eVTOL without the VTOL: Archer Midnight makes 1st piloted flight
June 3, 2025
Archer Aviation has begun piloted test flights of its eVTOL. The Archer Midnight, piloted by chief test pilot Jeff Greenwood, took off from California last week.
However, this was an eVTOL flight without the VTOL. For this first excursion, the aircraft took off using conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL), rolling down the runway like a regular aircraft.
The company shared footage of the groundbreaking flight, as seen in the video below.
Details of the eVTOL test flight
According to the company, the piloted flight reached a maximum altitude of 1,500 feet above ground level and cruised at speeds of up to 125 mph.
Despite using CTOL, the flight was an important validation of the robustness of the Archer Midnight’s landing gear. The aircraft has been designed to operate just as efficiently using CTOL methods as VTOL, giving operational flexibility to its future owners.
“Put simply, the performance of Midnight continues to demonstrate the strengths of our design decisions for this aircraft platform,” said Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer. “Midnight’s VTOL and CTOL capabilities are a strong differentiator for us as they are critical for delivering an aircraft that can integrate into a wide range of operational scenarios while also providing enhanced safety.”
Flight tests are ongoing, and pilots will continue to evaluate key elements of the aircraft through further sorties.
In particular, the company is focusing on validation of flight control responsiveness, stability and aerodynamic control, as well as gathering crucial data on its journey towards certification.
What was the Archer Midnight like to fly?
At the helm of the eVTOL was Jeff Greenwood, Archer’s chief test pilot, who has been with the company for several years. Prior to joining Archer, he was a test pilot for Bell Textron, where he helped develop and certify some of the leading rotorcraft.
“Flying Midnight felt just like flying the simulator,” Greenwood shared following the flight. “Everything responded exactly as we trained for, which is exactly what you hope for during a test flight.”
The company aims to commercialise Midnight both in the US and the UAE. Archer Aviation was recently selected as the official air taxi provider for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and is working hard to achieve entry into service in time.
