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A new single-engine plane was designed to be so efficient it can make flying private cost the same as a commercial airline – see the Celera 500Lhttps://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/news/a-new-single-engine-plane-was-designed-to-be-so-efficient-it-can-make-flying-private-cost-the-same-as-a-commercial-airline-x2013-see-the-celera-500l/slidelist/77980641.cms2020-09-07T19:15:54+05:30

A new single-engine plane was designed to be so efficient it can make flying private cost the same as a commercial airline – see the Celera 500L

Thomas PalliniSep 7, 2020, 19:15 IST

The Celera 500L is a single-engine propeller aircraft with an intriguing design unlike most aircraft currently flying.

The fuselage of the new plane is shaped almost like the hull of an airship, taking advantage of laminar flow to aid the flow of air.

It's similar to another private aircraft, the Italian Piaggio P.180 Avanti.

Looks aside, the aerodynamically friendly design helps give the Celera 500L and astounding range of 4,500 nautical miles on a single tank of fuel.

A 4,500-nautical mile range gives the Celera 500L the ability to cross the US non-stop flight but also cross oceans with ease. New York to London is only 3,000 nautical miles, for example, with city pairs like New York-Istanbul, Geneva-Johannesburg, and Sydney-Honolulu theoretically accessible with the aircraft.

That kind of range on a private aircraft is typically reserved for the likes of Gulfstreams.

Whether or not aviation regulators will let a single-engine aircraft fly extended overwater routes, however, is another story.

Driving the aircraft is a rear-facing propeller located at the back of the aircraft, pushing the aircraft instead of pulling it.

The rear-facing propeller is also a staple of the Avanti.

Powering the aircraft is a Red A03 all-aluminum engine built by Germany's Red Aircraft, costing only $170,000 and capable of being fueled by jet fuel or biodiesel.

And even with one engine, the Celera 500L can achieve a top speed of 450 miles per hour at cruise altitude.

Enhancing aerodynamic efficiency even further is the use of winglets on the ends of each wing that further improve airflow and reduce drag.

They're a common feature on newer aircraft as the aerodynamic efficiency they provide helps lower fuel burn and increase range.

The Celera 500L only burns one gallon for every 18 to 25 miles compared to one to five miles per gallon on traditional aircraft.

Otto Aviation calls it "the most environmentally friendly airplane in its class."

Inside the plane, the fuselage design calls for a six-foot, two-inch tall cabin for passengers to easily stand up in. Six seats can be accommodated in the 500L, comparable to a light jet.

But seating capacity is about the only thing that makes it similar to a light jet as the designs and capabilities are markedly different.

Otto Aviation completed 31 successful flights with the Celera 500L by the end of August using a full-scale prototype.

It's a major milestone for the 12-year-old company that sees its flagship one step closer to certification, expected in 2023.

The company hopes the aircraft will democratize private aviation and make chartering the Celera 500L similar to buying a commercial airline ticket in terms of cost.

With an hourly rate of around $328 per hour, it's cheaper than nearly every private aircraft on the market.

The 500L is also only the beginning with Otto Aviation planning a larger model, the 1000L, after the launch of its first.

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