fuel-efficient 'bullet' airplane seeks to revolutionize private air transportation

introducing the celera 500L

american startup otto aviation introduces ‘celera 500L’, a business and utility light aircraft seeking to revolutionize the world of private air transportation. this fuel-efficient ‘bullet’ plane incorporates a single RED A03 diesel piston engine in a pusher configuration and can seat up to six passengers. with an 18–25 mpg fuel economy, $328 hourly operating costs, and a max cruise speed of 460 mph, the celera 500L is designed to outperform in every category.

all images courtesy of otto aviation

a bullet-shaped plane that burns less fuel

the celera 500L prototype made its debut flight in january 2018, and began performance testing in september 2019. on its official website, otto aviation has stated that the aircraft is currently in development and that 55 successful test flights have been performed.

the bullet shape of the celera is designed to reduce drag drastically, by allowing the air to flow very smoothly over the surface of the aircraft. in this way, the plane requires less power to operate, meaning that it burns less fuel. the aircraft is designed as a mid-wing monoplane with a single five-blade propeller in a pusher configuration. laminar flow is used for its wings, fuselage, and empennage, making for a fuel-efficient vessel that provides smooth rides in the skies. its better fuel economy should lead to a low operating cost of $328 hourly, while a comparable jet aircraft costs $2,100 per hour. superior comfort is ensured through the plane’s spacious cabin, which is about 6’2” (180 cm) tall and accommodates six first-class equivalent seats coming in customizable configurations.

low drag and high efficiency

the celera 500L is designed for transcontinental range with operating costs equal to or better than commercial airline ticket pricing on a per passenger basis. these criteria require extremely low drag across the entire aircraft with a highly fuel-efficient propulsion system. to achieve this, extensive use of laminar shapes was used for the wings, fuselage, and tail sections.

the aircraft’s twin-stage turbocharging configuration allows for a 40,000–50,000 ft (12,000–15,000 m) cruise altitude, and full laminar flow can be achieved for an estimated 59% lower drag than competitors. the plane is able to reach a cruise speed of 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. the 4,500 nautical mile range means the aircraft can service virtually any city pair in the U.S. without refueling.