'Game changer': Secret 'bullet' plane completes test flights

A new bullet-shaped aircraft that massively reduces the cost of flying is the “biggest thing to happen to both the aviation and travel industries in 50 years" according to its manufacturer. Aviation enthusiasts first spotted the Celera 500L from Otto Aviation flying over California in 2017. Immediately questions were raised over where this unusual-looking aircraft came from and who built it. Now Otto Aviation has finally gone public with the details on a new website. Far from the speculative designs we sometimes see for future supersonic jets and other aircraft, the Celera 500L has already completed 31 test flights with the full-scale prototype. Otto Aviation claims it is the "most fuel-efficient commercially viable passenger aircraft in the world". The plane, which can carry up to six passengers, is designed to compete with commercial aircraft by providing chartered flights at a cost that's comparable to flying with a regular airline. "Our goal was to create a private aircraft that would allow for direct flights between any city pair in the US at speeds and cost comparable to commercial air travel," said William Otto, the company's chairman and chief scientist. The Celera 500L has an operating cost of US$328 per hour, which is far lower than typical private jet costs, which typically cost at least US$1000 and as much as US$3000 per hour. The key to the aircraft's efficiency is its aerodynamic, bullet-like design, which maximises the smooth flow of air over the fuselage, wings, and tail surfaces. It also greatly reduces emissions, with Otto Aviation claiming carbon emissions are 80% lower than comparable private aircraft and 40% lower than modern commercial planes. The plane already surpasses the US FAA's 2031 emissions standards for new aircraft by more than 30%, Otto Aviation says.<br/>