Midnight Electric Air Taxi Completes First Phase of Flight Test Campaign

The electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) design from Archer Aviation is making ‘rapid progress’ in development, the manufacturer said.

Jack Daleo

Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at 04:25 PM ET

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Archer’s Midnight production prototype completes a hover maneuver during flight testing. [Courtesy: Archer Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

Archer Aviation's Midnight eVTOL has rapidly completed Phase 1 of its flight test campaign, staying on track to begin crucial for-credit testing with the FAA later this year for type certification.
The company is advancing toward production, having upgraded Midnight's battery system and begun construction of a large-scale manufacturing plant in partnership with Stellantis.
Archer is also building out electric charging infrastructure through strategic partnerships and has secured significant pre-orders from commercial entities like United Airlines, InterGlobe, and Air Chateau, alongside a contract with the U.S. Air Force.

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Archer Aviation, manufacturer of the Midnight electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi, has reached a major flight test milestone.

The company announced Wednesday that Midnight completed Phase 1 of its flight test campaign and is “on track” to begin for-credit testing with the FAA later this year. Those evaluations represent a critical step in type certification of the novel design.