They present the Celera 500L, the 1:27 bullet plane
(CNN) -
Is it an egg, a blimp or a bullet?
However you imagine the shape of the Otto Celera 500L, it will turn heads.
It is unlike any other aircraft, and for good reason: it has unique aerodynamics.
The shape of the Celera is designed to dramatically reduce drag by allowing air to flow very smoothly over the surface of the aircraft.
This means that it requires less power, which means that it consumes less fuel.
"This allows us to be four to five times more efficient than other turboprop aircraft, and seven to eight times higher than jet aircraft," says William Otto Jr., CEO of Otto Aviation.
In numbers, this means that operating costs exceed those of similarly sized business jets.
According to Otto Aviation, flying in the Celera will cost US $ 328 per hour compared to US $ 2,100, with a fuel saving of 7.6 to 10.6 kilometers per liter, similar to that of a large SUV, compared to 0.8 a 1.2 kilometers per liter.
All this with enough space for six passengers, a speed of 740 kilometers per hour and a range of 7,242 kilometers, comparable to that of a passenger plane.
It sounds too good to be true?
A smooth flow
The design of the Celera 500L is inspired in part by torpedoes.
Brad Adkins / Otto Aviation
The Celera 500L, currently a prototype, is the work of William Otto Sr., an aerospace industry veteran whose work ranges from the United States' Minuteman missile program to the B-1 bomber.
The project started as a thought experiment: would it be possible to design a business jet much cheaper than current options?
For inspiration, Otto looked to the studies he had done on torpedoes, when he was trying to get more of them into a submarine.
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To do this, he made the engines that propelled them much smaller, giving the torpedoes a more efficient form that required less power.
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That shape was dictated by a concept known as "laminar flow."
Laminar flow occurs when a fluid, in this case air, flows in parallel layers, without interruptions;
it is the opposite of turbulence, which occurs when the flow is mixed or chaotic.
The egg shape of the Celera 500L is designed to achieve laminar flow on the surface of the aircraft, allowing a smoother path through the air.
Otto Aviation claims that the design offers a 59% reduction in aerodynamic drag compared to similarly sized aircraft, resulting in huge savings in fuel and emissions.
But if laminar flow works so well, why aren't all airplanes designed this way?
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These are the reasons
"To maintain laminar flow, you have to create structures whose shapes do not flex, bend or distort," says Otto.
"You could never do this with metal, composites are really the only way."
Even small temporary imperfections, such as ice or squashed insects, can impair laminar flow, which is very difficult to adapt to the size of an airliner. ”Otto adds that low fuel cost can also be a factor in which designers prefer to avoid and continue with simpler engineering.
A diesel engine
The plane's designers say it is 80% more efficient than its competitors.
Brad Adkins / Otto Aviation
As laminar flow makes the aircraft require less power, the Celera 500L is equipped with a single V12 diesel engine at the rear, designed by the German manufacturer RED.
"It was the most efficient aircraft engine we could find, to match the most aerodynamically efficient bodywork," says Otto.
In the near future, the diesel engine could be replaced by an electric or hydrogen engine, so that the plane does not produce emissions.
"For now, we have reduced carbon emissions by 80% compared to competitive aircraft; for each passenger, we are better than airlines that meet the emissions requirements for 2030-2050," adds Otto.
The Celera 500L first flew in 2018 and has since completed some 50 test flights.
So far it has only reached a top speed of about 290 kilometers per hour and an altitude of 5,181 meters (17,000 feet), but a more powerful version of the engine, to be installed soon, will allow for faster speeds and higher altitudes, closer to 12,192 meters (40,000 feet).
At some point windows will be added to the fuselage (currently there are none).
Otto believes the plane will go on sale in 2025.
"Right now, we are beginning to talk to potential partners and operators around the world. We have had interest from around the world in this aircraft, and we estimate that the audience for this is about 100 times larger than the current private aviation market. "says Otto.
Larger models
The plane is expected to have a starting price of $ 5 million.
Brad Adkins / Otto Aviation
Due to the shape of the aircraft, the cabin is more spacious than comparable aircraft such as the Pilatus PC-12 or the Beechcraft King Air.
"We have a cabin height of 1.80 meters. There is a standing toilet. It is really on the same level as a mid-size business jet," says Otto.
However, the unconventional look could be a drag on some customers.
"It may not appeal to corporate executives who fly their Gulfstreams, but there is a very large audience that is frustrated with commercial airlines, airport security, waiting lines and the length of it all," he says Otto.
Initially, the plane will be sold to private customers, priced close to US $ 5 million, but there are plans for two larger models that could accommodate up to 19 and 40 passengers respectively, making them competitive with regional jets.
Otto says that talks are taking place with the main airlines.
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However, the Celera has a long way to go, including years of test flights and full aircraft certification.
Most importantly, there is an impressive set of promises to deliver.
According to Richard Aboulafia, an aviation analyst at Teal Group, Otto Aviation is making big claims in terms of aircraft performance.
"It all sounds exceptionally promising, but perhaps too promising," says Aboulafia.
"Given the combination of range, speed, capacity and a very low-power engine considering all those metrics, I think they basically have to prove it works."
"If they can actually achieve what they claim, then it should be scalable upwards," he adds.
"But again, I think it's best to be cautious and wait to see if you can prove it on your first plane."
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