Archer Aviation has selected the Austrian aerostructures manufacturer FACC to supply elements of the fuselage and wing for Archer’s eVTOL aircraft.
The California-based start-up is developing a fully electric, four-seat eVTOL aircraft with a fixed wing and a tilting propeller system. Archer has flown several test flights with its two-seat Maker eVTOL technology demonstrator aircraft since December 2021, when it received its airworthiness certificate from the FAA. The company plans to reveal its full-size production model in 2023, with type certification expected in 2024.
On July 18, the company announced that it has formed a partnership with FACC “to fabricate and supply key fuselage and wing elements” for the production version of its eVTOL aircraft. FACC (short for Fischer Advanced Composite Components) designs and manufactures lightweight aircraft components for aerospace companies around the world, and it has been working with EHang, the China-based eVTOL aircraft developer.
“FACC’s proven track record in fabricating advanced composite structures for the aerospace industry, coupled with their focus on innovation and safety, makes them the perfect supplier for some of the most significant elements of our aircraft structure,” Archer CEO Adam Goldstein said in the July 18 announcement.
Archer’s full-scale Maker eVTOL, designed for urban air mobility, will feature 12 motors—with six tilting propellers and six stationary propellers—and the aircraft will be able to fly up to 60 miles (100 kilometers) at a cruise speed of up to 150 mph (240 km/h).
Earlier this year, Archer signed a deal with composites specialist Hexcel, which is based in Kent, Washington, to supply carbon fiber materials for Archer’s production aircraft. Archer also recently partnered with United Airlines, one of its investors and prospective customers, to form an eVTOL aircraft advisory committee to provide guidance on maintenance and operational arrangements.
