Nearly a year ago, spectators gathered along the flight line at the California International Airshow in Salinas, California witnessed a milestone for the emerging AAM industry. Archer Aviation’s Midnight aircraft took to the skies in its first public flight demonstration, giving thousands of aviation enthusiasts their first opportunity to see their aircraft fly outside its flight test program.
At the time, the demonstration was about showcasing Midnight to the general community, while supporting the great causes sponsored by the California International Airshow.
Recently, Archer returned to Salinas with a different objective.
Instead of flying for an airshow audience, on the 30th of July, 2026, Midnight departed Salinas Municipal Airport on a piloted CTOL mission to Monterey Regional Airport before making the return trip, completing a city-to-city CTOL demonstration that provides operational experience relevant to how Archer envisions the aircraft being used in everyday service.
Monterey Regional Airport (MRY)
- Serves California’s Central Coast
- 650,000 passengers annually
- Supports both commercial and general aviation
- Two parallel runways
- Primary runway: 28L and 10R is 7,175’ in length
- General aviation runway: 28R and 10L is 3,504’ in length
- Accessed by four major airlines:
- United (Archer’s partner and customer)
- Alaska
- Allegiant
- American
Salinas Municipal Airport
- 80,000 annual flight operations
- Runways:
- 8/26: Asphalt, 6,004 feet long by 150 feet wide (Primary runway)
- 13/31: Asphalt, 4,825 feet long by 150 feet wide
- Helipad (H1): 90 x 90 feet (asphalt/concrete)
- Home to the long-running California International Airshow (held annually since 1981)
Salinas, Where Archer Puts on a Show
The location is no coincidence. Archer maintains a flight test hangar and operational base at Salinas Municipal Airport, which has become a key hub for the company’s West Coast flight testing. Returning to Salinas not only leveraged an established operating base, but also revisited the site of one of Midnight’s most memorable public milestones.
The two flights, conducted on July 30 in coordination with the FAA, each took approximately nine minutes, compared with a drive that can often exceed 35 minutes along California’s Central Coast. While the time savings are notable, the significance of the mission extends well beyond speed.
For Archer, this wasn’t simply another test flight. It was an operational demonstration designed to support preparations for the White House’s recently announced eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), an initiative aimed at accelerating the safe integration of electric aircraft into the National Airspace System through real-world operational experience.
That makes this mission different from many developmental flight tests.
Rather than focusing on expanding Midnight’s flight envelope or validating aircraft performance, the demonstration highlighted a practical transportation mission between two existing airports, exactly the type of operation that could become commonplace as advanced air mobility (AAM) moves closer to commercial service.
The timing is equally significant.
In announcing the milestone, Archer CEO Adam Goldstein pointed to the company’s preparations for eIPP operations later this year while also referencing a longer-term goal: helping launch electric air taxi service ahead of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. As the Official Air Taxi Provider for LA28, Archer has positioned the Games as one of the industry’s first opportunities to showcase eVTOL transportation at scale.
“This roundtrip journey is exactly the kind of route we plan to fly with Midnight under the eIPP and in LA during the Olympic Games. This mission provides a template for us to replicate with our partners across Texas, Florida and New York as we get ready for eIPP operations later this year.” – Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer (3rd of August, 2026)
Programs like eIPP are expected to play a critical role in making that vision possible. Beyond aircraft certification, they allow manufacturers, regulators, airports, and local communities to evaluate how these aircraft will integrate into existing transportation systems and airspace before routine passenger operations begin.
“This is a landmark moment for our industry and our country. We have an Administration that is prioritizing the integration of eVTOL operations in U.S. cities ahead of full certification in a pragmatic way. We’ll demonstrate that air taxis can operate safely and quietly. These early flights will help cement American leadership in advanced aviation and set the stage for scaled commercial operations in the U.S. and beyond.” – Adam Goldstein, Archer Founder and CEO (12th of September, 2025)
Since Archer’s announcement of the intercity flight, eVTOL buzz has contacted The Brand Amp, Archer Aviation’s media-relations representative, on several occasions seeking additional comment on the Salinas-Monterey flight. We also asked what the company learned from the demonstration and how those lessons could inform future Midnight operations, as well as the potential relevance of Wisk’s Hollister flight-test presence following Archer’s planned acquisition of Wisk. No response had been received at the time of publication.
