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REGENT’s All‑Electric Viceroy Completes First Crewed Seaglider Flight

The flight validates the craft’s core flight and hydrofoil systems.

Overview

  • REGENT flew the Viceroy a short, controlled hop that covered about 596 meters at roughly 10 meters above the water for 30 seconds with two crew aboard.
  • The company closed a $240 million Series B to finance certification work and start up a Rhode Island production facility.
  • Viceroy combines wing‑in‑ground‑effect lift with hydrofoils and distributed electric propulsion to improve takeoff, stability, and low‑altitude handling.
  • REGENT will focus next on expanded flight testing, formal certification and scaling to serial production while continuing unmanned Squire tests and defense partnerships.
  • The program revives a niche sea‑skimming concept with electric propulsion for short coastal routes and faces regulatory, certification and sea‑state performance challenges before passenger service can begin.