Archer's eVTOL Does the Helicopter Hustle - Transition Flight Completed
Image Credit: Archer Aviation.
Our friends at Archer Aviation have been busy again, proving they're not just all talk when it comes to their eVTOL dreams. Their Midnight aircraft just pulled off a neat trick – transitioning from hovering like a hummingbird on caffeine to blasting forward like a startled gazelle, all while still staying airborne.
Now, some of you might still be wondering, "What the heck is an eVTOL?" Well, it's basically a giant electric drone that wants to be a helicopter when it grows up. It takes off vertically like a chopper, but then tilts its rotors to fly like a plane. It's the lovechild of a Harrier jump jet and a Tesla, and Archer's Midnight is the latest kid on the block trying to make this crazy idea work.
This latest stunt involved Midnight hitting a cool 100 mph (that's 160 km/h for you metric folks) while morphing from vertical to horizontal flight. And let me tell you, that's no easy feat. Have you ever tried teaching a dog to walk on its hind legs while juggling flaming bowling pins? Getting eVTOL off the ground and into full transition is much, much more complicated. But Archer pulled it off, and they even have a video to prove it.
This isn't Archer's first rodeo, either. Back in 2022, they managed the same trick with their earlier prototype, the "Maker." But Midnight is the big boy, tipping the scales at a hefty 6,500 pounds. That's roughly the weight of three African elephants, or one very chunky hippo. So getting this behemoth to transition smoothly is kind of a big deal.
Archer isn't stopping here, though. They're planning to put Midnight through its paces, simulating commercial routes and even testing those fancy maneuvers that real pilots use. They're also hoping to squeeze out even more speed and endurance from their flying machine.
Image Credit: Archer Aviation.
Midnight is a four-passenger eVTOL with a range of around 100 miles. It's designed for short hops between cities or airports, like a flying taxi service. And while they haven't announced a price yet, you can bet it'll cost a pretty penny to hitch a ride on this electric bird. But what an experience.
Honestly, who cares about the price when you can fly over traffic jams and arrive at your destination feeling like a superhero? Just imagine soaring through the air, leaving the ground-bound folk to wallow in their misery. It's the kind of future that makes even a grumpy old petrolhead like me crack a smile.
So, here's to Archer Aviation and their electrifying ambitions. May they continue to push the boundaries of what's possible and bring us one step closer to a world where flying cars are a reality, not just a sci-fi fantasy. And who knows, maybe one day I'll even get to take a spin in one of these things myself. Just don't expect me to give up my trusty old motorbike anytime soon.
