Regent Begins Assembling Electric Seaglider Prototype for Crewed Testing

Company in the next few months will assemble the structural components for its flagship Viceroy aircraft, which is expected to begin crewed tests later this year.

Wednesday, October 02, 2024 at 09:54 AM ET

Verified

Regent has already flown a quarter-scale prototype of its flagship Viceroy seaglider, but the company is gearing up to test a full-scale prototype. [Courtesy: Regent Craft]

Key Takeaways:

Regent Craft has begun integrating hardware for its full-scale electric seaglider prototype, Viceroy, and expects to begin crewed human flights later this year after receiving U.S. Coast Guard approval.
The 12-passenger, zero-emission Viceroy is designed to fly 20-30 feet above the water, is regulated as a maritime vessel, and aims to merge aircraft speed (180 mph) with the low-cost operation of a boat.
Operated by maritime captains using boat controls, Viceroy will have an initial range of 180 miles, with potential for expansion as battery technology improves.
Regent has successfully tested a quarter-scale prototype and secured over 600 orders for the Viceroy, targeting coastal passenger transport, cargo delivery, and other applications.

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BENTONVILLE, Arkansas—The world’s first electric seaglider is gearing up to fly humans for the first time later this year.

On Tuesday here at the 2024 UP.Summit, manufacturer Regent Craft announced that it has begun integrating the hardware and systems on its full-scale electric seaglider prototype, Viceroy. After receiving the all-clear to begin prototype testing from the U.S. Coast Guard last week, the company expects to begin crewed tests at sea before year’s end.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.