Archer begins piloted tests of its Midnight electric aircraft

American company Archer, which develops fully electric aircraft, has reached an important milestone in its development — it has carried out the first manned flight of its flagship aircraft Midnight. This was a significant step towards certification of the aircraft and the launch of commercial flights.

The flight took place last week in Salinas, California. Unlike previous autonomous tests, this time the pilot flew the aircraft himself , performing a traditional takeoff and landing. The company emphasizes that the device also supports vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) , but testing the traditional mode (CTOL) is equally important to ensure operational flexibility.

The flight was conducted by the company's chief test pilot, Jeff Greenwood , who joined Archer in 2021. He reached a top speed of 125 mph (over 200 km/h) and climbed to an altitude of 1,500 feet (about 460 meters). According to Greenwood, the feeling during the flight was completely consistent with the training in the simulator.

The company said that piloted tests will continue , focusing on verifying the controllability, stability, aerodynamics and accuracy of flight systems simulation. All collected data will be analyzed and used to pass certification procedures in the US and UAE.

By the way, Archer recently became an official partner of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles as an air taxi provider. In addition, Archer, together with United Airlines, also plans to launch an air taxi service in New York.