Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft continue to mature from the realm of science fiction to practical reality, with the demonstration by Archer Aviation Inc. of its Midnight eVTOL aircraft making the crucial transition between flight modes and the subsequent acceptance of the plane by the U.S. Air Force.

The USAF will evaluate the Midnight as part of its $142 million AFWERX Agility Prime contract. Midnight’s military airworthiness assessment confirms its’ readiness for government-directed testing of the aircraft for the U.S. Air Force to validate operational and military-specific mission concepts.

That airworthiness assessment included simulated medical evacuation, cargo, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance flights. “This delivery represents a pivotal moment not only for Archer but for the future of military aviation,” said Adam Goldstein, CEO of Archer Aviation. “Together, our goal is to prove Midnight’s potential and ensure the United States continues to lead the way with the world’s most advanced technology.”

“Archer's Midnight aircraft has the potential to significantly enhance our operational capabilities,” said Col. Elliott Leigh, AFWERX Director and Chief Commercialization Officer for the Department of the Air Force. “We look forward to continuing our work with our industry partners as we explore the ways that this advanced aircraft can contribute to the mission.”

Related:Bell V-280 Tiltrotor Aircraft Continues Progress Toward Production

The Midnight aircraft is designed to fly at speeds as high as 150 mph, covering back-to-back flight routes of between 20 miles and 50 miles with minimal recharging time between flights. The ability to perform quiet vertical takeoff and landing makes the Midnight aircraft well-suited for military aviation operations, with the promise of enhancing rapid response, agility, and operational effectiveness across a wide range of mission profiles.

During winged flight at cruising altitude, Midnight’s noise level is 100 times quieter than that of a helicopter. The transition from vertical to winged flight milestone marked the first time an electric vehicle this heavy, at a 6,500-lb. gross weight, has successfully demonstrated the ability to do that.

“Successfully completing the transition from hover to wing-borne flight with a full-scale eVTOL aircraft is a tremendous engineering feat that only a handful of companies in the world have achieved,” said Geoff Bower, Archer’s Chief Engineer. “Midnight is believed to be one of the largest eVTOL aircraft ever to achieve transition and one of the first that is purpose-built to carry enough passengers to be able to operate a successful air taxi business.”

Related:Hyundai Debuts A Vertical Take-Off Air Taxi

This image shows the size of the Midnight air taxi. ARCHER

While the Air Force contract can provide stability and confidence in the future, it is commercial air taxi service that will make Midnight a hit. In preparation, the team will fly simulated commercial routes to demonstrate the aircraft’s operational readiness. The goal is to execute the kind of high-rate flight operations air taxi services will demand while testing additional flight maneuvers that will be used in commercial settings.

Archer is also seeking to extend Midnight’s operational range and speed. The company is progressing with its FAA certification process as the company has now received its Part 135 and Part 145 certificates from the FAA, making Archer one of two companies in the world to have its final airworthiness criteria for an eVTOL aircraft.

Archer says its goal is to replace 60–90-minute commutes by car with estimated 10–20-minute electric air taxi flights that are safe, sustainable, low noise, and cost-competitive with ground transportation. Midnight can carry four passengers in addition to the pilot.

The company is gearing up to deliver on that promise with a new Georgia factory that can build as many as 650 Midnights a year. The 400,000-square-foot facility is slated to be complete by the end of this year. The factory is being built in partnership with automaker Stellantis, which is providing its high-volume manufacturing know-how. At the planned rate of 650 per year, the Midnight would be one of the highest-volume aircraft in the world.

Related:B-21 Raider Takes to the Skies