Archer Completes Piloted, Intercity Air Taxi Prototype Flight

Company flies its Midnight prototype between Salinas and Monterey in California.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, August 04, 2026 at 10:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

The view from the cockpit of Archer’s Midnight electric air taxi prototype during its round-trip journey between Salinas and Monterey, California. [Credit: Archer Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

Archer Aviation's Midnight eVTOL prototype completed its first piloted intercity flight, traveling a round trip between Salinas and Monterey, California.
This milestone is a precursor to Archer's participation in the FAA's eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) and its plans to offer air taxi services during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
A key challenge remains for Midnight, as the intercity flight was a conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) operation, and the aircraft has yet to publicly demonstrate a piloted transition from vertical to forward flight, which is crucial for its intended eVTOL function and vertiport use.

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Electric aircraft developer Archer Aviation provided a rare update on its flight test progress, announcing that a prototype of its Midnight air taxi completed a piloted, intercity flight in California on Thursday.

Archer said Monday that the aircraft conducted a round-trip journey between Salinas Municipal Airport (KSNS) and Monterey Regional Airport (KMRY) in “close coordination” with the FAA. The company shared a video depicting an aircraft with the tail number N703AX, which is a preproduction Midnight prototype.