Archer’s achieves first flight of Midnight eVTOL

Archer Aviation has just announced the successful flight of its latest aircraft, Midnight, in its ongoing flight test program. This accomplishment comes after four years of rigorous flight testing, including two years dedicated to full-scale tests with their predecessor aircraft, Maker.

Archer’s Founder and CEO, Adam Goldstein, expressed his excitement about this achievement, emphasizing the culmination of years of hard work. Goldstein stated, “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. The next year and a half will be focused on rapidly advancing our flight test program and electric air taxi operations as we prepare to bring Midnight to market in 2025.”

Related: Archer is constructing the world’s highest-volume eVTOL aircraft manufacturing facility

Tom Muniz, Archer’s Chief Operating Officer, who has extensive experience in the eVTOL industry, shared his perspective, saying, “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.”

As Archer’s flight test program continues to evolve, the Midnight aircraft’s flight envelope is expected to expand rapidly in the coming months. This will enable the company to commence “for credit” testing with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) next year, a crucial step towards bringing the aircraft into service by the target date of 2025.

Concurrently, Archer will maintain its focus on the Maker aircraft’s flight test program and simulated commercial routes. This commitment reflects Archer’s dedication to enhancing operational readiness and firmly establishing its position in the growing eVTOL industry.

Archer Aviation’s ultimate goal is to revolutionize urban travel by offering efficient electric air taxi flights that are not only safe and sustainable but also low-noise and cost-competitive with traditional ground transportation. The four-passenger, piloted Midnight aircraft, designed for rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charging time, represents a significant leap forward in achieving this vision.

Why it’s important: As Archer Aviation continues to make strides in the eVTOL industry, the successful flight of the Midnight aircraft underscores the company’s commitment to a future where urban air travel is efficient, green, and accessible. With plans to enter the market in 2025, Archer is steadily advancing the concept of urban air mobility, bringing us closer to a future where air taxis become a practical and eco-friendly alternative for urban commuters.