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 ...
All episodes seem to be free on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf5Chh88dXE&list=PL6UfctxfSOoG0gEYp_ecXWBB5SFm0ZjE-&index=1
This is an example why China in its present form and government can never out-compete the USA. If the USA fails, it will be because of ourselves, not others.
If someone wanted to try to develop a new concept airplane in China, it could only be done through the state-run system and massive bureaucracy.
China certainly has very talented engineers, but they have no system for incentivizing and rewarding innovation. Indeed, their political system blocks it. If this concept proves successful, on the other hand they have very good incentives which will reward stealing this technology.
“did you see the photo? it has a jet engine pointing right at the propeller”
There is no jet engine in the photo.
A different kind of DIESEL KnOcK!....................
Engine out training would be a real thrill in that one!! Glide distance similar to a T38 (or worse) based on those wings.
Um, its a V-12. No turbine. Goto ottoaviation.com and check it out.
Plus radiators
I don’t think that is a jet engine. Look up the plane in google photos. It’s not round. It’s flat. More like an air intake for cooling I suspect.
There is probably two of them but we only see one on this side of the aircraft- almost right in front of the tail, mounted near the top, angled slight down pointing right at the propeller.
Or is that not a jet engine?
“Engine out training would be a real thrill in that one!! Glide distance similar to a T38 (or worse) based on those wings.”
Glide ratio 22:1.
“Or is that not a jet engine?”
Not.
Helium filled?
Good point. Aside from aspiration you need cooling
“Engine out training would be a real thrill in that one!! Glide distance similar to a T38 (or worse) based on those wings.”
It says glide ratio of 22:1...
“jet speeds”?
Propellers limit the speed. That said there are prop driven racers that reach 550 mph, so slow jet maybe. A G650 cruises at mach 0.85. Fuel consumption sounds attractive on the 500l.
gmta!
Didn’t the Sky King show in the 50’s use one of these?
OK I see another angle on it... but thanks for your less-than-helpful responses.
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