The Windowless Jet Poised to Redefine Private Aviation
- Rebecca Nicholson
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Otto Aerospace has unveiled what could be the most radical business jet design in decades, the Phantom 3500, a sleek, windowless aircraft that merges futuristic aesthetics with cutting-edge efficiency.
Introduced at the UP.Summit in Bentonville, Arkansas, the full-scale mockup launch coincided with a landmark order from Flexjet, the world’s second-largest fractional ownership company, which has committed to purchasing 300 aircraft.
“The Phantom 3500 marks a bold step into a future where an aircraft’s efficiency and sustainability stand alongside speed, comfort, and range as defining standards,” said Flexjet chairman Kenn Ricci at the unveiling.
With its oblong silhouette and clean-sheet twinjet design, the Phantom 3500 looks like something imagined in a 1950s sci-fi film — but its innovation is firmly grounded in modern engineering. Traditional windows have been replaced with 72-inch digital panels called SuperNatural Vision (SNV), displaying panoramic real-time views captured by cameras embedded along the fuselage. The result: an ultra-smooth, aerodynamic exterior that enhances both efficiency and cabin immersion.
Crafted from lightweight carbon fibre, the Phantom 3500’s laminar-flow airframe, raked wings, and compact twin engines work in harmony to reduce drag and fuel consumption. “The laminar flow design allowed us to reduce the aircraft weight by half compared to competitors like the Citation 10 or Praetor 500,” said Otto’s COO, Scott Drennan, in an interview with Robb Report. “Every component, from the wings to the fuselage, is smaller, lighter, and more efficient.”
Otto claims the Phantom 3500 burns up to 60 percent less fuel than jets using conventional technology, yet still delivers a 3,500-nautical-mile range, 51,000-foot ceiling, and a 6’5” cabin height — generous dimensions for its category. The first test flights are expected in 2027, with certification projected for 2030.
CEO Paul Touw describes the Phantom as a “clean-sheet rethink” of modern aviation. “Traditional jets rely on derivative designs built around legacy aluminium structures,” he said. “By starting from scratch, we’ve unlocked performance gains once thought impossible.”
To bring the concept to life, Otto is constructing a 1,000,000-square-foot “smart factory” in Jacksonville, Florida, supported by a $515 million state incentive. The facility will feature robotics, automation, and precision assembly processes to manufacture the laminar-flow airframe with unparalleled accuracy.
While financial terms remain undisclosed, Ricci confirmed that the Phantom 3500 will join the Flexjet fleet as a next-generation, more sustainable option for its private aviation clients.
With its bold, windowless design and unprecedented efficiency, the Phantom 3500 may not just be a glimpse into the future of private aviation — it might very well define it.