Archer Aviation Secures $126M LA Airport Deal Amid Cathie Wood’s $28M Investment
Archer Aviation (ACHR) is making strategic moves to dominate the urban air mobility sector. The company acquired Hawthorne Airport in Los Angeles for $126 million, positioning it as a hub for its air taxi network and AI technology testing. This acquisition coincides with a $650 million equity raise, boosting total liquidity beyond $2 billion.
Technical milestones punctuate Archer's progress. Its Midnight aircraft completed record-breaking test flights, including a 55-mile journey and altitude tests reaching 10,000 feet. The company also expanded its intellectual property portfolio through an €18 million acquisition of Lilium's patents, now holding over 1,000 aviation patents.
Cathie Wood's ARK Investment made a decisive bet on November 6, 2025, purchasing 3.01 million shares worth $28.8 million. This institutional endorsement arrives as Archer demonstrates both operational scale and technological capability in the emerging electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) market.