Archer Aviation Begins Piloted City-to-City Midnight Flights

Archer Aviation has begun a demonstration tour of its Midnight electric air taxi, starting with a piloted flight between Salinas and Hollister, California, on September 4. The round trip took about 12 minutes per leg and covered more than 40 miles total. The aircraft reportedly reached 125 mph and cruised at 3,550 feet. Archer said the same trip by car can take 40 minutes or more.

The flight follows more than 70 test flights in August. In July, the company flew a round trip between Salinas Municipal Airport and Monterey Regional Airport that took about nine minutes each way.

The tour is called "No Roads" and is being conducted in coordination with the FAA. Planned future stops include Monterey, San Martin, San Jose, Oakland, and San Francisco. Archer also intends to expand operations to the Los Angeles area, Texas, and Florida as it prepares for the White House's eVTOL Integration Pilot Program.

The flights are intended to show how electric aircraft could replace longer ground trips. Midnight is designed to carry a pilot and up to four passengers for rapid, repeated flights.

Archer is also planning charging locations across multiple states through its ACES initiative with BETA Technologies and Macquarie Capital. The company expects the eIPP to provide operational experience before full commercial service.