Celera 500L | Egg with wings or a revolution in aviation 

"Filling up the runways like locusts!" Fell off my chair with that!

Wow, wow, wow. What a development. I owned and operated a Cessna 310 in Europe. At about the same running cost per hour the Celera 500L flies twice as fast with more than 5 times the range in what appears to be jet like comfort fo 6 passengers.If all the numbers work out it will become a raging success. Kudo's guys.

If you have never flown privately, imagine no check-in line, no security delays, just drive up to the hangar and get in. That kind of ease of use, plus economic costs, makes this idea a winner. The future can't come fast enough, in this case.

Unfortunately, you left out the most important factor along with its laminar flow fuselage: It has a high-aspect ratio wing. This means it has a long wingspan with a short chord line (it’s long and skinny). This type of wing provides maximum lift and minimum drag, which is why you see it on gliders. Except, the trick here is making it strong enough for what appears to be a >10,000lb, 400kt aircraft. That’s where the use of advanced composites that were not formerly available comes in. Cheers!

This is really cool, a few challenges I see are: 1. Pressurization - Piston aircraft often have issues with pressurization. A good comparison is the Cessna P210 where the weight of the pressure hull and low engine air output limits maximum flight altitude. I wonder how much the figures they give assume high altitude operations. While the wing design is good, the engine can only put out so much power to get it to the needed altitude while maintaining pressurization, anti-icing (in poor weather), electrical, hydraulic, and air conditioning systems. 2. Single engine - This will find a market but for commercial service the aircraft will not be permitted over water and will have a limited scope of operation due to that one engine. A number of executive jet customers are not permitted to even fly on single engine aircraft due to their life insurance policies. Additionally overwater and remote operations will be heavily restricted due to regulatory requirements of a single engine aircraft. 3. Payload - Again, with one engine the aircraft will be limited on its payload with one piston engine, no matter how good that engine is. The An-2 is the largest single engine piston in the world, it needs a 1010 HP engine to move a 3000 lb payload at sluggish speeds and low altitudes. Will the 500 HP engine be enough for this aircraft to be able to move a payload of 2000 lbs with the 200+ gallons of Jet-A weighing about 1350 lbs while cruising in the flight levels? There is more to flying than cruise performance, the aircraft will need to meet minimum climb gradients for various IFR approaches and departure procedures in order to be considered practical for commercial use. 4. Known icing - Again we look at anti-icing and de-icing solutions, both of which will take air from the engine and hinder power output. The main issue is how the wings, control surfaces, and engine inlets will be protected from ice accumulation in flight. The propeller is in an advantageous position for this, as pusher engines are their own prop anti-ice. However for the aircraft to be commercially viable it will need all weather capabilities. Super-critical wings such as the one this aircraft sports are extremely susceptible to negative effects of airframe ice accumulation. There are a lot of regulatory hurdles a new concept aircraft has to overcome, I wish Otto the best in navigating that bureaucratic nightmare and I hope to see their plane in production in the future. The items I listed here are the first thoughts that came to mind as hurdles an aircraft design such as theirs will have to address during its development phase. While many people say "develop and improve" in aviation this is not an option, the aircraft must meet their commercial quotas in order for further development and each of the items listed here will be things serious aviation businesses (anything beyond personal transportation aircraft for a wealthy individual) will be looking at. Cost of acquisition and maintenance will also be a factor, of course - but that number will generate itself as development comes to an end. I would like ideas like this to flourish and seeing another revolutionary concept flounder into obscurity only hampers future innovation. That said, it's awesome they've already got a prototype and pulls them firmly out of the realm of "investment scam" or "pipe dream" that so many concept aircraft die in.

I really wish guys at Otto all the luck. It's a wonderful project and it seems to be trying to answer all the right questions

Are we starting a new "golden age of aviation"? I really hope so. We need new dreamers that won't accept the status quo. Love it!!

As long as it lands sunny side up I'm good with it.

Disruptive technologies are fascinating. This one seems like the triumph of engineering elegance instead of the usual brute force approach. Kudos to Otto and RED for clear thinking and innovation!

