An incredible hybrid high-speed yacht-seaplane vehicle has completed successful flight tests and is ready now for production.
Designed for sustainable maritime travel, the fully-electric seaglider operates a few meters off the water’s surface on hydrofoils until it needs to fly.
Rhode Island-based company REGENT say it couples the high speed of an airplane with the low operating costs of a boat.
“With orders totaling over $7 billion, REGENT will commercialize seagliders for sustainable high-speed, regional mobility with first passengers boarding in 2025,” the company stated along with the announcement that they achieved an initial series of test flights of the craft.
Their test was of a 1/4 scale model, and will now focus on developing the full-scale prototype with a 65-feet wingspan to start testing flights with passengers in 2024.
“People have been attempting to make [these] vehicles viable for 60 years, and in 15 months we have gone from a drawing on a napkin to the first successful flight,” said Mike Klinker, REGENT CTO and co-founder.
With a range of 180 miles (290 km) and able to fly at 180 mph (290 kph), REGENT have plans to service coastal communities such as New York City and Tokyo.
By last year, REGENT’s founders had raised almost $10 million from investors, which have included Mark Cuban and Peter Thiel.
“Seagliders will bring welcome relief for travelers seeking an alternative to traditional air travel servicing coastal communities such as New York City, the Hawaiian Islands, Barcelona, Tokyo, and many more worldwide,” said Billy Thalheimer, CEO and co-founder of REGENT.
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