Electrive reports, “Archer Aviation, the California-based electric aircraft company, has just announced the longest piloted flight of its Midnight aircraft. The Midnight flew 55 miles (88km) in 31 minutes at >126mph (202.8km/h). On this test flight, the fully electric Midnight used a conventional takeoff and landing method; however, the aircraft itself is also capable of vertical takeoff and landing, thanks to articulated rotors which can serve either purpose depending on need.”
Full Story (Electrive)
Tag: Aviation
A Day in the Life of the Thunderbird Crew
FROM THE INSTITUTE
Keeping America’s premier aerial demonstration team flying day in and day out takes extraordinary skill behind the scenes. More than just routine aircraft upkeep, maintaining the Thunderbirds fleet is a high-precision dance. A handpicked cadre of 135 maintenance professionals across 30 specialties keeps the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds sky-ready to perform the precision flying and heart-stopping maneuvers that viewers on the ground love.
Full Story (Aerospace America)
SiFly Q12 Sets New Drone Endurance Record
Flying Magazine reports, “As the FAA nears a final rule on beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operations that could unlock more expansive commercial missions, a California-based startup has set a new benchmark for the longest flight of a prototype electric drone weighing 5-20 kilograms.” UAS developer SiFly “this week said Guinness World Records validated a 3-hour, 11-minute flight of its Q12 drone, eclipsing the previous high by nearly one hour.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
Aviation Startups Showcase Disruptive New Aircraft Coming by 2050
FROM THE INSTITUTE
Commercial aviation is staring down a massive shortfall—and time is running out. According to industry estimates, more than 40,000 new aircraft will be needed by 2050 to meet global air transportation demand. Yet between them, the world’s two largest aircraft manufacturers—Boeing and Airbus—can only deliver about 26,000 new aircraft by the midpoint of this century.
Full Story (Aerospace America)
Regent Co-Founders Begin Seaglider Hydrofoil Trials
Aviation Week reports, “For Billy Thalheimer, co-founder and CEO of electric seaglider startup Regent, Aug. 6 was a surreal day. Just five years ago, he was seated at the kitchen table in co-founder Mike Klinker’s apartment, the two friends working side by side to develop the concept of the Viceroy electric seaglider after…”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Hybrid Aircraft One Step Toward the Future of Aviation
FROM THE INSTITUTE
Aircraft powered by hybrid-electric engines can bridge the gap between today’s fossil-fuel jets and tomorrow’s zero-emission aircraft, said Susan Ying, CEO of AMP2FLY, during the 2025 AIAA Wright Brothers Lecture in Aeronautics. Ying, an AIAA Fellow, used the lecture during the 2025 AIAA AVIATION Forum in July to unveil a practical roadmap for hybrid-electric flight for commercial aviation that will help achieve near net-zero emissions by 2050 and provide cleaner flights for short-hop routes for commercial success “within a few years.”
Full Story (Aerospace America)
Boeing 777-9 to Begin Takeoff Performance Tests at Edwards AFB
Aviation Week reports, “Boeing 777-9 certification tests reached a key stage on Aug. 14 with the return of WH001, the first 777X development aircraft, to Edwards AFB, California, for the start of takeoff performance testing.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Electra and Surf Air Mobility Collaborate on eSTOL Technology to Reshape Regional Air Mobility
AInvest reports, “The convergence of electrification, advanced software, and innovative aircraft design is reshaping the future of regional air mobility. At the forefront of this transformation are Electra.aero and Mobility, two companies whose collaboration in electrified ultra-short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) technology is poised to unlock a $76.28 billion market by 2034. Their partnership, underpinned by cutting-edge engineering and strategic operational integration, offers a compelling case for investors seeking exposure to next-generation infrastructure and sustainable aviation.”
Full Story (AInvest)
Members Share Flight Deck Lessons on Psychological Safety for Every Work Environment
FROM THE INSTITUTE
Pulling from personal experiences in the flight deck and applying them to the business meeting room, Amanda Simpson joined U.S. Air Force Test Pilot Lt. Col. Carlos Pinedo for an AIAA webinar highlighting the importance of psychological safety in every work environment. They especially emphasized how leaders and subordinates can create and maintain an environment where all ideas and opinions are valued.
Full Story (Aerospace America)
North Carolina Partners with Georgia to Study AAM ‘Interstate in the Sky’
Flying Magazine reports, “The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT) Division of Aviation and Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) are joining forces to study a first-of-its-kind testbed for autonomous, electric, and vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. The state transportation departments announced a partnership to create the nation’s first “interstate in the sky” for AAM aircraft, including uncrewed drones and eVTOL air taxis. The proposed corridor is intended to serve as a “real-world testbed” for the technology and could one day bring commercial AAM passenger and cargo operations to the Southeast.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)