Archer’s Midnight Completes Full Transition Flight—Certification on the Horizon?

Archer Aviation just ticked a big box on its flight test checklist: Midnight has completed a full transition from vertical to wing-borne flight. That’s a critical milestone for any eVTOL developer—but for a company aiming to enter commercial service in 2025, it’s a must-hit moment.

With its 12 tilt rotors (six fixed, six tilting), Midnight transitioned cleanly to horizontal flight—confirming that its design is not only viable but ready for scaled certification testing. The company is moving quickly, with its FAA Part 135 certificate already in hand and a $142 million contract with the U.S. Air Force as part of the AFWERX Agility Prime program.

Why It Matters

• Certification Milestone: Full transition flight is one of the final hurdles before full FAA approval.

• Commercial Readiness: Archer says Midnight could be flying passengers as early as 2025. That’s not sci-fi—it’s next year.

• Military and Civil Synergy: Archer is wisely pursuing both defense and commercial pathways, de-risking the business model and expanding its use cases.

At Hollocraft, we applaud this engineering milestone—and take note of the speed at which Midnight is evolving. For us, it's a reminder that public trust and regulatory approval aren’t just about great design. They’re about clear milestones met, loudly and transparently.

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