“Archer Midnight Aircraft Completes Longest Piloted Flight to Date of 55 Miles”
Archer Aviation announced this week, the Midnight aircraft successfully completed its longest piloted flight to date, flying approximately 55 miles in 31 minutes at speeds exceeding 126 mph, reports a press release.
The flight took place at Archer’s flight test facility in Salinas, California, in front of United Airlines’ CFO, Mike Leskinen, who led early investment in the company. Trial flights in the preceding week reached speeds of nearly 150 mph over a variety of patterns.
The release states, “This latest achievement marks another major milestone in Archer’s envelope expansion program as the company advances toward FAA certification in the U.S and near-term commercialisation in the UAE.”
The flight was conducted as a conventional takeoff and landing mission. Four of Archer’s test pilots are now regularly conducting flights in Midnight, underscoring the program’s continued progress and maturity.
Adam Goldstein, Archer’s Founder and CEO, commented, “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 commercialisation which shows the maturing of our program.”
Mike Leskinen
Mike Leskinen, Executive VP and CFO of United, added, “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.”
The Test Pilot for this flight shared on social media, “Throughout the thirty-minute flight, the aircraft performed consistently with predictable handling. It was a beautiful day to be behind the controls.”
This milestone follows a series of key developments in Archer’s commercialisation roadmap, including the continuation of its manufacturing ramp throughout the U.S and the activation of its Launch Edition program in the UAE.
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(Top image: Midnight Aircraft during its longest piloted flight to date)
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