Regardless of what you think of the Celera 500L aircraft’s unconventional shape, one thing is undeniable—this is a visually striking plane. Its innovative aerodynamics have produced a commercial aircraft that’s unlike anything else on the market today.
If the Celera 500L from Otto Aviation resembles anything, it’s perhaps a slightly elongated bullet or a sleek egg with wings. Its unique design blends an oval-shaped fuselage, rear-mounted turboprop, and long, glider-style wings, making it stand out in both form and function.
The Celera 500L aircraft is a mid-wing monoplane with a single five-blade propeller at the tail in a pusher configuration. Laminar airflow over its wings and fuselage reduces drag by a remarkable 59% compared to similarly sized aircraft.
Powering this low-drag machine is a RED A03 turbocharged V12 diesel engine, generating 500 horsepower. It operates as dual six-cylinder systems for redundancy, enhancing safety during flight.
Despite its solo engine, the aircraft can comfortably accommodate six passengers and crew, while still maintaining impressive performance stats. Otto Aviation claims that due to its streamlined design, the 500L can cruise at over 420 knots (460 mph) and fly up to 4,500 nautical miles.
Operating costs are exceptionally low—just $328 per flight hour with fuel included. In comparison, similar jets typically run more than $2,000 per hour. Additionally, the Celera 500L offers a fuel economy of 18 to 25 miles per gallon, a figure more common in SUVs than corporate jets.
CEO William Otto Jr. highlights the advantage: “This gets us four to five times the efficiency of other turboprop aircraft, and seven to eight times the efficiency of jet aircraft.”
Inside, the cabin is spacious and designed for comfort. With generous legroom, panoramic cockpit windows, and room for both passengers and crew, the interior defies expectations for a turboprop in this class.
Though still in prototype status, the plane has flown more than 50 test flights since its debut in 2018. However, the top recorded speed has only reached 251 mph, making its 460-mph claim theoretical for now.
The concept originated with William Otto Sr., a missile engineer who saw parallels between torpedo hydrodynamics and efficient aircraft shapes. Inspired by laminar flow studies, he imagined an aircraft that could drastically cut fuel use and emissions.
Much of the plane’s performance advantage comes from this laminar flow design, which minimizes turbulence and maximizes aerodynamic efficiency. This allows the use of a diesel engine, and potentially in the future, electric or hydrogen-powered alternatives.
Although Otto acknowledges the aircraft’s look might challenge traditional executive preferences, he remains confident in its market potential.
The Celera 500L is expected to be offered at a starting price of $5 million once it completes final approvals and enters full-scale production.
Photo Credit: Brad Adkins/Otto Aviation