Archer Sets a Record Flight with Its Electric eVTOL
This page is translated from the original post "Archer réalise un vol record avec son eVTOL électrique" in French.
- 19/08/2025 7:55
Archer Aviation has reached a new milestone in the development of its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
The Archer Midnight prototype has completed its longest piloted flight to date, covering approximately 90 km in 31 minutes, with speeds exceeding 200 km/h. The test took place at Archer’s site in Salinas, California, in the presence of Mike Leskinen, CFO of United Airlines, a strategic partner and long-time investor.
This flight is part of Archer’s development program, which aims to progressively validate the performance and reliability of the Midnight prior to its entry into commercial service. Tests conducted the previous week had already approached 240 km/h, confirming the aircraft’s increasing capabilities. The goal is to obtain FAA certification in the United States and prepare for the launch of commercial services in the United Arab Emirates.
Archer targets the Emirates
Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer, noted that this milestone illustrates the maturity of the program and brings the eVTOL closer to market launch.
Test pilot Mike Leskinen highlighted the particularly quiet nature of the aircraft, an important asset for more sustainable urban aviation. He described a stable and predictable flight, with consistent behavior throughout the thirty minutes spent in command.
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Archer plans to continue gradually increasing speed, duration, and mission profiles to better resemble real operating conditions. This milestone adds to other recent advances, such as ramping up industrial output in the United States and launching the Launch Edition program in the United Arab Emirates. However, the true deadline for Archer is set in 2028 with the Los Angeles Olympic Games, where the aircraft manufacturer will operate regular commercial services.
With this performance, Archer reaffirms its ambition to make the Midnight one of the first commercial eVTOLs capable of quickly connecting urban centers while minimizing noise and emissions.
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