Archer Achieves Key Flight Test Program Milestone As Midnight Takes Flight

Rhea-AI Summary

Archer Aviation's flight test program reaches key milestone as Midnight aircraft takes flight.

Positive

• Archer Aviation's flight test program has reached a significant milestone as its Midnight aircraft successfully took flight. The company's four years of flight testing, including two years of full-scale flight testing with Maker, have paved the way for this achievement. Midnight's flight envelope is expected to rapidly progress from hover to full wing-borne flight in the coming months. Archer plans to begin 'for credit' testing with the FAA next year and aims to bring Midnight to market in 2025.

Negative

• None.

• This milestone builds on four years of flight testing which began in 2019, including two years of full-scale flight testing of Archer’s Maker aircraft
• Midnight’s flight envelope is on track to rapidly advance from hover to full wing-borne flight over the coming months helping pave the way to begin “for credit” testing with the FAA next year

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR), a leader in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, announced today that its flight test program hit another key milestone as the company’s Midnight aircraft took flight. This milestone builds on Archer’s four years of flight testing, including two years of full-scale flight testing with Maker.

Archer's Midnight eVTOL aircraft in flight. (Photo: Business Wire)

“This next phase of Archer’s flight test program is only possible because of the four years of flight testing we’ve done. Midnight is building on the successes of its predecessor aircraft and represents another significant step forward in Archer’s path to commercialization,” said Archer’s founder and CEO Adam Goldstein. “The next year and a half will be focused on continuing to rapidly advance our flight test program and Archer’s electric air taxi operations as we prepare to bring Midnight to market in 2025.”

“Having taken seven full-size eVTOL aircraft from design to flight test during my career in the eVTOL industry, today’s milestone with Midnight marks the most significant flight to date bringing Archer and the eVTOL industry another step closer to bringing a scalable and commercially viable aircraft to market,” said Archer COO Tom Muniz.

As Archer’s flight test program continues to advance, Midnight’s flight envelope is expected to progress rapidly from hover to full wing-borne transition flight in the coming months, paving the way for the company to begin “for credit” testing of its Midnight aircraft with the FAA next year as it works towards entry into service in 2025.

Simultaneous with the Midnight flight test program, Archer intends to continue Maker’s flight test program as well as flying simulated commercial routes to continue to advance the company’s operational readiness.

Archer’s goal is to transform urban travel, replacing 60–90-minute commutes by car with estimated 10-20 minute electric air taxi flights that are safe, sustainable, low noise, and cost-competitive with ground transportation. Archer’s Midnight is a piloted, four-passenger aircraft designed to perform rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charge time between flights.

About Archer

Archer is designing and developing electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for use in urban air mobility networks. Archer’s mission is to unlock the skies, freeing everyone to reimagine how they move and spend time. Archer's team is based in Santa Clara, CA.

To learn more, visit www.archer.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward looking statements regarding Archer’s business plans and expectations, including statements regarding its aircraft performance and the timing of Archer’s development, commercialization, and certification of its eVTOL aircraft. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual results due to a variety of factors. The risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the results predicted are more fully detailed in Archer’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, available at www.sec.gov. In addition, please note that any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on assumptions that Archer believes to be reasonable as of the date of this press release. Archer undertakes no obligation to update these statements as a result of new information or future events.

Source: Archer
Text: ArcherIR

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231025223093/en/

Archer Media Contacts

The Brand Amp - Archer@TheBrandAmp.com

Source: Archer Aviation

FAQ

What milestone did Archer Aviation's flight test program reach?

Archer Aviation's flight test program reached a key milestone as its Midnight aircraft successfully took flight.

What is the significance of this milestone?

This milestone is significant as it represents a step forward in Archer Aviation's path to commercialization. It builds on the company's four years of flight testing and paves the way for further progress in their flight test program.

What are Archer Aviation's plans for the future?

Archer Aviation plans to rapidly advance their flight test program and electric air taxi operations. They aim to bring the Midnight aircraft to market in 2025 and begin 'for credit' testing with the FAA next year.

What is the goal of Archer Aviation?

Archer Aviation aims to transform urban travel by replacing 60-90 minute car commutes with 10-20 minute electric air taxi flights that are safe, sustainable, low noise, and cost-competitive with ground transportation.