It looks a lot like a Tuna with wings. Eggcellent shape for low resistance

I used to do a lot of flying between small communities. A lot of beechcraft 99s and Fokker F27s - both loud and not very comfortable. This would be a great update for those sorts of routes.

Update, I met with the Otto team and I am massively impressed. I think they will make it. At the very least, its potential benefits will not be lost to the general aviation world.

I can not wait to see this plane flying over our heads. Damn, it is so cool.

Production and fuel cost down, capable of flight with multiple passenger, a low maintenance engine... This is the perfect plane for post-CoViD America: relatively environmentally friendly, while able to connect the major cities but also smaller air ports, now that many left the big cities due to their lockdowns, it´s just... PERFECT.

Diesel engines have had a long and subdued history in aviation. Good to see that they are getting the attention they were denied for so many years. I've been following this project for a while, it looks very promising. A V12 engine is also inherently balanced for smooth operation, hence their widespread use in aircraft of the 1930s and 1940s.

At first, I was thinking "Oh boy, yet another bla bla bla of a "vapor plane" by someone who knows nothing about aviation". I'm pleasantly surprised at the excellent presentation and in-depth critique bringing to light both good and bad points. You've just earned another subscriber. Bruce Williams - Spruce Creek Fly In

It's a revolutionary aircraft and those numbers are incredible one third to one fourth the operating costs 450mph 4000mile range and seats meant for an adult, I really hope Otto is successful.

I've been drawing this plane since i was 6 years old

I bet it will be quiet too, with that smooth airflow and the engine positioned right at the back.

Being able to hop on a commercial flight without having to drive to a major airport would be great! It seems like the only options we have for air travel right now is either get into GA and use your own local small airport (no commercial services) or driving down to a huge airport and spending several hours, security, parking, traffic, etc. to hop on a large commercial flight

I've seen some other videos of this bird, bit not as complete and informative as this one! Many thanks from Brazil for doing this!

I haven’t been this excited about a CA aircraft for a long time

Magnificent, remarkable, historical design resembling a beautiful engine powered, fixed wing, rear propped, tricycle landing geared Zeppelin that must be a dream to fly ! I know that Ferdinand Zeppelin would agree. Bravo, Otto Aviation !

thanks for this video! this plane recently came across my radar and to see someone put so much effort into a video showing it off has been great.

The point is when fuel prices explode and travelers numbers sink, smaller aircraft get more intresting.

Thank you Sky! I've been hopeing you would do a review of the Celera! I appreciate your work Sir. And very interesting plane!!

This seems like a really and I mean REALLY interesting thing and I wish them (otto aviation) luck in their project

I think the submarine is the most apt comparison. Really interesting design and makes a lot of sense. I wonder what the noise factor would be like compared to a traditional single engine piston prop considering the rear engine, pusher prop, and unique aero design. I bet it's pretty quiet comparatively. Might even beat a business jet.

Typical Sky excellence! Articulate, fascinating, informative. 💛🙏🏼

First video I've seen from you. The level of detail is impressive, and conveyed in a very smooth and cohesive manner. Well done.

Well done again, SE!! Excellent narration delivery and copy - with lots of info and insight on an aircraft I didn't know about! Thank you.

Exciting - fast and effecient with a great range. I would love to fly in this craft

I am excited to see more of this plane as it expands its test envelope.

What a great video. The details of the economics, licensing, production, and marketing is what it's all about at management offices. We really do get used to a status quo and then the continuum is altered by some new consideration, moving forward.

What a f*** fabulous idea. Laminar flow with an internal combustion engine . This is a winner . The narrator is great as he to is so amazed at the metrics he wonders if its true . Great video. Australia should order dozens of these things to service our remote towns.

First the egg, than the bird, than the airplane, now coming full circle, back to the egg.

Your videos are so great that I almost watch it in russian just to get a little glimpse ahead! Thank you for the great content =)

I have a former colleague that has been working on this project and the economy numbers are close to real life. A lot comes from the design and the rest comes from the efficiency of the diesel.

