This radical bullet-shaped aircraft consumes less fuel than an SUV

This bullet-shaped aircraft doesn’t look like any normal plane, and that’s exactly the idea.

The Celera 500L is shaped like a shiny bullet because that shape cuts through the air with way less effort.

And the early numbers it works.

Otto Aviation says it uses less fuel than an SUV while flying high above the clouds.

DISCOVER SBX CARS – The global premium auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie

The design choice that makes this bullet-shaped aircraft more efficient than an SUV

To understand why the Celera is so efficient, you have to start with the shape. 

The body is smooth and egg-like, which keeps the air sliding across it instead of swirling around. 

That reduces drag by 59%, which is basically the difference between running into the wind and cruising with it.

And the wings are long and skinny on purpose. 

Otto didn’t cram fuel tanks inside them – they’re all about lifting the plane with as little resistance as possible. 

When you combine the wings with the smooth fuselage, you get something fuel efficiency that’s almost unheard of: 18-25 miles per gallon. 

Yep, a plane that beats a lot of big SUVs on fuel economy.

A turbocharged V12 diesel from RED Aircraft sits at the back. 

Keeping the engine there helps the airflow stay clean and lets the Celera aim for 460mph at 50,000ft. 

The aerodynamics are so good that if the engine shuts off, the plane can still glide for roughly 125 miles thanks to its 22:1 glide ratio.

The range puts the whole thing into perspective. 

The plane can travel about 5,100 miles while burning 80% less fuel than similar private aircraft. 

Hydrogen-electric power is next, and it pushes the concept even further

The next upgrade for the Celera 500L will be a 600kW hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain Otto has announced in partnership with ZeroAvia.

It turns hydrogen into electricity for an electric motor, and the only thing that comes out the other end is water. 

The first version is expected to fly about 1,150 miles without producing emissions.

Because the Celera can take off from short runways, it could fly in and out of more than 5,000 regional airports around the US. 

That means more places to go, less fuel burned, and far fewer limits on where it can operate.

If everything continues to work as planned, the Celera 500L might be one of the first small aircraft that’s fast, efficient, and actually kind to the planet.

And it’s all thanks to a bullet-shaped aircraft design that looks like it came straight out of a sci-fi sketchbook.

DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie