Midnight eVTOL Climbed to 7,000 Feet in Its Latest Test Flight

Air taxi developer Archer Aviation is steadily progressing through its envelope expansion test campaign, recently flying its Midnight electric vertical takeoff and landing device to a record 7,000 feet. This comes just a month after the aircraft completed its longest-ever flight, travelling 55 miles in 31 minutes.

The record-setting process itself was extremely deliberate. Midnight’s pilot took off, executed a steady climb to the record altitude, leveled off, and continued the mission for a total of 45 miles flown. According to Archer, the aircraft maintained speeds above 120 miles per hour throughout the flight.

Just weeks earlier, Midnight had set another record with a 55-mile, 31-minute run at speeds topping 126 miles per hour. The combination of long-distance endurance and higher altitude capability is meant to show regulators that the aircraft can do more than just short demonstration hops, even if that’s its primary market.

Midnight is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers for roughly 60 miles at up to 150 miles per hour, putting it in the sweet spot for airport shuttles and cross-town hops in congested cities. Most operations will occur between 1,500 and 4,000 feet, though the flexibility to fly higher is needed in congested areas or higher-elevation regions.

“I’m proud of the team for consistently proving Midnight’s performance capabilities while maintaining the highest safety standards,” expressed Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer. “Our test pilots will continue to safely and methodically test Midnight’s speed, duration and mission profiles to prepare for early commercial operations.”

Archer has drawn more than $1.1 billion in funding since its founding in 2020, with United Airlines serving as its biggest backer. Executives from the carrier were present to watch the recent 55-mile mission and came away impressed, particularly by how quiet the aircraft was compared to the average VTOL aircraft.

The altitude and distance milestones are not just bragging rights; they are meant to persuade the FAA that Midnight is a stable, certifiable machine. With commercialization plans in both the United States and the UAE, the company is hoping that steady test progress puts it on track for an actual passenger service in the coming years.

FMI: www.archer.com