REGENT flies its first crewed Seaglider, betting against eVTOL

The common perception of advanced air mobility is of urban air taxis using electric lift to take off and land vertically (eVTOL). The Rhode Island-based startup REGENT has a different idea: wing-in-ground-effect (WIG) vessels designed specifically for coastal travel over water. How the Seaglider skims instead of takes off REGENT completed the first human-crewed flight of its Viceroy Seaglider prototype at Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island on Sept. 2. The flight carried two crew members, traveled approximately 1,956 ft at an altitude of roughly 33 ft above the water, and marked the first crewed flight of the company's all-electric wing-in-ground-effect vehicle. The company says the milestone begins the final phase of testing before production and commercial deployment. WIG craft are vessels that fly within a wingspan of the water's surface, using aerodynamic ground effect to improve efficiency. REGENT's Seaglider WIG craft has three modes. It starts off in float mode, acting as a boat at low speed, then it transitions to hydrofoils once it clears the dock. Finally, it transitions into ground-effect flight above the water. Hydrofoils have been used for years in boats and ferries, giving the vessels much greater efficiency by using the foil to lift the body of the boat above water at high speeds and greatly reducing drag. The Viceroy uses the hydrofoil as a stepping stone to gain enough speed for the wings to generate lift and carry it out of and over the water. REGENT claims that hydrofoils give its Seaglider wave tolerance and maneuverability in harbors and near coastlines. REGENT is chasing a different market than eVTOLs The primary mission of most eVTOLs is to tackle urban transportation challenges, while REGENT is targeting coastal transportation instead. The Viceroy Seaglider is designed to carry 12 passengers and two crew at speeds up to 180 mph over water for approximately 180 miles. Its capabilities put the WIG craft in direct competition with both seaplanes and ferries, as opposed to more traditional business aircraft. The Viceroy Seaglider is technically not an airplane and does not require FAA certification. It will be regulated by the Coast Guard in the U.S. and by maritime authorities in other countries, making the company look less like an aviation startup and more like a maritime transportation company utilizing aviation technology. Why it matters REGENT is entering a transportation segment that's largely been ignored by business aviation as it attempts to find a niche between boats, ferries, helicopters and seaplanes. Whether that works remains to be seen, but REGENT says interest has been strong. REGENT claims it has an order book spanning six continents and multiple years of booked production capacity. The company also recently identified The Twenty Five as its first U.S. launch partner with plans for up to 60 Viceroy Seagliders. Advanced mobility may be developing along more than one path. While investors, regulators, and manufacturers continue focusing on eVTOLs, companies like REGENT are pursuing opportunities in coastal transportation, maritime logistics, and short-haul regional travel that don't fit neatly into either aviation or marine categories.