminar flow effect, it does not have windows along its fuselage. However, Otto Aerospace is compensating for this by providing what could be defined as a next generation cabin experience, making extensive use of wall screens and lighting to provide a comparable, and in some regards even enhanced, experience.
The Phantom 3500 design is an evolution of the Celera 500L, an experimental eye-catching aircraft with a teardrop shape and a single rear propeller, which Otto Aerospace used to flight test the laminar flow concept between 2018 and 2021.
The Phantom 3500 is expected to take its first flight in 2027, with certification and deliveries towards 2030. In June 2025, during the Paris Air Show, Otto Aerospace announced that it had received financial backing from the state of Florida to build an industrial scale manufacturing facility adjacent to Cecil Airport (VQQ) in Jacksonville.
Flexjet, which is part of the OneSky private aviation group, operates a fleet of around 300 jets of all sizes, ranging from the Embraer Phenom 300 light jet to the ultra-long-range Gulfstream G700.
Earlier in 2025, Flexjet placed another major order, valued at $7 billion at catalogue prices, for 182 Embraer aircraft (plus 30 options), including an unspecified mix of Phenom 300E and Praetor 500 and 600 aircraft.
I didn’t work on those but have worked on winglets for other aircraft. They make a big difference in efficiently. Easily pay for themselves. It is an expensive project as an add on. Besides the usual design, testing, analysis, and manufacturing you have what is called a “supplemental type certificate” to allow them to be used on the aircraft in question. All huge expenses.
Windows are a massive PITA on aircraft. Especially composite aircraft.
Windows are a massive PITA on aircraft. Especially composite aircraft.
Gonna send them my resume. Looks like a fun project. Not sure if I can handle the heat of Jacksonville but if they pay enough to afford air conditioning and a sailboat I’m game. Unfortunately in my experience startup aviation companies don’t pay much.
I kinda thought Orca.
TO REDUCE DRAG-—WHICH USES UP FUEL
KEEP IN MIND THAT THE BEST ENGINEERS IN THE 50”S SAID A DRAGSTER COULD NOT EXCEED 169 MPH.
STANDING START
THEY ALSO SAID THAT BUMBLEBEES COULD FLY—THEY WERE NOT AERODYNAMIC
TODAY, TOP FUEL CARS ARE GOING AS HIGH AS 340 MPH-—AND A GIRL IS THE DRIVER !!!!!!!!
If I could afford a timeshare on a private jet, I’d want one with windows so I could look out.
If I could afford a timeshare on a private jet, I’d want one with windows so I could look out.
If you aren't going to have windows, there's no reason to not go to a full blended wing design.
,,, if you're not near a window, you want a seat close to where the brandy is served from. That's one thing Airbus has going for it - a camera on the top of the tail and one under the fuselage. You can see a lot. Small jets are bound to have these soon if they haven't already.
I was amazed at how expensive everything was on a plane. Similar to a nuclear plant where you’re paying for testing & certification on parts.
I JUST toured one of these gorgeous planes in Bentonville. My question for the designers: what stopped us from making these before?
They are absolute bullets!
It’s got a sunroof that is along the entire top of the fuselage, and screens on the side that show what’s happening outside. It’s truly gorgeous.
They’ve taken the Pioggio aircraft design to the next level. Not the scooter. Lol
So the passengers won’t see the ground coming at them at 500mph................
So the passengers won’t see the ground coming at them at 500mph................
Looks more like a flying suppository...............
and slide rules..............
Every window is a leak waiting to happen......................
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