In Rhode Island, REGENT Craft has begun sea trials of its first full-scale, crewed seaglider prototype, a 12-passenger, all-electric vessel designed for high-speed coastal travel, the company announced on March 6. The test campaign, taking place in Narragansett Bay, will culminate in the first human flight later this year.
The 55-foot Viceroy seaglider, christened “Paladin”, operates in three modes—floating on its hull, hydrofoiling above the water, and flying just above the surface in ground effect. REGENT’s test captains have already completed initial on-water assessments following months of subsystem testing.
“Stepping off the dock and onto the Viceroy seaglider prototype for the first time was surreal,” said Mike Klinker, REGENT co-founder and CTO. “I felt honored to be in the cockpit as she left the dock for the first time and started sea trials.”
REGENT, which has a $9 billion order book spanning six continents, sees the seaglider as a new category of coastal transport. “Sea trials are just the beginning,” said CEO Billy Thalheimer. “Today, we’re one step closer to meeting what we have now validated as massive global market demand for seagliders.”
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Tags: REGENT Craft, Rhode Island, seaglider
Category: Sustainable Marine Fuels
