#advanceairmobility - #evtol developers skating on thin ice and risking future lawsuits? While the Archer Midnight is one of the best looking eVTOL aircraft and as Bert Lear said "If it looks good, it will fly good", and the specs are realistic; the name Archer (a Piper Aircraft trademark and used for Piper's Archer trainer since 1974 - settled out of court), calling the midnight a flying car (roadable aircraft), unrealistic production forecasts (250 aircraft to be delivered in the first year, when Robinson Helicopter Company deliver under 300 per year, after 45 years in production) and promising type certification of the Midnight in 2025 (less than 2 years after first flight for a cleansheet aircraft, when the Bell Flight 525 fly by wire helicopter has yet to be type certified 9 years after first flight, not to mention the Leonardo AW609, 21 years after first flight), leaves one wondering not if, but when the next investor lawsuit(s) is coming?
Konrad Brynda
10mo
And I’m afraid it actually doesn’t even look that good in the first place…
Martin Stucki
10mo
Floats, a weather radar, bearpaws ....add a lot of drag to a helicopter, you can read it, as your cruise speed is 2,4,8,15 kts lower. At least you still hover with a very good efficiency. Archer as many other eVTOL's has a poor efficiency in hover and the drag of the pylons, the fixed propellers, the landing gear will in forward flight will brake down the aircraft and bring down efficiency. The aircraft and everything else around is completely unrealistic. We invest actually billions into such projects. At the same time, the helicopter industry is suffering from innovation and new models. Aside Robinson USA waived good bye more or less to the civil market. This is another proof that the combined intelligence quotient of investors is below room temperature. Its only a play, that has nothing to do with reality or realistic assumptions.
Seyed Mohseni
10mo
Very true Gary. I would ask these questions from the Archer Exec team and the likes of Mark Moore who is promoting Archer and Joby whilst it seems conflict of interest has diluted their professional knowledge.
Alan Prichard FRAeS
10mo
Very good points Gary. It makes one wonder how many actual aircraft designers with certification experience were involved.
Rick 'Bull' Dunham
10mo
Good comments Gary. Devil is of course in the aeronautical and ROI details. And real world environments such as temps. Best
Its electrifying!
10moArcher also needs to demonstrate that the Midnight (flying Pacifica van) can compete with current leading urban airshuttles and airtaxis, the Airbus H125, Bell 407 and 505, and Robinson R66, by being able to do 3 typical airport city centre fully laden one way flights per peak hour for 3 peak hours with just top-up charging at a similar cost per seat mile, something no eVTOL developer has demonstrated yet.