Phantom 3500 swaps windows for super-efficient transonic flight

May 20, 2025
The Phantom 3500 hopes to achieve an initial increase in fuel efficiency of 35% by means of sustained laminar flow, David Szondy writes for New Atlas.

FORT WORTH, Texas - Who needs windows when you can have superefficient transonic passenger flight? That seems to be the reasoning behind Otto Aviation's Phantom 3500 jet aircraft that dumps the portholes in favor of super-laminar flow to lose weight and burn less fuel, David Szondy writes for New AtlasContinue reading original article.

The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:

20 May 2025 - The Phantom 3500, inspired by Otto's Celera 500L and Dassault's 3DEXPERIENCE platform, aims for a 35% boost in fuel efficiency by using sustained laminar airflow over a seamless, windowless carbon-fiber fuselage. This design reduces drag, especially in the transonic range (Mach 0.8–1.2), enabling higher speeds, longer range, and lower fuel burn.

The aircraft replaces traditional windows with full-length high-definition digital displays, offering panoramic views inside its spacious 800 ft³ cabin. Projected to cruise at 51,000 feet with a range of 3,200 nautical miles, the twin-engine Phantom 3500 is designed for short runways and promises up to 50% lower costs and 80% fewer emissions compared to similar aircraft.

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Jamie Whitney, Senior Editor
Military + Aerospace Electronics

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