Archer Completes Midnight’s Transition Flight

Midnight completed the transition flight at speeds of over 100mph and is believed to be one of the largest eVTOL aircraft to complete transition By Joe Macey / 13 Jun 2024
Archer Completes Midnight’s Transition Flight
Follow AAMi

Archer Aviation’s Midnight aircraft has successfully completed transition flying at a speed of more than 100mph.

Archer has now achieved transition with two different full-scale eVTOL aircraft. At ~6,500lbs, Midnight is believed to be one of the largest eVTOL aircraft to complete transition, which is critical to being able to carry commercially viable passenger payloads. 

A transition flight occurs when the aircraft takes off vertically like a helicopter, accelerates forward, transitions from thrust-borne to wing-borne flight like an airplane with tilt propellers forward before decelerating and landing vertically.

Adam Goldstein, Archer’s Founder and CEO, said; “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.” 

Midnight is now the 7th full-scale eVTOL aircraft that Archer’s CTO, Tom Muniz, and Chief Engineer, Dr. Geoff Bower, have successfully built and flown in their respective careers. Archer’s first generation full-scale eVTOL aircraft, Maker, successfully achieved transition in November, 2022, eleven months after its first flight, and still flies regularly in the company’s flight test program. Just seven months after Midnight’s first flight, Archer has now successfully transitioned its production eVTOL aircraft as the company continues to build momentum towards commercialization. 

Dr. Geoff Bower, Archer’s Chief Engineer, said; “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.

“Over the seven eVTOL aircraft I’ve built and flown in my career, they have gotten progressively larger as we pursued payloads that made the aircraft platform commercially viable. Midnight is believed to be one of the largest eVTOL aircraft ever to achieve transition and one of the first that is purpose built to carry enough passengers to be able to operate a successful air taxi business. I’m extremely proud of Archer’s team as we have now achieved this milestone with two generations of full-scale aircraft.”

Midnight’s flight test program will now continue its progress with plans to fly simulated commercial routes to demonstrate the aircraft’s operational readiness, executing high-rate flight operations, testing additional flight maneuvers that will be used in commercial settings along with continuing to expand its speed and endurance flight envelope. 

Posted by Joe Macey Edited by Joseph Macey, Editor and Copywriter and experienced journalist with an active interest in advanced air mobility. Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

Vertiport Designs Revealed for AAM Operations in Abu Dhabi

LODD and Skyports Infrastructure have unveiled vertiport designs for three locations in Abu Dhabi, supporting eVTOL operations and autonomous aerial logistics through new infrastructure integration

Feb 14, 2025
Archer Secures $300 Million Investment to Drive Hybrid Aircraft Development

Archer has secured significant funding to advance its hybrid aircraft platform for defense and commercial applications

Feb 13, 2025
Moya Aero Surpasses 200 eVTOL Test Flights in Ongoing Development Campaign

Moya’s eVTOL has surpassed 200 test flights, generating critical data to refine performance, enhance control, and optimize transition dynamics on its path toward autonomous aerial logistics

Feb 13, 2025
SkyDrive Advances eVTOL Certification with JCAB’s G-1 Basis

SkyDrive’s eVTOL aircraft has received a G-1 certification basis from Japan's Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB), marking a key step in its journey toward certification and commercial operations

Feb 12, 2025
eVTOL Vertiport Testbed Development at Campo de Marte Airport

UrbanV and PAX Aeroportos are partnering to develop Brazil’s Advanced Air Mobility ecosystem, launching a vertiport testbed at Campo de Marte Airport to support the integration of eVTOL operations

Feb 11, 2025
SkyDrive Partners to Plan Air Taxi Services in Japan

SkyDrive and JR Kyushu have partnered with the Oita prefectural government to explore the potential for eVTOL services that will improve the region's transportation infrastructure

Feb 10, 2025