Archer Advances Flight Testing With Piloted Midnight Aircraft Flight
Archer Aviation Inc., a leader in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has officially entered a significant new stage in the development of its flagship aircraft, Midnight. In a pivotal milestone for the company’s flight test program, Archer announced that it has begun piloted flight testing of Midnight—an event that not only showcases the maturity of the aircraft platform but also signals growing momentum toward commercial certification and eventual entry into service.
The latest phase of the Midnight flight test campaign marks the transition from uncrewed, autonomous testing to piloted operations. This shift follows years of rigorous development, simulation, and flight testing across multiple aircraft platforms. The engineering efforts culminated in validating Archer’s unique 12-tilt-6 propeller configuration—an innovative approach that blends vertical lift capabilities with fixed-wing cruise performance.
During the test flight, Midnight successfully performed at speeds of up to 125 miles per hour and climbed to an altitude of more than 1,500 feet above ground level. These performance benchmarks are well-aligned with the aircraft’s design objectives and operational profile, intended for high-frequency, short-haul urban and regional air mobility missions.
Showcasing CTOL and VTOL Capabilities
A notable highlight of the flight was its use of a conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) procedure, rather than relying solely on vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities. This demonstration underscored the strength and versatility of Midnight’s landing gear, which is engineered to handle both types of operations. According to Archer, the ability to perform CTOL operations provides valuable flexibility, enhances safety margins, and supports more diverse use cases for the aircraft.
“Put simply, the performance of Midnight continues to demonstrate the strengths of our design decisions for this aircraft platform,” said Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer. “Midnight’s VTOL and CTOL capabilities are a strong differentiator for us, as they are critical for delivering an aircraft that can integrate into a wide range of operational scenarios while also providing enhanced safety.”
Goldstein emphasized that the dual capability enables operators to adapt to different environments—urban rooftops, helipads, or conventional runways—without compromising the integrity or performance of the aircraft. This flexibility can prove essential in both commercial air taxi services and government or defense-related missions.
Preparing for Certification and Commercialization
The start of piloted flights represents more than a technological milestone—it is a vital step in Archer’s path toward achieving type certification for Midnight with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Over the coming months, Archer’s test pilots will continue to assess critical aspects of the aircraft’s handling and behavior, including flight control responsiveness, aerodynamic stability, and system integration. These efforts are focused on collecting the necessary data and performance validation required by regulatory bodies.
In parallel, the test program is supporting Archer’s commercialization strategy in both domestic and international markets. In particular, the United Arab Emirates has emerged as a strategic partner, with earlier announcements detailing agreements to launch Archer’s air taxi services in cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Certification efforts are being pursued concurrently with the FAA and aviation authorities in the UAE, accelerating Archer’s global expansion timeline.
“The ability to safely conduct piloted flight testing is a direct result of the foundation we’ve built through years of simulation and uncrewed testing,” said Dr. Michael Schwekutsch, SVP of Engineering at Archer. “Our engineering and flight test teams are now focused on progressively increasing the aircraft’s envelope while gathering the data necessary for certification.”
Archer’s Test Pilot Program and Aviation Expertise
The piloted test flight was conducted by Jeff Greenwood, Archer’s Chief Test Pilot, who has been an integral part of the team since 2021. Greenwood brings decades of experience in rotorcraft and fixed-wing test programs. Before joining Archer, he was a test pilot at Bell Textron, where he worked on some of the most advanced vertical lift platforms in the aerospace industry. His military background includes 13 years as a pilot in the United States Marine Corps and graduation from the United States Naval Test Pilot School.
“Flying Midnight felt just like flying the simulator—everything responded exactly as we trained for, which is exactly what you hope for during a test flight,” Greenwood remarked. “That level of consistency is no surprise. It’s a testament to the engineering and operational excellence of our team, whose attention to detail and dedication to safety made this milestone possible.”
Greenwood also played a key role in shaping the cockpit design of Midnight, helping to select and integrate avionics displays and other mission-critical equipment. His firsthand insights have ensured that the aircraft’s user interface aligns with pilot expectations and regulatory requirements, further smoothing the path to certification.
A Strategic Vision for Urban Air Mobility
The Midnight aircraft is designed to carry four passengers plus a pilot, with a target range of up to 100 miles and optimized for back-to-back short-hop missions around 20 miles. Archer envisions Midnight playing a central role in the emerging urban air mobility (UAM) ecosystem—delivering a clean, safe, and fast alternative to traditional ground transportation in congested metro regions.
Archer’s long-term strategy involves deploying its aircraft in city centers, enabling rapid point-to-point connections between transit hubs, business districts, airports, and residential areas. With growing regulatory support for eVTOL operations and increasing investment in UAM infrastructure, the company is positioning itself as a first mover in a sector that could revolutionize daily transportation.
The piloted flight is also likely to build further confidence among investors and partners, including United Airlines and the U.S. Department of Defense, both of which have entered into strategic collaborations with Archer in recent years. The company has received strong backing for its dual-use aircraft concept, which addresses both commercial air taxi operations and tactical applications for defense missions.
With the successful piloted flight now completed, Archer will continue to expand Midnight’s test envelope, introduce more complex maneuvers, and demonstrate full transition from vertical lift to wing-borne cruise flight. Each step in the process brings the aircraft closer to being certified and commercially operational.
“The entire team at Archer deserves recognition for bringing us to this point,” said Goldstein. “Every detail, every decision, and every test has been part of a broader mission: to reshape how people move through cities and to do it in a way that’s efficient, sustainable, and safe.”
As the flight test program enters this new phase, Archer appears well on track to meet its ambitious timeline for certification and launch. The road ahead includes further test flights, continued engagement with regulators, and preparation for scaling production at the company’s manufacturing facility in Georgia.
The future of air mobility may still be in its early chapters, but with each successful milestone, Archer’s Midnight is proving that the vision of quiet, electric, on-demand urban air transport is not only possible—it’s rapidly becoming a reality.