Salinas, CA – August 18, 2025 – Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) has successfully completed the longest piloted flight for its Midnight aircraft to date, covering approximately 55 miles in 31 minutes at speeds exceeding 126 mph. The milestone flight took place at Archer’s flight test facility in Salinas, California, witnessed by United Airlines’ Chief Financial Officer, Mike Leskinen, who led the airline’s early investment in Archer.
Test flights conducted in the preceding week reached nearly 150 mph over various patterns, highlighting the aircraft’s expanding performance envelope. The latest achievement underscores Archer’s ongoing progress towards FAA certification in the U.S. and its near-term commercial plans in the UAE.
The flight followed a conventional takeoff and landing mission profile. Four of Archer’s test pilots now regularly fly the Midnight, reflecting the programme’s growing maturity.
Adam Goldstein, Archer’s Founder and CEO, remarked, “I was proud to be on the tarmac with the team for this flight. Crossing the 50-mile mark at speed is another clear step towards commercialisation that shows the maturity of our programme.”
United Airlines’ Leskinen added: “I’ve been a longtime supporter of bringing sustainable forms of aviation to market. Congratulations to the Archer team on achieving this milestone flight—I was impressed by how quiet the aircraft was.”
The experimental test pilot noted, “Throughout the thirty-minute flight, the aircraft performed consistently, with predictable handling. It was a beautiful day to be behind the controls.”
Midnight test pilots will continue to expand speed and flight duration, while evaluating mission profiles aligned with early commercial operations. This milestone follows recent developments in Archer’s commercial roadmap, including the ramp-up of manufacturing across the U.S. and the launch of its Launch Edition programme in the UAE.
SOURCE AND IMAGE: ARCHER
