They’re extra private jet-setters.
The idea of a window seat might become obsolete — at least in the private sector. An aviation startup called Otto Aerospace has designed what could be the private jet of the future, complete with better fuel efficiency — and perhaps most shockingly — no traditional portals to the outside.
Instead, the sleek Phantom 3500’s teardrop-shaped cabin will be lined with six-foot digital panes that show a virtual view of the outdoors like something out of a sci-fi thriller, the Wall Street Journal reports.
“You no longer have to lean over and look out the window,” Chief Executive Paul Touw. “You could sit in our seat and look at the entire world around you…It is surreal.”
And it appears the nine-seater, high-roller aircraft is already in high demand. Otto’s first customer Flexjet, a private jet firm, signed a contract to buy 300 of the jets over a six to eight-year period, with the first deliveries slated for 2030, Axios reported.
The deal could be worth $5.85 billion based on market pricing for each jet, which equates to a list price of around $19.5 million per aircraft, although they haven’t disclosed the negotiated value of the deal.
Naturally, the idea of flying sans a regular view to the outside of the aircraft — which measures 22-feet long and 7.5-feet wide — might seem akin to traveling in a giant coffin.
However, the Phantom’s virtual portals, which are powered by high-resolution cameras on the outside of the plane, offer a panoramic vista of the area around the jet that enhances the feeling of being suspended in the sky. The design’s also more appealing to tech-savvy Zoomers, per company reps.
Needless to say, many critics were none too-thrilled about the idea of a portal-less fuselage.
“No windows? Blimey, what’s next—flying in a big tin can?” spluttered one critic on X under the WSJ’s post. “Give me a proper view and a bit of fresh air over fancy shapes any day!”
“No windows, new shape, but luxury always finds a way to sell,” scoffed another, while a third declared that the design “sounds awful.”
However, the unconventional layout isn’t just about the aesthetics. Touw claimed that the streamlined structure helps reduce fuel expenditure by 60% compared to business jets today — or 90% if we’re talking sustainable engine diesel, Axios reported.
This could prove a major milestone in an industry known for its greenhouse gas emissions that’s also looking to achieve its net-zero goals by 2050.
The potential insane fuel economy could make private flights cheaper in the long run than flying business class.
This is significant in an economy where an increasing number of wealthy Americans are looking to fly private.
“Everybody’s running around all excited about Firefly and SpaceX and Rocket Lab,” Touw said. “The market for moving wealthy people around the world every day is actually much bigger than the market for moving stuff into space.”
While Otto built its first full-size mock-up of the plane for a conference, the Phantom’s maiden flight won’t transpire until 2027, as it still needs FAA certification.
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