Archer completes 88km electric aircraft flight
On this test flight, the fully electric Midnight used a conventional takeoff and landing method; however, the aircraft itself is also capable of vertical takeoff and landing, thanks to articulated rotors which can serve either purpose depending on need.
Archer uses batteries from Taiwanese manufacturer Molicel, which in turn uses the silicon-based SCC55 product from Group14 Technologies to achieve higher density and eliminate the need for graphite. The Midnight air taxi that vertically takes off and lands offers space for one pilot and four passengers. Archer claims a payload of over 1,000 pounds (453 kilograms) and says it optimised the Midnight for short-haul flights of up to 20 miles (32 km) with a ten-minute recharge time between flights.
The test flight was just one of several regular test flights that have been taking place at Archer’s testing facility in Salinas, California. Archer said the test flight took place in front of United Airlines CFO Mike Leskinen, who was involved in United Airlines’ early investment in Archer.
This has so far seen the two companies announce a joint ‘flying taxi network‘ in New York, among other projects. Leskinen said: “I’ve been a longtime supporter of bringing sustainable forms of aviation to market. Congratulations to the Archer team on achieving this milestone flight—I was impressed by how quiet the aircraft was.”
Archer has indeed billed the test flight as a critical milestone towards its goal of full commercialisation, stating it now aims to continue expanding the speed and duration of test flights while ramping up manufacturing in US and initiating its Launch Edition program in the UAE. There, it is set to become the first commercial air taxi operator to launch in the Arab Emirates as well as the Middle East’s first eVTOL manufacturer.
Archer’s Founder and CEO, Adam Goldstein, said: “I was proud to be on the tarmac with the team for this flight. Crossing the 50-mile mark at speed is another clear step toward commercialization that shows the maturity of our program.”
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