| Celera 500L | |
|---|---|
| Role | Utility aircraft
Type of aircraft
|
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Otto Aviation Group |
| First flight | aerodynamic prototype: January 2018[1] |
| Introduction | planned 2023-2025[2] |
The Otto Celera 500L is a business and utility light aircraft developed by American startup, Otto Aviation. By August 2020, 31 test flights had been flown, as introduction is targeted for 2023–2025. It has a single RED A03 diesel piston engine in a pusher configuration and can seat six passengers.
Otto Aviation Group, LLC was established in 2008 by Bill Otto to develop the Celera 500L.[3] William Otto has been a research scientistatLos Alamos Scientific Labs, systems engineer then chief scientistatNorth American Aviation.[2] Otto Aviation is privately funded since 2008 and is seeking a Series B fundraising round: 200 million dollars are needed for FAR Part 23 certification in three years.[1] Otto Aviation began development of the aircraft before 2017 and the initial test version of the Celera 500L was seen on the ground at a California airport in 2017.
The aerodynamic prototype made its maiden flight in January 2018, and began performance testing in September 2019.[1] Otto publicly announced the aircraft and its development program in August 2020, and noted that 31 test flights had been flown to date.[4] By then, a weight-optimized conforming prototype with cabin windows and longer landing gear was expected to fly within 18 months.[1] FAA certification and deliveries are targeted for 2023–2025.[2]
The 500L is a mid wing monoplane with a single five blade propeller in a pusher configuration. Laminar flow is used for its wings, fuselage, and empennage. Otto wants to compete with light business aircraft like the Cessna Citation CJ3+ jet or the Beechcraft King Air 350.[2] The better fuel economy should lead to a low operating cost of $328 hourly.[2] The cabin accommodates six club seats, is about 72in (1.8m) tall,[2] and will be equipped with a lavatory.[4]
Twin-stage turbocharging should enable a 40,000–50,000 ft (12,000–15,000 m) cruise altitude, where full laminar flow can be achieved for an estimated 59% lower drag than competitors.[1] It should reach a cruise speed over 400 kn (740 km/h) and as contamination can disrupt laminar flow, performance should be certified with turbulent flow, with a less than 4,500 nmi (8,300 km) guaranteed range.[1] The single RED A03 turbocharged V12 four-stroke aircraft diesel engine of 500 hp (370 kW) can operate as two six-cylinder engines to provide redundancy.[1] Otto targets a 3,500–4,000 ft (1,100–1,200 m) balanced field length and a fuel economy of 16-22 nmi/gal of Jet fuel.[1] The flight controls are mechanically linked and it will be equipped with instrument flight rules avionics for single-pilot operations.[1]
With a 35 ft (11 m) long fuselage and a 55 ft (17 m) wingspan, the claimed 22-to-1 glide ratio should yield a 3.5 sq ft (0.33 m2) equivalent flat-plate area drag.[5] With 500 hp (370 kW), this would allow a top speed of 300 kn (560 km/h) at 30,000 ft (9,100 m), and 430 kn (800 km/h) true airspeed at 65,000 ft (20,000 m), but the RED A03 critical altitude is 25,000 ft (7,600 m).[5] The propeller tips would have transonic wave drag and would operate in a disturbed wake, and laminar flow would be difficult to maintain for a large part of the fuselage with windows and panel seams.[5]
The following data is estimated by the manufacturer in a pre production stage.
Data from manufacturer's site[6]
General characteristics
Performance
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Fact or fiction? What do we make of these claims?
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