Press Releases
About Soracle’s initiatives aimed at Expo 2025 and future social implementation
Regarding the activities during the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai and the upcoming project
Soracle Corporation (hereinafter referred to as “Soracle”) will showcase a full-scale model of
Archer Aviation’s Midnight eVTOL aircraft at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan (hereinafter
referred to as “Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai”), and Soracle will execute planned demonstration
flights in Japan in 2026 which will support the commercialization of eVTOL service in Japan.
The activities during the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai
In September 2024, Soracle signed an agreement to succeed in the Future Society Showcase
Project Exhibition, Smart Mobility Expo -Flying Cars, at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai succeeding
“Flying Car” operation project (hereinafter referred to as “the Project”) from Japan Airlines
Co., Ltd., and has been working towards eVTOL demonstration flights together with
the Archer Aviation Inc (hereinafter referred to as “Archer”). However, Archer will no longer
be able to accommodate Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai demo flight timeline and we have decided
to exhibit a full-scale static aircraft display at Expo 2025 Osaka to allow visitors to experience
the Midnight aircraft developed by Archer up close and better understand the potential of
eVTOL as a new mode of air travel.
Archer Aviation’s e VTOL “Midnight”
🄫Archer Aviation Inc.
EXPO Vertiport 🄫ORIX corporation
[Overview of Full-Scale Model Exhibition at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai]
- ●Exhibition Period: To be determined, details will be announced once determined
- ●Location: Expo Vertiport at the Mobility Experience Area of the Expo Site (Tentative)
Advanced Air Mobility | Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan Official Website - ●Show Plane: Archer Aviation’s eVTOL Midnight
Capacity: 5 people including 1 pilot Length: 10m Wingspan: 15m Height: 4m
The upcoming project toward social implementation
Soracle is currently working to obtain an Air Operator’s Certificate, in parallel with preparations of the full-scale model exhibition at
Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, aiming to be the first commercial
operator of eVTOLs in Japan. Archer’s development of Midnight is
steadily progressing, and Soracle and Archer will jointly plan
piloted demonstration flights between two points to be conducted in the Osaka-Kansai region in 2026 which will support
the commercialization of eVTOL service in Japan.
🄫Archer Aviation Inc.
Comment from Chief Commercial Officer at Archer Aviation, Nikhil Goel
“Archer is focused on our current flight test program to ensure we hit the milestones necessary
to support our certification and commercialization progress. To support the planned
commercialization progress in Japan, the decision has been made that it is best for Archer to
focus on the company’s upcoming piloted flight test program in the U.S. Unfortunately, that
means we will no longer be able to accommodate Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan demo flight
timeline and instead will execute planned demonstration flights in Japan in 2026 which will
support the commercialization of UAM service in the country. In the meantime, we are excited to
bring our Midnight show plane display to the Expo in partnership with Soracle to give guests an
opportunity to see our eVTOL aircraft up close. We look forward to continuing work with our
partners in Japan.”
Prompted by the exhibition for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai and through the demonstration flights
in the Osaka-Kansai region in 2026, Soracle will aim to accelerate the social implementation
of eVTOL thereby fostering a new environmentally friendly, and more accessible air travel
solution.
Soracle Overview
- Company name
- Soracle Corporation
- Line of business
- Air transportation services based on eVTOLs (planned obtaining of permit)
- Established
- June 2024
- Representatives
- Yukihiro Ota and Toshihiro Sasaki
- Address
- Chuo City, Tokyo
- Website
- https://www.soraclecorp.com/en/
Archer Aviation Overview
- Company name
- Archer Aviation, Inc.
- Line of business
- Designing, developing, and operating eVTOLs
- Established
- 2018
- Representative
- Founder & CEO Adam Goldstein
- Address
- California, U.S.A
- Website
- https://archer.com/
Overview of Archer Aviation’s eVTOL, Midnight
It is a vectored thrust eVTOL capable of carrying four passengers, designed and developed by
Archer Aviation. The aircraft has built up a track record of test flights in the U.S., and aims to
obtain type certification from the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) along with approvals to
several other global regulators, with the start of commercial operations targeted for 2026 in the
UAE and beyond.
[Operating Performance] Maximum speed: 240 km/h. Range: 160 km. Maximum load: 454 kg