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Archer Aviation’s flagship air taxi just passed another major milestone on the road to launch.
The Midnight eVTOL has completed its first piloted test flight, according to a statement shared by the Silicon Valley firm on Monday. The five-person craft notched more than 400 test flights in 2024 alone, but this is the first time a pilot has been at the controls.
With Archer’s chief test pilot, Jeff Greenwood, at the helm, Midnight cruised at speeds up to 125 mph and reached a maximum altitude of over 1,500 feet. The craft also completed a conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) rather than executing both vertically. Midnight already showcased a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) in the latter half of 2023.
“Flying Midnight felt just like flying the simulator—everything responded exactly as we trained for, which is exactly what you hope for during a test flight,” Greenwood said in a statement.
Archer says government regulators and customers have stressed the importance of being able to take off and land both conventionally and vertically in Midnight. Having an aircraft that is capable of both results in greater operational flexibility and also increases safety, according to Archer.
“Midnight’s VTOL and CTOL capabilities are a strong differentiator for us as they are critical for delivering an aircraft that can integrate into a wide range of operational scenarios while also providing enhanced safety,” added Archer CEO and founder Adam Goldstein.
Equipped with 12 wing-mounted tilting propellers and six battery packs, Midnight will be able to carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 150 mph. Weighing roughly 6,500 pounds, the aircraft will have a payload capacity of 1,000 pounds and can be charged in minutes.
During the next phase of testing, Archer will focus on things like the control responsiveness and stability of Midnight. The firm is also working to get the aircraft certified and into commercial service in both the U.S. and the UAE. The plan is to eventually launch an air-taxi network in New York, providing fliers with the ability to zip from Manhattan to New York’s largest airports in five to 10 minutes for about $200. Rival eVTOL builder Joby Aviation is also hoping to get its S4 electric aircraft flying around the Big Apple. The timing of Archer’s stateside rollout is still, well, up in the air, but the team expects to start a commercial service in Dubai by the end of this year. Stay tuned.
