ZeroAvia & Otto Aviation partner on new airframe design

ZeroAvia to collaborate with Otto Aviation, LLC, to develop a hydrogen-electric powertrain to power Otto’s Celera aircraft.

Under the agreement, Otto and ZeroAvia will work to integrate ZeroAvia’s ZA600 zero-emission engines to Otto’s revolutionary Celera aircraft. The collaboration has the potential to make the Celera the first new airframe design to leverage zero-emission propulsion in its launch models.

The Celera is a highly innovative new model of transcontinental aircraft, scalable to 19 passengers, that significantly improves the efficiency of flight and reduces the operational costs of flying as a result. This combination significantly expands the opportunities for private air transportation.

Otto’s advanced aircraft design offers exceptionally low drag across the entire aircraft. The design of the Celera fuselage, empennage and wings take advantage of laminar flow. Laminar flow is the minimum drag solution for aircraft surfaces and features smooth layers of airflow with little to no mixing of adjacent layers. When coupled with highly fuel-efficient propulsion systems, the Celera will significantly reduce operating costs and increase range relative to comparable aircraft while creating optimal passenger comfort and cargo capacity.

When powered by ZeroAvia’s powertrain, the Celera will offer long-range zero-emission flights while further reducing operating costs, thanks to reduced maintenance costs and falling hydrogen-fuel prices. The Celera design is highly conducive to accommodating large volumes of hydrogen within the fuselage that will enable 1,000 nautical miles of range – all with zero climate impact from carbon and non-carbon emissions (like NOx, SOx and particulates).

With non-carbon emissions from relatively inefficient, high-temperature combustion contributing over half of the total climate impact of aviation, long-range hydrogen-electric aircraft such as Celera will play an important role in eliminating all climate impacts of aviation.

William Otto, CEO of Otto Aviation, said, “Otto is looking to provide the most efficient aircraft in all senses of the word: minimising maintenance and operating costs and reducing emissions.”

Val Miftakhov, ZeroAvia, Founder & CEO, said, “The majority of our commercial deals to date have focused on retrofit and line-fit for existing airframes, which is essential to deliver zero-emission flight to market as quickly as possible. However, efficiency gains from new airframe design can expand the impact of zero-emission aviation.”