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Thierry Dubois
July 21, 2026
Credit: Otto Aerospace
LYON—Aerostructures specialist Sonaca has signed a contract with startup Otto Aerospace to provide the Phantom 3500 business jet’s wing, fixed leading edges and empennage, the two companies announced at the Farnborough Airshow.
Based in Fort Worth, Texas, Otto aims to use natural laminar flow, maintaining smooth airflow over as much of the airframe as possible to avoid increased skin-friction drag caused by turbulent flow. Reducing drag would cut fuel consumption by more than 50% and involves improved airfoil profiles. The main challenge in implementing natural laminar flow technology is the near-perfect surface finish, as well as tolerance to squashed insects and other contamination of the wing’s skin. Otto plans to fly the first Phantom 3500 in late 2027.
The agreement covers the design, industrialization and manufacture of the prototype’s 20 m-span wing, fixed leading edges and empennage. It is part of a broader partnership under which Sonaca aims to become Otto Aerospace’s long-term supplier of aerostructures.
“Laminar flow is a concept that has been known in aerospace for many years, but Otto’s proprietary design has mastered the concept into reality,” Sonaca CEO Yves Delatte said. “Successfully industrializing it on a 20-m wing with the level of precision required for aircraft certification is an entirely different challenge in its own right. This is exactly the kind of engineering challenge that defines Sonaca’s expertise.”
The Gosselies, Belgium-based supplier has dedicated around 50 engineers at its Belgian and Brazilian facilities. Sonaca has planned the delivery of the primary structural components for next year. It will also provide support for certification.
