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Archer Aviation said its Midnight electric aircraft flew about 55 miles in 31 minutes at speeds above 126 mph during a piloted test in August 2025. The company called it Midnight’s longest piloted flight to that point; the claim is an Archer program record, not an independently certified world record.
What happened on the 55-mile flight?
The flight took place at Archer’s flight-test facility in Salinas, California, as part of envelope-expansion testing. Archer reported a distance of approximately 55 miles over 31 minutes, with speeds exceeding 126 mph. The company also said preceding tests had reached nearly 150 mph; that is a separate test result, not the speed reported for the 55-mile flight.
Envelope expansion means testing an aircraft across a broader range of operating conditions and performance. A longer, faster piloted flight is evidence of progress in that test program, but it does not by itself establish that the aircraft is certified or ready for passenger service.
Was it a world record?
Archer described the flight as Midnight’s longest piloted flight to date. That supports calling it a company or program record. The available reporting does not identify an independent aviation-record authority that verified it as a world record, so that broader label is not established.
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- Includes photo etched radar, ladder, railing, masking seal, tractor, car, aircraft and display stand;"
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How does the flight fit into Midnight’s testing?
Archer’s test program continued after the 2025 flight. The company reported that a September 2026 Salinas–Hollister round trip covered more than 40 miles at 125 mph. That later flight is a separate test and should not be combined with the approximately 55-mile flight’s distance or speed.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When will Midnight carry passengers?
Archer has described certification and commercialization as goals, but the reported flight does not establish an FAA certification date or a start date for passenger service. The aircraft remains in a flight-test and certification program, with testing still being reported in 2026. No passenger-service date is established by these flight reports.
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