Otto Aviation - Celera 500L

[dspp]

Otto's Celera 500L reveals ....

"Otto Aviation this week unveiled the Celera 500L, a six-passenger pusher-prop business aircraft powered by a single 500-hp Red A03 diesel engine. To date, the company’s full-scale prototype has completed 31 test flights. Otto said FAA certification is expected in 2023, with service entry to follow in 2025.

According to the company, the submarine-shaped aircraft will have a maximum cruise speed of 391 knots and a range exceeding 3,900 nm, while offering a stand-up cabin and fuel economy of 16 to 22 nm per gallon. To achieve this efficiency, Otto said the Celera 500L employs “extensive” laminar flow over the fuselage, wings, and tail surfaces.

The company also claims that the airplane’s carbon emissions will be about 80 percent lower than comparable business aircraft and 40 percent lower than current airline aircraft.

“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 William Otto Sr., chairman and chief scientist at Otto Aviation. “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.”"

https://www.ottoaviation.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Celera_500L
https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news ... s-airplane
https://www.aviationtoday.com/2020/08/2 ... lera-500l/

If you look at the comparisons and design specs on https://www.ottoaviation.com/celera-500l you begin to see what this could do to established BizJet manufacturers. The opportunities page https://www.ottoaviation.com/opportunities gives an idea of where this might go.

Unlike most vaporware this is actually flying, and the team behind it are very credible. I raise it here not so much because it is directly investable itself, but because I know there are some aviation-minded folk here and also it may affect some other aviation shares (not that those are in many Fools' portfolios methinks). It may never transition to commercial production, but nonetheless it is an interesting look at one potential pathway.

BTW looks to me like the mainspar passes immediately behind the aft bulkhead of the passenger section.

regards, dspp