Archer's Midnight electric air taxi completes inaugural test flight

Oct. 27, 2023
Archer is eyeing “for-credit” testing with the FAA next year ahead of Midnight’s commercial launch, expected in 2025, Jack Daleo writes for Flying.

SAN JOSE, Calif., - Archer Aviation’s Midnight electric air taxi is finally airborne. After receiving a special airworthiness certificate from the FAA to begin testing the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) design in August, a noncomforming Midnight prototype has completed its inaugural test flight, Jack Daleo writes for FlyingContinue reading original article.

The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:

27 October 2023 - Archer says its goal is 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.

As Archer’s flight test program continues to advance, Midnight’s flight envelope is expected to progress rapidly from hover to full wing-borne transition flight in the coming months, paving the way for the company to begin “for credit” testing of its Midnight aircraft with the FAA next year as it works towards entry into service in 2025.

Related: The future of urban air mobility and why it is taking off

Related: United Airlines selects Eve Air Mobility to bring electric commuter flights to San Francisco

Related: BLADE and Jaunt Air Mobility form strategic partnership to establish urban air mobility operations in India

Jamie Whitney, Senior Editor
Military + Aerospace Electronics

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Military Aerospace, create an account today!