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Otto to Build Fuel-Saving Bizjet Manufacturing Hub in 2028

Company aims to certify and deliver its Phantom 3500 around 2030 and make about 1,600 jets over the following decade.

Otto Aerospace Phantom 3500 super midsize business jet
The windowless passenger cabin of Otto’s Phantom 3500 super-midsize business jet is designed to smooth out the airframe and achieve laminar flow. [Credit: Otto Aerospace]
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Key Takeaways:

  • Otto Aerospace plans to begin construction of its Phantom 3500 manufacturing facility at Jacksonville's Cecil Airport in 2028, targeting 2030 for production, certification, and initial deliveries.
  • The Phantom 3500 is a super-midsize business jet designed for exceptional fuel efficiency (60% less burn, 35% less drag) via a laminar-flow airframe, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2030.
  • The project is supported by over $485 million in Florida incentives, an estimated $1.5 billion total investment, and includes a significant order for 300 aircraft from Flexjet, with flight testing planned to start in 2027.
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Otto Aerospace in about two years plans to break ground on a manufacturing facility for its fuel-efficient, super-midsize Phantom 3500 business jet, according to an official with the Jacksonville Airport Authority (JAA) in Florida.

The Jacksonville Daily Record reported that Tony Cugno, JAA’s chief operating officer, last week told a Jacksonville City Council committee that Otto will begin construction at Cecil Airport (KVQQ) in 2028. In 2025, Otto announced the relocation of its headquarters from Texas to Jacksonville and said it planned to base Phantom 3500 production there.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.

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