Archer's flying taxi takes its first hover flight

Aircraft maker Archer is boasting about a recent hover test.

Its electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, known as an eVTOL, made it off the ground last week. Earlier this year Archer showed off its five-seater prototype, called Maker. The company plans to develop an air taxi commuter transportation system with its small electric planes.

At a test flight location in California, the demo Maker went airborne successfully on Thursday morning. While not a full flight, the successful hover showed that the hardware and software was in working order. This first test means the company can move onto more testing in the new year.

Archer is aiming for a 2024 launch date in cities like Miami and Los Angeles.