Archer Aviation’s Midnight aircraft has completed its highest altitude flight, reaching 7,000 feet during a test from the company’s facility in Salinas, California. The flight formed part of the aircraft’s envelope expansion programme.

The test included a steady climb, a level phase at altitude, and a 45-mile run at more than 120mph. It follows a record set last month, when Midnight flew 55 miles in 31 minutes at speeds over 126mph.

Founder and CEO Adam Goldstein says: “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.”

The aircraft is designed mainly for city operations at altitudes of 1,500 to 4,000 feet, but high altitude capability is expected to support flexibility in dense airspace and in elevated cities. Archer is advancing towards FAA certification in the US and near-term commercialisation in the UAE.