New photos of the unusual, yet still rather unknown aircraft first sighted at the Victorville Southern California Logistics Airport has emerged. As to what this design and what purpose this aircraft serves is still unclear, it is believed that the Celera 500L, built by Otto Aviation may make its maiden flight soon. Not much is known about the aircraft for the manufacturer, but they have been operating in secret for at least a decade. (www.thedrive.com) 更多...
Almost all respondents are Skeptics. Right - and two guys who owned a bicycle shop couldn't invent the first (maybe second) heavier than air craft.
I wish these guys a lot of luck and hope their dreams come true - so many don't, but that's just life. There have to be a few winners and I hope this is one of them.
Whenever I see a "new aerodynamics aircraft" I take it with a pound of salt. Of the numerous Rutan contraptions what is left after some 100-200? were built. The road to the boneyard is paved with several car-airplane and other strange looking things that made their creators several millions of dollars poorer. Too bad.
On second thought, this strange looking aircraft seems to be designed for electronic survelliance at high altitude and long hours or perhaps days, both manned and UAV.
Not exactly a lot of room in the wings for fuel tanks so in the fuselage then plus cabin space for pilot and passengers plus luggage, severely doubt it's twin engine. Going by the RED website it seems to have 3 turbos, one either side and one in front relevant to engine bay. With those engine covers off I can't see any evidence of the heat exchanger mentioned, or how one would work with the turbo layout. Looks like the offspring of the Spruce Goose and an A300-600 Beluga.
Wonder if the DOOR holder is standard or a option? Think it's FAA approved? Also, hope the tail skid has a hook in it. That way it could land on carriers!...Just saying!
Oh yeah. Sorta sad under-engineering. One sees it in so many airplane designs. Some stuff looks like you just have to work it out after your best shot on paper. - And I'm not an engineer, nor do I play one. - Side note is that when the fuselage mock-up came through Denver, I went and had a look. Pretty airplane, what portion was there. Had a chance to talk shop with "Torch" Lewis of BCA.
Non-pilot but interested aviation novice here. What would be the purpose of something like this? I see one suggestion for high-alt surveillance or non-manned long flight. Any more commercial uses?
And could this technology be scaled larger? Seems pretty small for anything but purpose-built.
Revolutionary? Likely not. Advanced somewhat over cerebral civilian technology? Perhaps. All I see from my perspective is a high aspect ratio wing, composite construction and a decades old idea of somehow making a recip V8 into a unicorn of high altitude efficiency. How do they think a propeller will function at 65,000 feet?
No real visibility. Nose doesn't have much if any room for radar. I'd guess seeing the tail arrangement with skid bar hanging down that if anything it's an attempt to sell it as an engine test bed or surveillance or tax write off with items going into personal possession.
I wish these guys a lot of luck and hope their dreams come true - so many don't, but that's just life. There have to be a few winners and I hope this is one of them.