Archer's Midnight electric air taxi completes inaugural test flight
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 Flying. Continue 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.
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Jamie Whitney, Senior Editor
Military + Aerospace Electronics