Summary

  • Midnight completes first transition flight showcasing its ability to switch from vertical takeoff to wing-borne flight successfully.
  • Archer Aviation CEO Adam Goldstein praises team for milestone achievement in transitioning eVTOL aircraft efficiently in less than 2 years.
  • Archer Aviation receives Part 135 certification from FAA, allowing subsidiary to operate and fine-tune aircraft systems commercially.

On Wednesday, June 12, Archer Aviation, which is developing the Midnight, an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, announced that its aircraft had completed its first transition flight. The aircraft Midnight achieved its first flight in which it transitioned from the vertical takeoff form of flight into a wing-borne flight similar to an airplane flying. The flight occurred on Saturday, June 8, at the Archer Aviation flight test facility, which is located in Salinas, California.

First transition flight

In the June 12th announcement, Archer Aviation noted that Midnight may be the largest eVTOL aircraft to complete a transition flight. The aircraft weights approximately 6,500 pounds. This shows that the aircraft is viable to transition while holding a large payload, which may be cargo or passengers, in the future. During the flight, Midnight achieved a top speed that was greater than 100 miles per hour while it was cruising in wing-borne flight. It also transitioned back into vertical takeoff and landing mode, where it then completed a vertical landing to complete the transition flight.

The Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Archer Aviation, Adam Goldstein, spoke about the new milestone. Goldstein stated,

“Transitioning two generations of full-scale eVTOL aircraft in less than 2 years is another remarkable achievement for Archer’s team. This shows we continue to successfully execute against our plan to create the most efficient path to market with an aircraft that is designed for certification and to be manufactured efficiently at scale.”

This transition flight was the first of the Midnight aircraft. However, Archer Aviation has seen another aircraft complete its transition flight. In November 2022, Archer Aviation’s smaller eVTOL, which was called Maker, completed its first airborne transition.

Prior to Saturday’s transition flight, the Midnight aircraft achieved its first overall flight around seven months ago. The Chief Engineer at Archer Aviation, Dr. Geoff Bower also stated,

“Successfully completing the transition from hover to wing-borne flight with a full-scale eVTOL aircraft is a tremendous engineering feat that only a handful of companies in the world have achieved.”

Other recent milestones

Beyond Midnight’s recent transition flight, Archer Aviation has made other strides toward certifying the first eVTOL aircraft. On Wednesday, June 5, the company announced that it had achieved its Part 135 certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Related

Archer Receives Its Part 135 Authorization From The FAA

Part 135 is the Air Carrier & Operator Certificate given by the FAA.

The Part 135 certification from the FAA is designated as the Air Carrier & Operator certificate. This allows its subsidiary, Archer Air, to operate as an air carrier or operate commercial operations. Archer Aviation intends to use this certification by operating its aircraft commercially. These flights will allow the engineering teams to fine tune the aircraft’s systems and performance.

Beyond the recent Part 135 certification, Archer has made other strides towards certifying Midnight. The company also announced it achieved its Part 145 certification prior to the Part 135 certification. It achieved this feat, which allowed the company to conduct maintenance and repair tasks on its aircraft, back in February.

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