Archer Aviation’s Midnight electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft has completed Phase 1 of its flight test programme.
This milestone was achieved in approximately three months.
Meanwhile, Midnight’s battery system has also been upgraded to include some of the first high-voltage battery packs off Archer’s manufacturing line. This advances the company’s progress towards being production-ready.
With these developments, Midnight is on track to complete its first full wing-borne transition flight and begin piloted “for credit” testing with the FAA this year.
Archer’s founder and CEO Adam Goldstein said:Midnight is progressing efficiently through our flight test programme. Over the last four years of flight testing, our team has been able to gather a tremendous amount of data and learnings that enable us to advance Midnight rapidly towards certification. Our team’s focus on safety and relentless execution has gotten us to where we are today and is what will allow us to achieve what no other company in the world has done to date - bring electric air taxis to cities across the US and the globe.
During Phase 1 of the flight test programme, Midnight covered progressively more complex flight manoeuvres and data-gathering flights.
Phase 2 will now involve an incremental approach to speed testing, with the aircraft continuing to fly at greater speeds until it achieves full wing-borne transition.
Transition is a key milestone for a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, demonstrating the capability to takeoff and land vertically and cruise efficiently in a single windborne flight.
Once the transition is achieved, the aircraft will move to Phase 3, which will involve flying simulated commercial routes to demonstrate its operational readiness.
