Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer Archer Aviation unveiled its production aircraft, called Midnight, in a ceremony that took place in Palo Alto, California on November 17, 2022.
With seating for one pilot and four passengers, the aircraft is based on Archer’s demonstrator eVTOL aircraft, the two-seater Maker that made its first flight on December 16, 2021.
“From day one Archer’s strategy has always been about finding the most efficient path to commercializing eVTOL aircraft,” said Adam Goldstein, Archer’s Founder and CEO, in a press release. “We believe our strategy and team’s ability to execute on it has allowed us to establish our leadership position in the market, and is why we are confident we will be the first company to certify an eVTOL aircraft in the US with the FAA.”
Midnight is expected to have a payload of over 1,000 pounds (453 kilograms) and fly short-distance trips of up to 60 miles (around 100 kilometers) while reaching speeds of around 150 mph (241 km/h). It will need charging time of approximately 10 minutes in-between trips.
Archer is working to certify Midnight with the FAA in late 2024. The manufacturer also plans to become an operator itself in 2025 and use its aircraft as part of its own urban air mobility (UAM) network.
The manufacturer plans to build up to 250 all-electric air taxis in 2025, with an ambitious long-term goal to produce up to 2,000 air vehicles annually starting in 2028.