Archer Aviation
- Based in San Jose, California
- NYSE: ACHR
- CEO: Adam Goldstein
- Business segments:
- eVTOL and hybrid VTOL manufacturer
- Archer Midnight eVTOL
- 1 pilot + 4 passengers
- up to 150 mph
- Hybrid eVTOL (Archer Defense partnership with Anduril Industries)
- Archer Midnight eVTOL
- UAS
- Halo (partnership with Anduril)
- Group 5 UAS aircraft
- Halo (partnership with Anduril)
- Propulsion
- Electric powertrain
- Hybrid-electric powertrain for Anduril’s Omen (Group 3 UAS aircraft)
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Zee
- AI foundational model intended for:
- Air traffic management (ATM)
- Co-pilot assistance
- Airline operations
- Ground operations
- AI foundational model intended for:
- Zee
- eVTOL and hybrid VTOL manufacturer
- United Airlines, top customer with up to $1.5B LOI to order hundreds of Archer eVTOLs
- Collaborates with Stellantis on implementing advanced manufacturing techniques into aerospace
- Manufactures electric powertrains for drones/UAS such as:
- Anduril’s Omen (Group 3 UAS)
- Archer and Andruil’s joint clean-sheet Thunder and Halo dual-use platform (Group 5 UAS)
- Working with Anduril, who is the main supplier (one of seven) vying for the UK MOD’s Project NYX contract to manufacturer a drone “loyal wingman” for the AH-64 Apache Guardian
- Expanding its presence in the UK (Bristol) and continental Europe
Salinas Municipal Airport
Archer’s Flight Test Campaign
Archer’s Engineering & Flight Test Collaboration (watch below):
“The engineers have certain kind of data they need, so they come to the test team and say, “We need data like this, you know, this kind of performance, this kind of condition.” and then the test team takes those requests, develops them into a test plan, working with the test way to collect that data, and then we go pilot to figure out what’s the safest out and execute it. We tell operators and the FAA that our aircraft is safe to operate within these bounds, and we call that an envelope. It’s essentially a list of different parameters, temperature, speed, altitude, that the aircraft can operate in. Okay, we need this test point at this particular altitude, heading, and airspeed, but what’s the safest way to get that data? Test pilots are kind of that translator between the the pilots and the engineers, and now it’s just my job to finish it and take it that last, you know, yard across the finish line.” – Benjamin Williamson, Experimental Test Pilot, Archer Aviation
Archer’s CTOL and VTOL testing program (watch video below):
“I have the rare opportunity to be one of the four pilots to fly the Midnight aircraft. Probably one of the easiest aircraft I’ve ever flown out of the 50 or so aircraft that I’ve spent my career flying. Great thing about this aircraft gives us the ability to do both conventional takeoff and landing what we call CTOL and vertical takeoff and landing which we call VTOL. That gives us the flexibility to either A operate from an airport where we can just fly like any airplane will or we can go to a vertiport and say downtown for San Francisco or New York City or Los Angeles and land on rooftops or wherever the vertiport may be like a helicopter would.” – Jeff Greenwood, Chief Test Pilot of Archer Aviation
“At this stage of the flight test campaign we’re doing envelope expansion so we’re both expanding CTOL and we’re also expanding the transition corridor for VTOL. And that ensures that we have a level of safety that will satisfy the FAA.” – Jeff Greenwood, Chief Test Pilot of Archer Aviation
Late May 2025 (Announced June 2, 2025): Midnight’s First CTOL Flight
“Put simply, the performance of Midnight continues to demonstrate the strengths of our design decisions for this aircraft platform. Midnight’s VTOL and CTOL capabilities are a strong differentiator for us as they are critical for delivering an aircraft that can integrate into a wide range of operational scenarios while also providing enhanced safety.” – Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer
“Flying Midnight felt just like flying the simulator—everything responded exactly as we trained for, which is exactly what you hope for during a test flight. That level of consistency is no surprise. It’s a testament to the engineering and operational excellence of our team, whose attention to detail and dedication to safety made this milestone possible.” – Jeff Greenwood, Chief Test Pilot at Archer
Midnight Piloted Flight with CTOL | Full Flight Video (watch below)
August 18, 2025: Midnight completed its longest piloted flight, covering approximately 55 miles in 31 minutes
“I was proud to be on the tarmac with the team for this flight. Crossing the 50-mile mark at speed is another clear step toward commercialization that shows the maturity of our program.” – Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer (18th of August, 2025)
