Archer’s Midnight eVTOL Reveal Last Night in NYC Featured a Fleet of Cybertrucks & an Entrance Line Around the Block

(New York, New York) Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) hosted a group of hundreds of New York City locals (and visitors) to meet its Midnight electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft at the Chelsea Factory in downtown Manhattan last night (Apr. 17).

Photo of Archer Founder & Chief Executive Officer Adam Goldstein and Archer's Midnight electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle at last night's event at NYC's Chelsea Factory, courtesy of FlyJets.

Photo of the interior of Archer's Midnight vehicle on display last night at NYC's Chelsea Factory, courtesy of FlyJets.

Photo of a line of Tesla vehicles outside of Archer's NYC event last night (Apr. 18), courtesy of FlyJets.

Photo of Archer CEO Adam Goldstein presenting onstage at last night's NYC event, courtesy of FlyJets.

Photo of Archer CEO Adam Goldstein, The Tonight Show Host Jimmy Fallon & Archer's Midnight eVTOL aircraft at last night's NYC event, courtesy of FlyJets.

Photo of Archer's Midnight eVTOL on display at NYC's Chelsea Factory last night, courtesy of FlyJets.

After first being greeted by both a fleet of also-electric Tesla cybertrucks and an entrance line around the block outside the factory, showcase-goers saw in person what I’m 135 percent sure (give or take) everyone deemed one of the coolest-looking aerial structures they’ve ever seen.

Archer Chief Executive Officer Adam Goldstein, Chief Revenue Officer Nikhil Goel and the team hosted, and Goldstein presented onstage, speaking about the future of the Midnight electric air taxi in the New York City area, the eVTOL’s extremely low noise and zero-emission profile, Archer’s partnership with United (NASDAQ: UAL) and the company’s relationship with private aviation fixed-base operators Atlantic Aviation and Signature.

Post-Goldstein’s presentation, The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon shouted, “Let’s go to the Hamptons!” and jumped into the on-display Midnight vehicle with a smile and a ‘wow’ (the standard reaction throughout the crowd).

The event was held on the same day as Archer and United announced plans for a proposed New York City electric air taxi network – the primary goal of the network is to replace one-to-two-hour, often traffic-laden drives throughout the New York City area with five-to-15 minute flights via Archer’s Midnight electric air taxi.

“We will be able to work in the city, live out in upstate New York, and fly in no problem,” Goldstein said, per Robb Report.

As for the specifics associated with the Archer-United NYC-area air taxi network, the companies will utilize Archer’s Midnight eVTOL on routes to and from six key locations and various heliports and vertiports throughout New York City (W 30th, E. 34th and Downtown Skyport): Westchester County Airport (HPN), Teterboro Airport (TEB), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia International Airport (LGA) and Republic Airport (FRG).

Archer is currently working with the FAA to seek Type Certification of its Midnight aircraft. Once Type Certification is received, Archer and its operating partners plan to integrate Midnight into service, beginning with major airports like those in the New York City area (Archer received its FAA Part 135 Air Carrier and Operator Certificate in June 2024), according to the company. 

The FAA introduced its “powered-lift” category of operations – in which forthcoming eVTOLs such as Archer’s Midnight fall – in October of 2024. Type certification of the powered-lift aircraft class – and, therefore, the commercial release of eVTOL aircraft – is currently anticipated in 2026 or 2027.

Midnight Specs, per Archer:

• Max speed: 150mph
• Max onboard load: 1 pilot + 4 passengers + carry-on luggage
• Emissions: zero
• Optimal initial range (for rapid back-to-back flights): 20 – 50 miles