Regent Craft completes first crewed flight of Viceroy seaglider

Regent Craft has successfully completed the first crewed flight of its Viceroy, an all-electric wing-in-ground (WIG) effect seaglider. The test took place in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, with two pilots onboard.

The Viceroy utilizes a combination of hydrofoil and wing-in-ground effect technologies. The hydrofoils allow the craft to lift its hull from the water during low-speed transitions, providing stability in choppy conditions and reducing wave resistance. Once airborne, the craft uses the ground effect to fly close to the water surface, which increases lift and reduces drag. During this maiden flight, the vessel traveled approximately 596 meters at an altitude of 10 meters for a duration of 30 seconds.

Designed to carry up to 12 passengers at speeds of 180 mph (289 km/h), the Viceroy represents a significant milestone in electric maritime aviation. This achievement follows a recent $240 million Series B funding round intended to accelerate the development of the seaglider program.