Archer's Midnight eVTOL completed its first pilot-controlled flight using a runway takeoff, marking a key step in its test program.
Archer has unveiled video footage showing the first time its Midnight eVTOL aircraft flew with a pilot onboard. Unlike its previous vertical takeoffs, the aircraft rolled down a runway to take off, using traditional forward thrust instead of relying solely on its rotors to lift it vertically.
This marked a new stage in Archer’s test flight program.From prototype to pilot-controlled flightArcher’s Midnight is a five-seat electric vertical takeoff and landing air taxi that has been under development for several years. Earlier tests included vertical lifts from the ground in late 2023, and before that, prototypes like the smaller two-seat Maker demonstrator paved the way.The company began flight testing its eVTOL systems as early as 2019 but kept much of its work under wraps until 2020.The two-seat Maker prototype first flew at Hawthorne Airport in California toward the end of 2021. Then, in November 2022, Archer revealed its Midnight flagship aircraft. Midnight features 12 rotors — six dual-blade rotors at the rear fixed in an upward position, and six five-blade rotors at the front that can tilt forward for fast flight. The goal was to achieve speeds of up to 150 mph and a range of about 100 miles on a single charge.By early 2023, Archer had built a full-scale Midnight prototype ready for testing. Flight tests started in October 2023, and the aircraft’s first successful transition from hovering vertically to flying forward was in July 2024. Until now, these flights were conducted without a pilot onboard.Pilot’s first flight and impressive performanceLast week, Archer’s chief test pilot, Jeff Greenwood, took the Midnight prototype for its first pilot-controlled flight. The plane rolled down the runway using conventional takeoff and landing methods. This test aimed to “demonstrate the robustness of Midnight’s landing gear,” a critical part of the aircraft’s ability to operate on traditional runways when needed.“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,” said Greenwood. He joined Archer in 2021 after a career at Bell Textron and 13 years in the US Marine Corps. “That level of consistency is no surprise. It’s a testament to our team’s engineering and operational excellence, whose attention to detail and dedication to safety made this milestone possible.”During this test, the pilot pushed the aircraft to reach speeds of up to 125 mph and climbed to more than 1,500 feet above ground level. Archer’s CEO, Adam Goldstein, said, “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 providing enhanced safety.”Looking ahead: Certification and commercial useThis new CTOL flight testing phase is crucial for Archer as it collects data to support certification and commercial launch plans in the US and the UAE. The company hopes to have the Midnight air taxi operating in real-world conditions soon.One of Archer’s early commercial targets could be the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archer was recently named the Official Air Taxi provider for these events, which would showcase the potential of eVTOL aircraft in urban mobility on a global stage.Archer, founded in 2018 by Adam Goldstein and Brett Adcock, has steadily advanced its electric air taxi technology from stealth mode beginnings to full prototype testing. With pilot-controlled flights underway, Archer moves closer to its vision of transforming urban transportation with electric, quiet, and versatile air taxis.
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