Archer Aviation has completed the first test flight for its Midnight eVTOL aircraft. The success builds on Archer’s four years of flight testing, including two years of full-scale testing with its smaller, two-seat technology demonstrator Maker.

The company will now rapidly advance its flight test program for Midnight, progressing from hover to full wing-borne transition flight in the coming months. Archer will then begin ‘for credit’ testing of its Midnight aircraft with the FAA next year as it works towards entry into service in 2025.

Adam Goldstein, CEO of Archer Aviation commented, “This next phase of Archer’s flight test program is only possible because of the four years of flight testing we’ve done. Midnight is building on the successes of its predecessor aircraft and represents another significant step forward in Archer’s path to commercialization.

Operational readiness

Archer will continue to test both the Midnight and Maker aircraft, flying simulated commercial routes to continue to advance the company’s operational readiness.

“Having taken seven full-size eVTOL aircraft from design to flight test during my career in the eVTOL industry, today’s milestone with Midnight marks the most significant flight to date bringing Archer and the eVTOL industry another step closer to bringing a scalable and commercially viable aircraft to market,” said Archer COO Tom Muniz.

Archer’s aims to transform urban travel, replacing 60–90-minute commutes by car with estimated 10-20 minute electric air taxi flights that are safe, sustainable, low noise, and cost-competitive with ground transportation. Archer’s Midnight is a piloted, four-passenger aircraft designed to perform rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charge time between flights.

Image: Archer Aviation

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