Archer’s Maker eVTOL completes second phase of test flights

California electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developer Archer Aviation says it has completed the second round of testing of its Maker air taxi prototype, and will now begin the third and final series of trials leading to full transition flight.

Archer made the announcement after its eVTOL air taxi successfully finished the last of its critical azimuth test flights, which had constituted the second phase of trials the company had been putting Maker through. Those piloted the aircraft through a series of movements forward, backward, and to both sides at various speeds to simulate its response to wind while in operation. As part of that, the Maker prototype was taken up to velocities of 15 knots, with all its configuration and flight control systems checking out well.

With that battery of tests behind them, Archer’s technical team will now commence the final phase of the eVTOL’s test flights, which will increasingly augment the…