Корабль REGENT Seaglider совершил первый пилотируемый полет над водой

REGENT Seaglider Takes First Crewed Flight in Major Step Toward Commercial Service REGENT Craft has completed the first human-crewed flight of its full-scale Viceroy Seaglider prototype, a major milestone in the Rhode Island company’s effort to bring its unconventional high-speed maritime craft into commercial service. The all-electric Viceroy flew for 30 seconds over Narragansett Bay, covering 1,956 feet at a height of about 33 feet above the water with two captains aboard, REGENT announced Wednesday. The company said the flight makes the Viceroy the largest all-electric wing-in-ground effect craft to fly with people aboard. The milestone comes roughly 18 months after REGENT unveiled the full-scale prototype and began crewed sea trials in Narragansett Bay. The Viceroy is designed to operate entirely over water in three modes: floating on its hull at low speeds, rising onto hydrofoils as it accelerates, and eventually flying in ground effect close to the water’s surface. Because the craft remains within roughly one wingspan of the surface, it takes advantage of the aerodynamic phenomenon known as ground effect to reduce drag and improve efficiency. REGENT says the 12-passenger Viceroy is designed for speeds of up to 180 mph and a range of up to 180 miles. Despite its ability to fly, the craft is operated by certified mariners and is regulated in the United States as a maritime vessel by the U.S. Coast Guard. The first crewed flight follows months of testing during which REGENT progressively increased the prototype’s hydrofoiling speed while conducting on-water and simulation-based testing. “This is the moment we have been envisioning and tirelessly pursuing for the past five and a half years: REGENT has successfully proven safe, efficient ground-effect flight,” said Billy Thalheimer, REGENT co-founder and CEO. The flight also moves the Viceroy program into the final stage of sea trials as REGENT prepares for production. REGENT completed construction in June of a 255,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at its Quonset, Rhode Island headquarters. The waterfront facility is expected to handle assembly, wing and hydrofoil integration, battery and systems installation and testing for both the Viceroy and the company’s autonomous Squire Seaglider drone. The company is targeting both commercial transportation and military applications. REGENT says its order book spans six continents and represents multiple years of planned manufacturing capacity. Earlier this year, luxury coastal travel operator The Twenty Five was announced as its first U.S. launch customer, with an order covering as many as 60 Viceroy Seagliders. The company has also been pursuing defense applications including contested logistics, medical evacuation and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. REGENT has a $15 million contract with the U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory and a cooperative research and development agreement with U.S. Special Operations Command. Its autonomous Squire demonstrator completed a defense-focused wing-in-ground effect flight earlier this year. The Viceroy’s first flight marks a significant step from REGENT’s initial quarter-scale demonstrations. The company, founded in 2020, first demonstrated its ground-effect concept with a smaller prototype in 2022 before unveiling the full-scale Viceroy in March 2025. That prototype measures roughly 55 feet long with a 65-foot wingspan, making its transition from hydrofoil to flight one of the more closely watched tests of REGENT’s concept. With a crewed flight now completed, REGENT said it will continue flight testing as it works toward full-scale production and eventual deliveries to commercial and military customers. Subscribe for Daily Maritime Insights Sign up for gCaptain’s newsletter and never miss an update — trusted by our 107,336 members Get The Industry’s Go-To News Subscribe to gCaptain Daily and stay informed with the latest global maritime and offshore news