US company’s electric air taxi breaks record by flying 55 miles in 31-minute piloted flight
A major breakthrough The post US company’s electric air taxi breaks record by flying 55 miles in 31-minute piloted flight appeared first on Supercar Blondie.
Archer Aviation has taken a major step forward in proving the capabilities of its electric air taxi, the Midnight.
The California-based company announced that its Midnight aircraft completed its longest piloted flight yet, flying 55 miles in just 31 minutes.
The record-setting mission not only proved the aircraft’s range but also its reliability in real-world conditions.
It’s the latest sign that air taxi services could be closer than many people think.
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The race towards flying taxis
The breakthrough test took place in Salinas, California, where much of Archer’s development has been centered.
For this flight, the Midnight operated in Conventional Takeoff and Landing (CTOL) mode, lifting off from a runway rather than vertically.
Even so, it performed with impressive results, hitting speeds above 126 miles per hour.
In fact, Archer says its more recent tests have pushed the aircraft closer to 150 mph, showing a steady climb in performance.
What makes this achievement stand out is how quickly it comes after Archer’s first piloted flights.
While Archer Aviation isn’t alone in the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) space, the Archer Midnight certainly seems ahead of the pack in terms of practical tests.
Last year, Supercar Blondie herself got a sneak peak at the electric air taxi, and she was thoroughly impressed.
And just two months ago, the Midnight carried a pilot for the first time, reaching 125 mph at an altitude of 1,500 feet.
Since then, every mission has stretched its capabilities further.
Archer Aviation is planning to launch internationally
That progress hasn’t gone unnoticed.
United Airlines, one of Archer’s earliest partners, continues to back the program strongly.
In fact, United CFO Mike Leskinen even flew out to watch the record-setting flight firsthand, praising the aircraft’s whisper-quiet operation.
The company’s four test pilots are now flying the Midnight regularly as part of its Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification push.
At the same time, Archer is preparing to expand overseas, with plans already announced for passenger services in the United Arab Emirates.
In fact, the company recently tested the Archer Midnight over the skies of Abu Dhabi, bringing the company’s electric air taxi closer to commercial success.
If this momentum continues, the day when passengers can book short, quiet, zero-emissions flights across cities may arrive much sooner than expected.The post US company’s electric air taxi breaks record by flying 55 miles in 31-minute piloted flight appeared first on Supercar Blondie.
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