Archer Aviation (ACHR) Stock: Cathie Wood Buys $28M as Company Buys LA Airport

TLDR

• Archer Aviation acquired Hawthorne Airport in LA for $126 million to establish its air taxi operations hub and AI testing facility.
• ARK Investment purchased 3 million shares worth $28.8 million on November 6, 2025.
• The company raised $650 million in equity, pushing total liquidity beyond $2 billion.
• Midnight aircraft set records with a 55-mile flight and 10,000-foot altitude achievement.
• Archer closed the Lilium patent acquisition, expanding its IP portfolio to 1,000+ assets.

Archer Aviation captured investor attention this week with a strategic airport acquisition and fresh capital injection. Cathie Wood’s ARK Investment made a substantial bet on the eVTOL manufacturer.

ARK purchased 3,012,500 shares of Archer Aviation on Thursday, totaling $28,829,625. The investment came as Archer unveiled its third quarter earnings and announced multiple strategic initiatives.

The company signed agreements to acquire Hawthorne Airport for $126 million in cash. The 80-acre property sits less than three miles from LAX in the heart of Los Angeles. The historic facility includes 190,000 square feet of terminal, office and hangar space.

Archer Aviation Inc., ACHR

Archer plans to transform the airport into its LA air taxi network headquarters. The site will support operations during the LA28 Olympics. It will also function as a testing ground for AI-powered aviation technologies the company is developing with airline partners.

Major Capital Raise Strengthens Balance Sheet

Archer secured $650 million in new equity capital during Q3. Total liquidity now exceeds $2 billion, giving the company one of the strongest financial positions in the electric aircraft sector.

United Airlines continues backing Archer’s vision through United Airlines Ventures. CFO Michael Leskinen highlighted the company’s commitment to technologies reshaping aviation infrastructure.

The company completed its Lilium patent portfolio acquisition for €18 million. The deal added 300 advanced air mobility patents covering ducted fans, high-voltage systems, and flight controls. Archer’s total IP portfolio now includes over 1,000 global assets.

Flight Testing Breaks Performance Records

The Midnight aircraft achieved its longest piloted flight, covering 55 miles in 31 minutes. Speeds exceeded 126 mph during the journey. The aircraft also reached a new altitude record of 10,000 feet.

Archer demonstrated the Midnight at the California International Airshow. Thousands of spectators witnessed the aircraft’s quiet flight characteristics over two days.

Test flights began in Abu Dhabi this summer. Archer is now receiving payments for its UAE Launch Edition program. The company works through regulatory pathways toward in-country certification for commercial passenger operations.

International expansion continues in Asia. Korean Air selected Archer as its exclusive air taxi partner in Korea. Japan Airlines and Sumitomo’s joint venture Soracle chose Archer for projects in Osaka and Tokyo.

Hawthorne Airport’s location near SoFi Stadium, The Forum, Intuit Dome and Downtown LA positions Archer strategically. The facility built in the 1920s was once known as Jack Northrop Field.

Moelis & Company served as lead placement agent for the capital raise. Cantor Fitzgerald acted as joint placement agent. Moelis also advised on the airport acquisition.

The Midnight aircraft continues advancing toward performance maturity. Each test flight brings the company closer to commercial air taxi service launch.

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