Putting the prop at the back of the plane is a big part of why they are able to achieve such smooth laminar flow. The wake, or prop wash, from having it up front completely screws up the airflow over the body of the plane, but it's the way we've done it for so long that's the standard. The center of gravity moves to the rear of the plane when you put the engine in that back, hence the unusual wing placement.

Gorgeous plane! Terrific video, too. Thanks!!

current pandemic + low operating costs = more incentive for people to trade air carriers for charters

Piaggio Aviation had a great quote about their Avanti plane, which has a pusher propellor design: "When was the last time you saw a ship with its propellors at the front?"

A good example of what a difference in conceptual design can lead to. The concept for Celera 500L appears to be based on providing a lamellar flow around the fuselage, which is also considered in anything that is intended for a flight but is generally superseded by the impacts of engine power, lightweight structures and even aesthetics. An interesting video indeed. Thanks

Wow, very interesting. A significant achievement.

"It's a bird!" " No, it's a plane! " "No no, it's an egg plane!" 🤣🤣🤣

Well done presentation! Informative, thoughtful and well spoken/scripted. Well done !

Your narrative writing is better than the video! This is one of the best video sites on RU-vid for both content and video style values. Totally surprised, we find even your delivery is much clearer and easily understood You appear to come from a professional writing background related to aviation. Where can we learn more about your amazing achievement with Skyships Eng?

Assuming those capabilities are real (which I read is a big assumption), it could be used to take families on holidays over medium distances pretty cheaply, and in comfort. Replacing the "air bus" with the "air taxi"!

You're the man Sky! I love your channel - your knowledge and presentation always impresses me. Greetings from the UK!

You do good work that was done well and worth watching. Although I have seen other analysis of this project this was the best by far. Thank you

You put a lot of work into this video. Great job.

Very intriguing prototype, I like it and it's nice to see new innovation in design. I hope Otto succeeds.

5:11 "a simple explanation of what a laminar flow is..." SmarterEveryday has entered the chat.

Something that I thought: it can travel thousands of miles on a single trip, but it doesn't have to. What benefits are there to being able to make 10x 400mi trips off of one tank? 20x 200mi? Decreased times due to fueling. Or, reduced fuel load per trip (assuming you're gassed up to the minimum needed to get to the next destination). Fascinating machine.

It won't hit it's design targets, but aviation won't advance unless people push the envelope. It's out-of-the-box thinking, which is much-appreciated.

This is essentially a disruptor product, and I'm excited about the prospect!

Modern version of the Bell X-1. At least the general shape. Nice video. Had not heard of this plane before. Thanks!

This feels like a more radical version of the Piaggio Avanti, which also put focus on maximizing laminar flow over fuselage and wing, and was designed to have performance comparable to jets. But I gotta say the Avanti seems like a better compromise (better field performance, better cockpit visibility, uses a widely available engine, etc) and it looks much better (important).

Sky always does thorough analysis based on data. Gotta' respect that. He is a credible source because this data checks out. Outstanding Sky.

Very interesting presentation. Thank you for being clear, organized, a little humorous, and completely interesting. I hope you present updates whenever you can.

Excellent presentation as always sky, thank you

Thanks, Sky. That was really interesting.

this new aircraft fits into a unique place, as explained by the narrator, and the selling points and benefits are very attractive. Flying from a smaller regional airport is way more convenient, and it will put the "fun" back into flying instead of a dreadful experience as it is now.

*This design is fascinating. Feels good to me... and the ground effects... Yes!*

Thank u for the informative video! Greetings from America....we love you!

What an amazing plane! ✈️

This is awsome ! Celera 500L is one of my fav for sure !

If they can scale this up to 12 to 18 passengers, then it gets interesting. I have flown on a 25 passenger turboprop from Pittsburg, PA to St. Louis, MO. There were only about 18 passengers on board. It flew low and fairly slow. Engine noise and turbulence made the flight less than enjoyable. A plane like this could fly higher, faster and make the flight more enjoyable.

