Maker Testing Hits the Bullseye for Archer | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-07.07.25

Airborne-NextGen-07.08.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.09.25

Airborne-FlightTraining-07.10.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.11.25

Fri, Jun 24, 2022

Maker Testing Hits the Bullseye for Archer

eVTOL Flight Testing Proceeding to Plan

Archer Aviation, the San Jose, CA-based designer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, reports flight-tests of its Maker demonstrator aircraft are proceeding apace.

Most recently, the test program saw the first use of the company’s Tilt Propeller System (TPS), which actively controls Maker in hover. The system, which facilitates transition from hover to wing-borne flight, comprises a series of independent actuators, sensors, and software that articulates the vehicle’s forward six propellers relative its single, high-mounted wing.

The installation and successful testing of the TPS system marks Maker’s readiness for more advanced, transition-envelope expansion flights. Subject flights will afford the Archer team opportunity to:

  • Validate flight mechanics such as trim motor RPMs and power draw as a function of airspeed.
  • Assess control system stability.
  • Improve simulation models of vehicle aerodynamics by evaluating real-world battery performance and motor efficiency.
  • Characterize vibration and thermal environments for future, airborne equipment qualification.
  • Gather acoustic data to validate predicted, inflight decibel levels.

The demonstrator aircraft on which Maker is based completed its first flight and received its airworthiness certificate from the FAA in December 2021. Archer intends to unveil a piloted, four-passenger iteration of the aircraft in 2023. The new, more capable Maker’s 75kWh lithium-ion battery will power the vehicle to a maximum altitude of two-thousand-feet and a cruise-speed of 150-miles-per-hour.

Notwithstanding the nascency of its design, Archer has entered into a deal with United Airlines that will see the carrier acquire up to two-hundred Maker-style, electric aircraft. United, in cooperation Mesa Airlines—which operates regionally under the United banner—plans to add electric-aircraft taxis to its operations by fiscal 2026.

United estimates that Archer's eVTOL aircraft could reduce CO2 emissions by 47-percent per passenger on a trip between Hollywood and Los Angeles International Airport.

FMI: www.archer.com

Advertisement

More News

Airborne 07.11.25: New FAA Boss, New NASA Boss (Kinda), WB57s Over TX

Also: ANOTHER Illegal Drone, KidVenture Educational Activities, Record Launches, TSA v Shoes The Senate confirmed Bryan Bedford to become the next Administrator of the FAA, in a ne>[...]

Airborne-Flight Training 07.10.25: ATC School, Air Race Classic, Samson School

Also: Sully v Bedford, Embraer Scholarships, NORAD Intercepts 11, GAMA Thankful Middle Georgia State University will be joining the Federal Aviation Administration’s fight ag>[...]

Airborne Affordable Flyers 07.03.25: Sonex HW, BlackShape Gabriel, PRA Fly-In 25

Also: DarkAero Update, Electric Aircraft Symposium, Updated Instructor Guide, OSH Homebuilts Celebrate The long-awaited Sonex High Wing prototype has flown... the Sonex gang tells >[...]

Airborne-Flight Training 07.10.25: ATC School, Air Race Classic, Samson School

Also: Sully v Bedford, Embraer Scholarships, NORAD Intercepts 11, GAMA Thankful Middle Georgia State University will be joining the Federal Aviation Administration’s fight ag>[...]

Rick Kenin New Board Chair of VAI

30-Year USCG Veteran Aviator Focusing On Member Benefits The Vertical Aviation International Board of Directors announced its new leadership officers in April, and all began their >[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC