It has a single RED A03 diesel piston engine in a pusher configuration and can seat six passengers.

[2] Otto Aviation is privately funded since 2008 and is seeking a Series B fundraising round: 200 million dollars are needed for FAR Part 23 certification in three years.[1][when?]

[5] The aerodynamic prototype made its maiden flight in January 2018, and began performance testing in September 2019.

[1] Otto publicly announced the aircraft and its development program in August 2020, and noted that 31 test flights had been flown to date.

[6] By then, a weight-optimized conforming prototype with cabin windows and longer landing gear was expected to fly within 18 months.

The prototype should reach a fuel economy of 30 mpg‑US (7.8 L/100 km) in cruise, to be improved with integrated heat exchangers replacing radiators nacelles.

[5] Twin-stage turbocharging should enable a 40,000–50,000 ft (12,000–15,000 m) cruise altitude, where full laminar flow can be achieved for an estimated 59% lower drag than competitors.

[9] The configuration is similar to the 1948 Planet Satellite, or the 2011 EADS Voltaire electric aircraft concept.