Archer Midnight starts flight test campaign with maiden sortie

Archer has successfully completed the first flight with the Midnight eVTOL and expects to expand the flight test program rapidly in the coming months. The Midnight performed an unmanned flight at the test facility in Salinas (California), but Archer didn’t share details about the exact date, flight duration, and altitude.

Pictures released by Archer on October 25 seem to indicate that the vehicle hovered at around twenty to thirty meters. The first flight, which was originally scheduled for this summer, was executed by the first, non-conforming aircraft that was completed in May.

After demonstrating that the Midnight meets the targets set for the first phase, the aircraft will progress from hovering to transition flights. Archer

said in a press statement that it expects this “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.”