Archer Aviation’s Maker eVTOL demonstrator aircraft has completed its first successful hover flight, marking a significant milestone for the urban mobility pioneer, six months after it first unveiled the aircraft.
The maiden hover test saw it accelerate off the ground, hover in place and then land safely on the ground. The flight marked the eVTOL’s first complete systems test and validation of every hardware and software component working as intended to move the aircraft into the air. The Maker autonomous two-seater eVTOL aircraft was certified for flight testing by the US Federal Aviation Administration before its maiden hover test.
The company will unveil its piloted, four-seat production-intent aircraft in 2023.
Brett Adcock, Co-founder & Co-CEO, Archer, said, “The past six months have been an incredible journey, from unveiling Maker to watching it take its first flight. It’s been humbling to build a leading eVTOL company and educate the public on clean transportation alternatives. Today is a milestone for both Archer and the future of travel.”
Adam Goldstein, Co-founder & Co-CEO, Archer, said, “With our first hover flight now completed, we’re one major step closer to that goal and have proven that Archer can work at a fast pace without sacrificing safety or quality. Our team stands ready to continue that pace as we work toward launching an aerial ridesharing service in late 2024.”
Archer will now move into a more rigorous testing campaign, including hover envelope expansion, advancing the eVTOL’s design capabilities and attaining higher altitudes. Once the hover envelope of the aircraft is expanded, then Archer will transition towards a forward flight of the demonstrator.