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After four years of flight testing, Archer's eVTOL Midnight took flight. Archer began flight testing in 2019 and conducted two years of full-scale flight testing with the Maker. This milestone is building on the four years of work and keeps Archer on track to advance from hover to full wing-borne flight in the coming months.
"This next phase of Archer's flight test program is only possible because of the four years of flight testing we've done," Archer founder and CEO Adam Goldstein said. "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 continuing to rapidly advance our flight test program and Archer's electric air taxi operations as we prepare to bring Midnight to market in 2025."
The ongoing flight test program is advancing. The Midnight's flight envelope is expected to progress quickly from hover to full wing-borne transition flight in the near future, bringing Archer closer to "for credit" testing with the FAA next year. Conducting the for credit testing for the FAA will bring Archer closer to bringing the Midnight into service in 2025.
As testing for the Midnight moves forward, Archer is concurrently continuing the Maker's flight test program. With testing for the Maker and Midnight underway, Archer is flying simulated commercial routes to further advance the company's operational readiness. The company's goal is to transform urban travel by replacing a 60-90-minute commute in a car with an estimated 10-20 minute electric air taxi flight.RELATED STORIES:Archer progresses in Midnight eVTOL certification processArcher completes first Midnight, prepares for flight testing
Electric air taxis are anticipated to become a safe, sustainable, low noise and cost-competitive alternative to ground transportation. The Midnight is a piloted, four-passenger aircraft that was designed to perform quick back-to-back flights with a minimal charge time between flights. Archer is nearing FAA certification for the eVTOL, announcing on Aug. 16 that the aircraft was continually hitting key milestones and on track to begin for credit testing in early 2024. In May Archer completed the final assembly of the first Midnight aircraft and shipped it to a flight test facility to begin a series of ground testing before its first flight.
With the recent Midnight flight, Archer is on track for FAA certification and for the eventual introduction of a commercial air taxi service using eVTOL aircraft in 2025.