19 May 2025
How would you feel about being a passenger in an aeroplane with no windows? Horrified? Claustrophobic? Don’t worry, the pilot can see out.
Otto Aviation has unveiled the Phantom 3500, a radical new private jet that’s turning heads for one particularly bold design choice: it has no passenger windows.
The California-based aerospace company claims this feature, often considered non-negotiable in passenger aircraft, is the cornerstone of a sweeping aerodynamic overhaul.
The Phantom 3500’s seamless, windowless fuselage allows for uninterrupted laminar flow — a smooth airflow across the surface of the aircraft that drastically reduces drag.
Windows, Otto argues, disrupt this flow and necessitate structural reinforcements that increase weight and fuel burn. By eliminating them, the company estimates 50% lower operating costs thanks up to 80% lower fuel burn and simplified maintenance.
Passenger windows are replaced by screens showing the outside view
While unconventional, the windowless design doesn’t mean passengers will be cut off from the outside world. Instead, Otto Aviation is introducing Super Natural Vision™, a system of high-definition digital displays that project real-time exterior views onto the interior cabin walls.
The aim is to deliver an immersive experience without sacrificing performance.
“It’s not just as good — it’s better,” the company claims, emphasising comfort, lighting control, and a consistent cabin temperature, all difficult to maintain with traditional glass windows.
Fortunately, the pilots will be able to see out! Images and video: Otto Aviation
Under the skin, the Phantom 3500 is conventionally powered by twin Williams International FJ44-4 engines, each producing 3,600 pounds of thrust. It’s designed to cruise at 450 knots and operate efficiently at altitudes up to 51,000 feet — higher than most commercial airliners.
With a maximum range of 3,700 nautical miles, it can connect cities like Los Angeles and New York or London and Dubai non-stop, all while operating from runways as short as 3,500 feet*.
Inside, the aircraft offers a surprisingly spacious cabin for a jet of its class: 6 feet 5 inches tall, 800 cubic feet in volume, and seating for four to six passengers. Without the structural limitations imposed by windows, the interior layout can be more flexible and quieter, according to Otto.
The company plans to certify the Phantom 3500 under FAA Part 23 rules, typically used for smaller aircraft. This regulatory path could streamline the certification process ahead of its projected 2030 entry into service. Flight testing is expected to begin in 2027.
The Phantom 3500 builds on Otto Aviation’s previous work with the Celera 500L, a prototype that also featured a bullet-like, drag-minimising design.
Eliminating windows may unsettle traditionalists but Otto Aviation sees it as a calculated risk that will pay off in performance, sustainability, and ultimately, passenger satisfaction.
*Balanced Field Length: the minimum runway length required for a safe takeoff, considering both the distance needed for takeoff and the distance needed to stop if an engine fails during takeoff.
