Otto Celera 500L

The Otto Celera 500L is a business and utility light aircraft developed by a 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.

Celera 500L
Role utility aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Otto Aviation Group
First flight aerodynamic prototype: January 2018[1]
Introduction planned 2023-2025[2]

Development

Otto Aviation Group, LLC was established in 2008 by Bill Otto to develop the Celera 500L.[3] William Otto has been a research scientist at Los Alamos Scientific Labs, systems engineer then chief scientist at North 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]

Design

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]

Specifications

The following data is estimated by the manufacturer in a pre production stage.

Data from manufacturer's site[5]

General characteristics

  • Capacity: six passengers
  • Cabin height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
  • Cabin volume: 448 cu ft (12.7 m3)
  • Powerplant: 1 × RED A03 diesel piston engine, 550 hp (410 kW) approximate at takeoff

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 400 kn (460 mph, 740 km/h) estimated minimum
  • Range: 4,500 nmi (5,200 mi, 8,300 km)
  • Service ceiling: 30,000 ft (9,100 m)
  • Maximum glide ratio: 22:1
  • Fuel economy: 18–25 mpg‑US (13.1–9.4 L/100 km)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References
  1. Graham Warwick (28 August 2020). "Otto Takes Wraps Off Slippery, Fuel-Sipping Celera 500L". Aviation Week.
  2. Hemmerdinger, Jon (28 August 2020). "Otto Aviation reveals Celera business aircraft with super-efficient 'laminar flow'". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  3. "About Us". Otto Aviation. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  4. "Otto Aviation Completes 31 Successful Test Flights with Its Groundbreaking Celera 500L" (PDF) (Press release). Otto Aviation. 29 September 2020.
  5. "Celera 500L Performance". Otto Aviation.

Further reading
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