Texas-based Otto Aerospace has completed the preliminary design review for its Phantom 3500 aircraft, a windowless private jet designed for transonic laminar flow.

With the successful completion of the review phase, Otto Aerospace now moves on to production planning and flight testing. The company has claimed the testing phase for its state-of-the-art business jet could also influence potential future military use cases for its technology.

Otto Aerospace’s Phatnom 3500 edges closer to liftoff

Otto Aerospace first announced the Phantom 3500 last year, a windowless jet that replaces traditional porthole windows with panoramic screens that provide views via a live camera feed. Removing windows allows for an ultra-efficient aircraft engineered for transonic laminar flow—a technology that allows for minimal drag and much lower energy consumption.

The twin-engine private jet will have a range of 3,200 nautical miles (3,682 miles, 5,926 km) and a cruise altitude of 51,000 ft (15,545 m). Otto aims for its first flight in the second half of 2027.

According to a press statement, Otto completed the preliminary design review for its Phantom 3500 aircraft in late February at its headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida. Engineers and evaluators examined the aircraft’s configuration, systems integration, structures, and performance parameters. The process also allowed the team to finalize the aerodynamic design and critical interfaces for the next development stage.

“This is an important step for our team,” said Otto Aerospace president and CEO Scott Drennan. “The Phantom 3500 has crossed the threshold from a promising concept to an aircraft we are preparing to build and fly. The work now is execution.”

With the Phantom 3500’s maiden flight targeted for 2027, Otto now plans to advance into detailed engineering work.

Otto builds on laminar flow legacy

Conquering laminar flow technology is “the holy grail of aviation”, according to NASA. Research into the concept dates all the way back to the 1930s. Now, Otto Aerospace has become one of the world leaders in testing the technology.

The company’s Phantom 3500 program builds on Otto’s earlier Celera aircraft concepts, integrating elements from the Celera 800 airframe and Celera 500L piston-engine design. Compared to the bulkier Celera, the Phantom 3500 features a more streamlined, bullet-shaped fuselage optimized for efficiency.

The new aircraft was designed for the business aviation market. However, Otto claims it will also allow it to validate laminar flow technology for potential military applications. Earlier this month, the company conducted a successful flight test of its unmanned EWA drone.

Otto Aerospace aims to produce the Phantom 3500 at a planned facility at Cecil Airport in Jacksonville. The company has previously estimated a price tag of roughly $19.5 million, with FAA Part 23 certification and entry into service projected around 2030.

The 3500 program aligns with ongoing industry efforts to develop more efficient private and business jets amid rising demand for sustainable aviation. Success in laminar-flow validation could influence both civil and defense platforms seeking lower operational costs and extended endurance.