Midnight

All numbers retain their evidence label and measurement context. Maximum, typical mission and demonstrated ranges are separate fields.

Passenger seats

4Manufacturer targetHistorical 2022 manufacturer design target. Published design specification; not a certified operating limit.Archer / ICAO

Onboard pilots

1Manufacturer targetHistorical 2022 manufacturer design target. Published design specification; not a certified operating limit.Archer / ICAO

Cruise speed

Maximum speed

241 km/hManufacturer targetHistorical 2022 manufacturer design target. Published design specification; not a certified operating limit.Archer / ICAO

Published maximum range

161 kmManufacturer targetHistorical 2022 manufacturer design target. Published design specification; not a certified operating limit.Archer / ICAO

Typical mission range

32 kmManufacturer targetHistorical 2022 manufacturer design target. Lower end of intended 20–50 mile trips. Maximum range is a separate 100 mile design target.Archer / ICAO

Demonstrated range

Payload

Maximum takeoff weight

Altitude / ceiling

Propellers / rotors

Battery capacity

Charge time

Noise

Total occupants

5Passengers + onboard pilots, where both are verified.

Certification & flight milestones

Approvals are recorded for this variant and authority. A test flight, company approval or target date is not a type certificate.

1. 31 Dec 2026FAA · Target

   2026 pilot programme target

   Year-end marker for a year-only commercial pilot programme target published March 2026; dependent on approvals. Not an exact promised start date.

   Archer Aviation
2. 21 Aug 2026JCAB · Development / testing

   Japan accepts Midnight M001 application

   MLIT confirms acceptance of the type-certification application. Technical assessment and FAA coordination follow; acceptance is not certification.

   MLIT / JCAB
3. 30 Jul 2026FAA · Development / testing

   Salinas–Monterey flight demonstration

   Demonstration flight event, not certification or scheduled passenger service.

   Archer Aviation
4. 7 May 2026GCAA · Certification basis

   Restricted type pathway announced

   Agreement on a certification approach; no issued restricted type certificate established by this announcement.

   Archer Aviation
5. 2 Mar 2026FAA · Compliance work

   Means of compliance accepted

   Manufacturer reports acceptance of all means of compliance. This does not mean all compliance testing is complete.

   Archer Aviation
6. 31 Dec 2024FAA · Target

   Historical late-2024 certification target

   Year-end marker for the late-2024 target published in December 2022. Subsequent 2026 updates still describe certification work; this target was not achieved on the original schedule.

   Past target · achievement has not been reconfirmed.

   Archer / ICAOArcher Aviation