“I’ve been a longtime supporter of bringing sustainable forms of aviation to market. Congratulations to the Archer team on achieving this milestone flight—I was impressed by how quiet the aircraft was.” – Mike Leskinen, Executive Vice President and CFO of United (18th of August, 2025)
“Throughout the thirty-minute flight, the aircraft performed consistently, with predictable handling. It was a beautiful day to be behind the controls.” – The Experimental Test Pilot for 55 mile flight (18th of August, 2025)
September 22, 2025: Archer announced Midnight had reached a then-record altitude of 7,000 feet
“I’m proud of the team for consistently proving Midnight’s performance capabilities while maintaining the highest safety standards. Our test pilots will continue to safely and methodically test Midnight’s speed, duration and mission profiles to prepare for early commercial operations.” – Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer (22nd of September, 2025 )
10,000 ft Altitude to Unlock The Skies
On the 1st of October, 2025, just a few days before the California International Airshow, CEO and Founder of Archer Aviation, Adam Goldstein posted on X a video of Midnight flying over Salinas, asking the community to guess the altitude. He gave a hint that the altitude was higher than 7K ft.
We were able to guess the correct altitude of 10,000 feet.
2025 California International Airshow, Where the Public Witnessed the Future of Flight
Last year’s appearance at the California International Airshow marked Midnight’s historic first public flight demonstration, a moment that introduced the aircraft to the public and demonstrated that this technology is being developed and will one day serve them as ultra-quiet air taxis.
eVTOL buzz was at the flightline, and filmed the Midnight flights for both days of the airshow. Archer brought their CTOL variant of the Midnight (N703AX) It was a truly spectacular experience to see the reactions from regular people, excited to see the future of aviation with their own eyes.
Archer Midnight public demonstration flight on October 5, 2025 (Day 1), during the California International Airshow in Salinas, California (watch video below):
Archer Midnight public demonstration flight on October 5, 2025 (Day 2), during the California International Airshow in Salinas, California (watch video below):
Salinas After the Airshow
Since the 2025 California International Airshow, Archer has been logging flights above Salinas, and gathering data to continue the development of their aircraft. All of this activity, including the recent intercity flight between Salinas and Monterey highlight the hard work and dedication that goes into developing a commercially-viable and certifiable aircraft.
Thus, one year after the public demonstration at the California International Airshow, Midnight continued its work at the same airport where Archer has established its flight operations, demonstrating something different, not simply that Midnight can fly, but how it may one day connect communities across California. For years, the advanced air mobility industry has focused on proving that these aircraft can fly. Increasingly, the conversation is shifting toward demonstrating how they can serve real transportation needs. In Salinas, Archer did not simply revisit a historic milestone. It built upon it with another step toward the future of regional air mobility.
The Salinas – Monterey flight represents another important step in Archer’s journey from flight testing toward real world air mobility. While this mission was conducted using conventional takeoff and landing, it demonstrated Midnight operating between two communities on a real point to point route, an important part of the operational experience Archer Aviation is building toward. From its established flight test base in Salinas, the company continues to expand what it can demonstrate with Midnight, bringing the vision of faster, more connected regional travel one step closer to reality. The next chapter will be watching how these CTOL flight test milestones evolve into the full eVTOL mission profile and, ultimately, a new way for people to travel between communities.
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More Info:
Official press release: click here
Archer Showcases Piloted Midnight Flight As It Advances To Next Phase Of Flight Test Program (2nd of June, 2025): click here
Archer Plans For Air Taxi Trial Participation Under White House eVTOL Pilot Program With U.S. Airlines and Cities (12 of September, 2025): click here
Archer Completes 55 Mile Flight—Longest Yet For Piloted Midnight Aircraft (Aug 18, 2025): click here
Archer’s Midnight Flight Test Program Reaches Record Heights (Sep 22, 2025): click here
Archer’s Midnight to Fly at 2025 California International Air Show Following Record Flight Test Achievements (Oct 1, 2025): click here
N703AX flight tracking data (Salinas SNS to Monterey MRY): click here
N703AX flight tracking data (Monterey MRY to Salinas SNS): click here