The creation and development of new technologies in the field of aviation can give serious advantages over competitors, and the results of such work should be protected from unauthorized persons. This is the approach used by the American company Otto Aviation Group in its Celera 500L experimental aircraft project. The machine was developed in secrecy, and the test results have not yet been published. At the same time, we are talking almost about a revolution in air transportation.
Mysterious object
The Otto Aviation Group is owned by William Otto, a physicist and former employee of the aircraft manufacturer Rockwell International. The company was founded in the last decade, but the general public learned about it only a few years ago in the context of a promising new project.
Around the end of the 2000s, Otto Aviation began working on the appearance of an experimental aircraft designed to search for new technologies. In 2014, a patent appeared for some developments on the topic. This document is still one of the main sources of information about the Celera 500L project. At the same time, since the filing of the application, the appearance of the aircraft has changed significantly.
In April 2017, an unknown aircraft of a characteristic type was seen at one of the airfields in California. Subsequently, several new photographs appeared, as well as a 2014 patent. Some of the data is on the register of the US Federal Aviation Administration. All available materials made it possible to present the main goals and objectives of the pilot project. At the same time, the lack of official data seriously hampered any analysis.
At the beginning of 2019, new photographs of the aircraft appeared. In May, it became known that the Celera 500L was running on the runway. This was the reason for the assumption about the imminent start of flight tests. Otto Aviation does not confirm or deny such assumptions, and indeed remains silent.
Special design
According to the patent, the main goal of the project is to obtain the highest possible fuel efficiency, exceeding that of any other modern aircraft. A key way to achieve this goal is to optimize the airframe's aerodynamics. By minimizing air resistance, it is proposed to reduce the required engine power and improve efficiency in general. The calculated values of fuel consumption are several times less than that of the most advanced modern aircraft.
It can be assumed that composites are widely used in the airframe of a characteristic type, allowing to reduce the weight of the structure. The patent proposes an original design of an aircraft with a lightweight set of power from a minimum number of longitudinal and transverse elements.
The airframe has a characteristic shape and appearance indicating aerodynamic optimization. The prototype aircraft received a streamlined fuselage in the form of an ellipsoid with a tapering tail section. The bow forms the cockpit, and the glazing is completely contained within the skin contours. The fuselage contains three-post chassis units. The tail compartment is given over to the power plant. In newer photos, the Celera 500L has a pair of fuselage roof vents that were previously missing.
A straight wing of large aspect ratio with raised upward tips is used. The latter appeared during the refinement of the car and were first noticed only this year. According to the patent, the aircraft of the new type should have a laminar flow wing. Also, advanced mechanization is provided in the form of retractable two-section, forming two slots. Drives with full control of the relative position of the wing elements are provided. Apparently, such devices should provide the maximum possible flow control in all flight modes.
The Celera 500L received a large keel and ventral ridge, as well as a horizontal tail. Instead of separate rudders on the tail, all-turning planes are used.
According to the register of the Federal Civil Aviation Administration, the aircraft is equipped with one Raikhlin RED A03 diesel engine with an output of up to 500 hp. The engine is located in the tail of the fuselage and rotates a five-blade propeller. Photos 2017 and 2019 show different screw designs. In the current configuration, the propeller has saber blades with a bend. The patent application described a different aircraft design in which two engines rotate a single pushing propeller through a gearbox.
There is still no information about the instrumentation and electronic equipment of the experimental aircraft. Apparently, it carries a modern complex of flight and navigation aids that meets the requirements of the law. Also on board may be present sensors and means of collecting information for testing.
The dimensions and weight of the prototype remain unknown. It follows from the published documents that the purpose of the current tests is to collect the data necessary for the development of a passenger aircraft of the original architecture. Perhaps such a machine will differ from the existing prototype.
Expected Features
According to the patent, an aircraft of the Celera 500L type should show high efficiency characteristics. The optimal flight mode provides for ascent to an altitude of 65 thousand feet (more than 19.6 km) and acceleration to a speed of 460-510 miles per hour (740-820 km / h).
In this case, the fuel consumption will be between 30 and 42 miles per gallon of fuel (12.8-17.8 km per liter or 0.08-0.06 liters per 1 km). For comparison, the popular Pilatus PC-12 turboprop commercial aircraft, with lower flight data, consumes 1 gallon of fuel per 5 miles of flight. Turbojet aircraft of the same size and mass, showing similar speeds, also lose fuel in terms of fuel consumption.
An efficient wing with developed mechanization should provide takeoff and landing at speeds of approx. 90 mph (145 km / h). The design speed of the stall is 112 km / h. The aircraft will need a 900 m long runway.
Secret Trials
The existence of the Celera 500L project became known in the spring of 2017, and by this time the development company had managed to build and bring a prototype to the airfield. Apparently, then the work was limited only to ground tests and did not proceed to test flights. At the same time, engineers from Otto Aviation managed to collect certain data and finalize the project.
At the beginning of 2019, the experimental aircraft was again seen only in the parking lot. Only in May, the car was noticed in motion - it was performing high-speed jogging along the lane, but did not attempt to rise into the air. It is possible that right now Otto Aviation is preparing the first flight. In addition, it cannot be ruled out that it has already taken place - in the atmosphere of secrecy that is traditional for the project.
Given the pace of work on the Celera 500L, it can be assumed that flight tests will take several years and proceed without much rush. In the foreseeable future, it is necessary to lift the aircraft into the air and determine its overall flight qualities, as well as perform the finishing of the structure. Only after that it will be possible to start flying at the required modes and to full-fledged research of the main capabilities of the aircraft.
Unknown future
The Celera 500L project is based on a number of different ideas aimed at improving flight and economic performance. This fact alone makes the project extremely interesting in terms of technology and prospects. If the prototype aircraft confirms the declared characteristics, its basic solutions can find wide application. Failure to complete the test will also be a kind of result, since it will show the lack of benefit from specific solutions.
An extremely interesting and unusual feature of the Celera 500L project is the observance of secrecy. The main ideas of this project can influence the development of civil aviation, but Otto Aviation decided to work them out without attracting undue attention. Perhaps this is due to the desire to keep their developments secret, so that then immediately go to the market with ready-made solutions suitable for implementation. Naturally, on a commercial basis.
The lack of information on all major issues hinders the correct prediction of further events. So far, we can speak with equal confidence both about the great potential of the project and about the potential failure. The real results will be clear only after the completion of the tests and the publication of their results. Perhaps the Celera 500L prototype aircraft will truly launch a revolution in civil aviation.
