Otto Aviation Moves Forward With Phantom 3500 Otto Aviation has been working on Laminar-flow technology to be able to gain as much efficiency as possible for their next end-goal project, the Phantom 3500 business aircraft. Getting there has not been easy and currently they have been working on the experimental demonstrator called the Celera 500. For those that do not know, Otto Aviation is a U.S. company and is endeavouring to bring the Phantom 3500 to market. This will be positioned in the Light Jet market segment but the company insists that isn’t just your average light jet as they are promising light jet prices as well as operating costs while giving the performance and comfort of some midsize jets.
Their path to certifying the Phamtom 3500 will not be an easy one as it costs huge capital to bring a clean-sheet design from concept, through the experimental stages, into development and then certifying testing to enter into the market space. We had a few examples in recent years of companies that did not make it to the finish line despite footing significant capital. For example, in the eVTOL space we have had Lilium and Volocopter end their businesses although the latter was absorbed by Diamond Aircraft a few months ago. In the supersonic space, Aerion also folded suddenly in early-to-mid 2021 despite raising large developmental capital.
Otto Aviation will have these inherent hurdles to overcome if it wants to truly field the Phantom 3500. Even if they do get there, the process is often longwinded. Honda Aircraft took 12 years to bring the HondaJet to market, Cirrus's SF50 Vision Jet achieved FAA certification in late-2016 but the first prototype flight took place in mid-2008.
The Phantom 3500 will have no windows in the fuselage for the passengers. This is breaking from convention of providing tangible window views to the exterior. However, Otto Aviation says four 42-inch 4K monitors on the cabin walls will feed the cabin with exterior views. There is now also a real timeline for the development of the Phantom 3500. The airframe will be all-composite and the first flight is being targeted for 2027 with certification in 2030. For more information: Otto Aviation 23675 Vía del Rio, Yorba Linda, CA 92887, U.S.A www.ottoaviation.com ***
