Otto Aerospace has trained a proprietary AI model to help speed up the process of configuring laminar-flow airfoils and design features so that the Phantom 3500 light jet can offer midsize-jet performance. The AI model uses Luminary Cloud’s GPU-accelerated Physics AI platform and its Shift-Wing physics model for aerodynamic analysis of transonic wings, according to Otto.
Two Williams International FJ44 turbofans mounted conventionally on the rear fuselage will power the Phantom 3500. The first flight is expected in 2027, and FAA certification in 2030. With a mtow of 19,000 pounds, the Phantom 3500 will be able to cruise at FL510, and offer NBAA IFR range with four passengers and a 100-nm alternate of 3,200 nm. The jet's fuselage has no windows in the cabin, which helps with aerodynamic smoothness. Passengers will have views of the outside world and other vistas on large screens in the cabin.
“Our Phantom 3500 program has generated extensive high-fidelity simulation and wind-tunnel test data,” said Obi Ndu, chief information and digital officer at Otto Aerospace. “At Otto, we believe that the future of aircraft design is at the intersection of artificial intelligence and first principles. Luminary’s platform gives us the computational power and infrastructure to quickly train an AI model optimized for next-generation laminar flow aircraft and our unique design approach.”