Archer Aviation‘s all-electric Midnight air taxi has completed several days of piloted flights across California’s San Francisco Bay Area, including multiple trips over the bay after taking off from and landing at Oakland International Airport, the company said.
The flights formed part of Archer’s ‘No Roads’ tour, which began in Salinas and included stops in Hollister, San Martin, San Jose, Mountain View, Hayward and Oakland over three days. The aircraft flew more than 200 miles across the region, reaching a top speed of 131 miles per hour and visiting seven cities.
Archer said the flights were intended to demonstrate Midnight’s ability to operate in the complex airspace surrounding the Bay Area’s three major international airports: San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose.
The company said the tour also showcased the potential benefits of electric air taxis, including lower noise levels, zero operating emissions and shorter journey times in congested urban areas.
Midnight flew from Oakland International Airport to San Francisco’s Marina District in about 10 minutes, a journey that can take more than an hour by car in traffic, Archer said.
The company is developing electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft designed to carry passengers on short urban and regional journeys.
