Dr. Geoff Bower, Archer's Chief Engineer, highlighted the importance of this milestone, stating, "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." The transition flight demonstrates the aircraft's ability to take off vertically, accelerate forward, and transition to wing-borne flight, crucial for achieving commercial viability.
This accomplishment follows the successful transition of Archer's first full-scale eVTOL aircraft, Maker, in November 2022. The Midnight eVTOL, designed to carry commercially viable passenger payloads, is one of the largest of its kind to achieve this milestone.
Archer continues to advance towards certification, having received Part 135 and Part 145 certificates from the FAA. The company is also one of only two globally to have its final airworthiness criteria for an eVTOL issued by the FAA.
The future of eVTOLs looks promising, with companies like Joby and Eve Air Mobility also working to get their aircraft into the skies. Investment bank Morgan Stanley predicts the global eVTOL market will be worth $1 trillion by 2040, and management consultancy McKinsey projects a need for 60,000 eVTOL pilots by 2028.
Archer aims to revolutionize urban transportation by replacing long car commutes with quick, efficient electric air taxi flights. The Midnight aircraft, designed for rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charge time, is expected to cut down travel times significantly once it begins commercial operations.
The next phases for Midnight involve increasing speed and refining transition processes, with plans to test simulated commercial routes. Archer's goal is to start piloted flight testing with the FAA before the end of 2024, paving the way for delivery to United Airlines, which intends to use these eVTOLs for quick local transportation to and from airports in cities like Chicago and New York.
From Facebook