Posted on 08/28/2020 9:49:51 AM PDT by Red Badger
The whispers started three years ago. A mysterious bullet-shaped plane was spotted at the Southern California Logistics Airport near Victorville in April 2017. Its unusual design prompted immediate speculation, with military website The War Zone being the first to report that the aircraft was the work of California-based Otto Aviation -- and that development was very much under wraps.
Someone looking for an ID of an unusual looking aircraft spotted at the Southern California Logistics Airport. https://t.co/83J7RqOpvy pic.twitter.com/eAPrXNwIEf — John Wiseman (@lemonodor) April 16, 2017
Now, in the late summer of the strangest year in aviation history, the Celera 500L has finally been revealed to the world, with the launch of a new website and a bunch of very cool new photos. What we're looking at is a six-person private craft that promises to fly at jet speeds, but with eight times lower fuel consumption, and a range that's twice that of a comparably sized craft. Bold claims indeed. Otto Aviation says on its website that 31 successful test flights have so far been performed, with aerodynamic efficiency proven in 2019, bolstering its declaration that "the Celera 500L is the most fuel-efficient, commercially viable aircraft in existence." The company, founded in 2008 and an offshoot of Bill Otto's Otto Laboratories, says that the Celera 500L runs at 18 to 25 miles-per-gallon fuel economy (compared to the 2-3 miles-per-gallon of a comparable jet aircraft). Then there are the modest $328 hourly operating costs, which are about six times lower, and the generous 4,500-nautical-mile range. Maximum cruise speed is projected to reach more than 460 miles per hour.
(Excerpt) Read more at edition.cnn.com ...
Aviation Ping!...................
that jet engine is going to melt that propeller
Not saying weight and balance would be a big issue with that shape, but ...
And FRONT-facing visibility like seeing the runway on approach looks to be rather, opaque ...
Makes you wonder....................
It’s made of unobtanium, so don’t worry..................
When those prop tips go supersonic, it’s gonna be load ...
Interesting story, has it been collaborated by a reliable source? (Don’t want to give CNN any traffic)
Good one! As a kid, I loved that show. Yep, there are similarities!
Lastly, if an aviation authority such as CNN likes the design, I am ALL IN!!!
/ s
“that jet engine is going to melt that propeller”
What jet engine?
Looks like it needs some small canards before I’d board..
did you see the photo? it has a jet engine pointing right at the propeller
THAT too.
Otto Aviation officially unveiled its Celera 500L clean-sheet passenger aircraft on Wednesday, stating that its full-scale prototype has already completed 31 successful test flights. According to the company, the Celera will offer an 80 percent reduction in carbon emissions compared to a similar business aircraft. In addition to passenger travel, Otto is marketing the aircraft for cargo and military applications.
“Our goal was to create a private aircraft that would allow for direct flights between any city pair in the U.S. at speeds and cost comparable to commercial air travel,” said Otto Aviation chairman and chief scientist William Otto Sr. “Since the results from our prototype test flights have been so promising, we’re ready to bring the Celera 500L to market.”
As previously reported by AVweb, the Celera 500L prototype was spotted undergoing taxi testing in June 2019 after over a decade of quiet development. The six-passenger aircraft is expected to have a top cruise speed of 460 MPH, 4,500-NM range, fuel economy of 18 to 25 miles per gallon and glide ratio of 22:1. The all-composite Celera is powered by the RED A03 engine, which is certified to operate on Jet A1 and biodiesel. Otto projects that the model’s hourly operating costs will come in at around $328.
I was gonna say. It looks too small to be a turbine engine with compressors but then again them make ‘em small these days. It’s probably just an intake and exhaust for the motor that runs the prop.
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