Until you pointed it out, I didn’t appreciate how really thin and minimal those wings are

I like this design. I was surprised to learn it had a piston engine, although a very sophisticated one. I had assumed it would have a turboprop! Nice video! Good work.

Impressive and informative. Thanks!!

Dividing the cost per hour by six, it could cost as little as $88.8 per person to operate to go from Dallas to Chicago. I know there are other costs, but yeah, they can charge $300 a person and possibly make a profit. That's about double the prices I just looked up, still, I'd pay that. They could charter. Or they could also just fly random regional airports. As I can bet I can find six people that need a round trip from say, Des Moines to Birmingham. A flight that would be cheaper and faster than I can find online at the moment. An entire new commercial airline sector could be opened up by this. Low demand routes between feeder cities. Or even smaller markets becoming feeder cities for a few extra dollars, round trip. This is a neat concept! I'm more than a little excited at the idea.

This project is a real good idea and hope it is successful.

Best aviation channel Sky!

And in closing... Enjoying how you wind down your videos! Superb work

Thanks for an excellent analysis of this new bird. I hope to see Otto Aviation succeed!

Looks like it would be wonderfully efficient at lower speeds, like 400 km/h cruise. The design also looks promising for large volume/weight freight.

I vote for "egg with wings" although I'm open to persuasion.

Thanks for making this video.

A pretty remarkable engine I think. I wish you guys well.

It would be interesting to see what that amazing airframe efficiency combined with an electric powertrain could do. Even if it only had 1/10 the range, the economics of electrics and the need for short range air travel is compelling.

A very unique aircraft that is fast, fuel efficient with a very positive future ahead . I would love to pilot one these aircraft.

Captivating. Clear/ Compelling. Well spoken.

Brilliant ! Thanks for the video. I hope it all works out for OTTO so we all can benefit.

Awesome! So glad you’re covering this fascinating plane.

400 knots is 460mph, and in WWII a single seat fighter took 1750 to 2200 HP to reach around 430mph. Advanced Aerodynamics are are all well and good, but it is hard to believe this six seat aircraft can make 460mph on 550hp. The Scaled Composites single seat Pond Racer of 1991 only achieved 400mph with two 600hp engines. I suspect the makers of this aircraft are being VERY optimistic with their performance figures.

Great commentary, excellent detail.

As mentioned in another post, the prop gets nicked easily b/c it is placed in the rear where rocks, debris, etc. get kicked up by the wheels on landing. Either tougher props are needed, or they will have to be mounted higher, forward, or on the wings in order to minimize damage. This of course may negate its efficiency, or NOT! More experimentation is needed.

Amazing! You never cease to Amaze Sky! Thank You

This is a fascinating airplane. The specs sound almost too good to be true, but man if they can pull this off it will be revolutionary. If I was Beech/Cessna/etc. I'd be paying close attention. Thank your for this comprehensive video/analysis!

What an amazing aircraft!! I hope it's successful!!

I like what you have presented thus far, I wish the builders success.

It looks cool! Almost like a throwback. A small, streamlined, piston-engined airliner would not be out of place in the 1930s. Throw some 30s style Delta livery on it and deck the interior out with tiger maple, sage green berber carpet, and red leather and you'd have the kind of airliner people in 1933 thought we'd be flying by 2020.

Immediately put me in mind of the lifting-body experimental craft that NASA used to mess about with - like the HL-10. Either way, does look like a definite advance in aero design. Really hope they get it certified and into production.

Great video, thank you.

Very interesting. I appreciate the technical details.

I have had the Celera 500L on my "'sites" (misspelled "sights") for about 3 years now. Thanks for the excellent video.

Who would have thought a Dinosaur piston engine would haunt sleek jet era engined aircrafts. Thanks.

This plane has me very excited.

I pray this technology is adopted and improved by aircraft manufacturers as the world is witnessing economic hardships due to the pandemic. Also the fuel technology be improved to a greater advantage. Kudos guys.