Archer Aviation has completed 402 test flights throughout 2024, surpassing its goal of 400 nearly four months ahead of schedule.
This accomplishment advances the company’s journey in preparing for for-credit flight testing with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The 400-plus test flights were conducted over the last eight months as part of Archer’s test programme. This programme is designed to rigorously evaluate and refine its aircraft, ensuring they meet the highest standards of safety, performance and reliability.
Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer said:When we first set our goal for 400 flights this year it was viewed as aggressive, but here we are in August already knocking it out. I’m proud of the Archer flight test team and the supporting groups that made it happen.
The 402 flights have provided critical data to help Archer’s engineering teams assess and improve various aspects of the Midnight aircraft.
Specifically, the flight test team has concentrated on five key areas of testing:
Transition Flights — The team has conducted longer-distance and higher-speed transition flights to gather vital data, extend endurance, and ensure maximum safety as the aircraft transitions between vertical and forward flight.
High-Rate Operations — Archer has increased the number of flights per day to simulate the high-frequency operations anticipated in its commercial service, testing the durability and resilience of its aircraft.
Advancing Landing Profiles — The company has completed a series of hover landings under various wind conditions, testing different rates of descent and flare heights. These tests aim to expand Midnight’s wind envelope and further optimise its landing capabilities.
Enhancing Acoustic Measurement — Archer has conducted a series of hover operations using various microphone arrays to collect supplementary data for the FAA. This data will be used to evaluate and refine Midnight’s noise signature, an important factor in urban operations.
Optimising Control Laws — The team has also focused on refining the aircraft’s control laws, making a series of optimisations that will enhance Midnight’s performance and extend its endurance.
This announcement follows a series of strategic developments for Archer, including plans to establish an urban air mobility network in Los Angeles and partnerships with major airlines such as Southwest Airlines and United Airlines.
