Viceroy - The Ocean Glider.
The US startup Regent has set its sights on transforming coastal transportation with the development of an electric seaglider. This innovative watercraft is designed to seamlessly navigate both the waves and the air, offering a unique and efficient mode of travel for coastal communities.
Regent's electric seaglider, named Viceroy, is breaking new ground in transportation technology. It's neither a boat nor an airplane but a floating glider capable of accommodating 12 passengers. The key feature of this marine craft is its ability to transition between three different modes during a single journey.
From the dock, the vehicle will float on its hull. Upon reaching 32km/h, it will rise on its retractable hydrofoil. When it reaches the open sea, it smoothly transitions to its wing, retracts the aileron, and accelerates until reaching a comfortable cruising speed of 290km/h.
The key feature of this marine craft is its ability to transition between three different modes during a single journey. Viceroy glider can travel up to 290 kilometers on a single charge, but the company is working to stretch that range outward as battery technology improves. The range could reach 800 kilometers by the end of the decade. Hawaiian Airlines has agreed to invest in the latest prototype of the glider.
The glider will have a capacity of 100 passengers and is expected to enter commercial service in 2028.
Regent says it has sold 467 crafts so far to commercial aviation and ferry customers around the world, and has an order backlog totaling nearly US$8 billion.
The seaglider initially will be comparable in cost to a small aircraft such as a Cessna Grand Caravan or DHC-6 Twin Otter, although the company expects the cost to come down as more enter production. Those planes cost between US$2 and US$4 million new.
The yet-to-be-completed fully operational prototype will weigh 6800 kilograms, handle a payload of 1600 kilograms and have a 20 meters wingspan.
Regent expects to develop a future unmanned and autonomous version of the glider soon and signed US$4.75 million agreement with U.S. Marine Corps to build a demonstration prototype for the military transportation.