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 ...
“OK I see another angle on it... but thanks for your less-than-helpful responses.”
Give a man a fish and you feed him one meal.
Test flights of this plane probably made a pretty decent looking UFO to a ground-based observer although it wouldn’t have the incredible speed and maneuverability of the ones reported by the military flights.
According to the company website; glide distance is 125 MILES!
Sorry, but the windsield on this thing is kinda wonky. I would think that the cockpit view would be more open and forward-looking.
Being able to see what’s ahead of you is important.
That’s pretty.
The Red A03 engine is a diesel V-12 4 stroke piston engine according to Wikipedia. The Red website in Germany is down for maintenance.
I want one!
ML/NJ
Yes, Penny!
It does appear to be nothing more than a ram-air intake, much like a hood scoop on some hot-rod style cars. With the V-12 engine it would be helpful.
“It does appear to be nothing more than a ram-air intake, “
More. Radiators.
Looks like a flying suppository.
For really big a-holes!...........................
Maybe its for the steam engine...................
Gliding is important if you’re out of gas........
It’s a piston engine.
Well, it could be the return of the Lear Fan but this one is different enough to qualify as its own breed.
Good design. The elliptical horizontal stab is interesting. Also the high aspect ratio wings without fuel cells.
Using a certificated engine helps too, the airframe won’t be that hard to certify. The production certificate...that’s a bit more difficult.
The pair of them— each side of the rear fuselage. Depending on how much of a pylon distance away from the body (ie. whether the jet exhaust is outside the radius of the spinning- or not propeller) would be an issue.
If the prop is like one of those “take off” ultralight design that folds up and retracts into the tail fuselage— maybe it is not an issue. Not going to click on CNN ever.
Honda makes a far better and less expensive small exec aircraft— made in Greensboro,NC
“The pair of them— each side of the rear fuselage.”
Not jet engines.
“Honda makes a far better and less expensive small exec aircraft”
How is it less expensive?
So, the Germans have revived the Ram-Air V-1 shutterbug
buzzbomb engine (diesel with a ram-air prop?) Just a thought
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-1_flying_bomb#/media/File:V-1_cutaway.jpg
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