News archive: Archer Aviation | Airframer

2 November

Midnight takes flight in hover ahead of wing-borne transition

Midnight's flight envelope should progress from hover to full wing-borne transition flight in the coming months, ahead of “for credit” testing of its Midnight aircraft with the FAA next year, and entry into service in 2025.

11 October

ReleaseArcher closes previously-announced financing and development agreements to complete world's highest-volume eVTOL aircraft manufacturing facility

17 August

Midnight has received an FAA Special Airworthiness Certificate, and is expected to begin flight test and become the first eVTOL aircraft to be delivered to a customer as part of Archer’s contracts with the Department of Defense (DoD).

Wisk, Archer and Boeing settle litigation and chart the future

Archer reports that it is on track to deliver the Midnight aircraft to the U.S. Air Force later this year or early next year. Archer believes this would make Midnight the first ever eVTOL aircraft delivered to a customer.

16 August

ReleaseAfter Archer recently received FAA Certificate necessary to begin flying Midnight, it continues hitting key certification milestones on schedule as FAA starts to approve Midnight's certification plans

27 June

ReleaseSafran and Archer collaboration produces cutting-edge avionics technology for Archer's Midnight eVTOL aircraft

19 June

ReleaseStellantis, Archer move partnership from ‘Concept Phase’ to ‘Execution Phase’

17 May

Archer’s Midnight aircraft in the front and Maker in the rear.

Archer rolls out Midnight ahead of first flight

Component manufacturing is under way for the conforming Midnight aircraft. Archer is targeting the completion of final assembly in Q4 2023 and to begin piloted flight testing in early 2024.

9 March

ReleaseAfter unveiling its production aircraft, Midnight, last November Archer nears completion of its first build

7 March

ReleaseArcher closes incentive transaction; begins construction on first of its kind high-volume eVTOL manufacturing facility in Covington, GA

5 January

Stellantis funding and manufacturing expertise boosts Archer

Archer brings its team of eVTOL, electric powertrain and certification experts while Stellantis will contribute advanced manufacturing technology and expertise, experienced personnel and capital to the partnership.

20 December

ReleaseArcher's Airworthiness Criteria for its Midnight Aircraft published in Federal Register

1 December

ReleaseArcher completes Maker's first full transition flight

17 November

ReleaseArcher unveils its production Aircraft, Midnight™

17 November

Archer to build 650 Midnights a year in Covington, Georgia

The news is coming thick and fast at Archer, with an agreement to locate its factory in Georgia and to equip its Midnight eVTOL with Garmin's G3000 integrated flight deck.

16 November

ReleaseArcher selects Molicel to supply battery cells for its production Midnight™ aircraft

3 November

Archer sets ambitious plans for production ramp up

More than 50 per cent of Archer's suppliers for the Midnight eVTOL, based on cost, have been selected. The firm expects to certify the aircraft in 2024 and to produce 250 units in 2025.

28 July

ReleaseArcher successfully completes second phase of Maker flight testing, moves on to third phase towards full transition

27 July

ReleaseArcher selects Honeywell for supply of actuators and climate system technology for its production aircraft, adding to its growing supply base of aerospace industry leaders

18 July

ReleaseArcher enters into agreement with FACC covering supply of key fuselage and wing elements for Archer's production aircraft

29 June

Flight testing during the most recent phase has centered around various hover scenarios to analyze the TPS in the air.

Archer expects tilt transition by year end

As testing progresses, the flight envelope will be expanded with increasing climb and descent rates, and airspeeds. Archer plans to continue to conduct multiple flight tests weekly in the second half of this year.

7 April

ReleaseArcher Aviation plans to work with Hexcel to advance production capabilities

20 December

ReleaseArcher takes to the skies with first hover flight of Maker aircraft

8 December

The Special Airworthiness Certificate clears Archer to begin hover flight testing of its Maker aircraft.

Maker demonstrator eVTOL is cleared for take-off

The FAA's inspection of Archer's Maker aircraft was held at the company's California flight test facility, where Maker is undergoing final preparations for its first flight, as well as extensive safety testing.

10 November

ReleaseAhead of first hover flight, Maker aircraft receives FAA CoA and relocates from development lab to flight test facility

17 September

ReleaseArcher begins trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "ACHR"

16 September

Archer is moving towards FAA Type Certification for the Maker with G-1 Certification Basis.

Archer takes first step towards certification

The Maker eVTOL has been approved G-1 Certification Basis by the FAA, meaning that Archer is able to focus its work towards full FAA Type Certification for the aircraft and is now working towards the G-2 Issue Paper.

14 September

ReleaseAtlas Crest Investment Corp. shareholders approve business combination with Archer Aviation Inc.

9 September

Archer will flight test the Maker eVTOL in collaboration with the USAF and AFWERX Agility Prime.

Archer to put the Maker through its paces for USAF

Archer will provide the USAF with flight testing data to further its understanding of the Maker's capabilities and development. Using the data the USAF will look at the potential to purchase and field it in the next three years.

6 July

ReleaseArcher expands core leadership team, hiring Jeff Greenwood as Chief Flight Test Pilot and Dave Dennison as Vice President of Engineering

10 June

ReleaseArcher unveils eVTOL aircraft

3 June

The Airframer Bulletin