

Sustainable maritime transportation company REGENT showcased a full-scale mock-up of its seaglider prototype that is scheduled to undergo flight testing in 2024.
Following successful test flights of a ¼ scale prototype last year, the new full-scale model of the electric vehicle marks the next step in the U.S. start-up’s journey to utilize the Viceroy seagliders for passenger transport by the middle of this decade.
The company, with USD$8 billion in commercial orders lined up for the maritime vehicle, also announced plans to establish up to 600,000 square feet of manufacturing and testing facilities.
REGENT co-founder and CEO Billy Thalheimer said the unveiling of the full-scale seaglider and plans to expand the company’s facilities shows its commitment to kickstarting production in the near future.
“This mock-up along with the announcement of our plans to build new state-of-the-art facilities showcases our growth trajectory and our commitment to begin production as soon as possible,” he said.
The Viceroy seaglider combines an airplane and a boat but is an all-electric, zero-emission vessel that can transport both passengers and cargo up to 180 miles with the current battery technology available right now.
“Our studies, based on publicly validated data, show that our seagliders serve an $11 billion market that we project to swell to as much as $25 billion as battery technology advances. The $8 billion in orders our company has already received from a variety of companies around the world reflect the need for fast, reliable, and sustainable maritime transportation,” Thalheimer said.
Companies including Brittany Ferries, FRS (Germany), Mesa Airlines, Ocean Flyer (New Zealand), and Mokulele Airlines have ordered more than 500 seagliders from REGENT.
The Rhode Island-based firm has also identified EP Systems and MAGicALL as key vendors for the batteries and motors that will be used to power the full-scale prototype.
REGENT has secured over USD$50 million in funding over the past two years and recently added David Neeleman, co-founder of Breeze Airways, JetBlue, and Azul Airlines, and Dennis Muilenburg, former CEO of The Boeing Company, to its Board of Advisors. Strategic investments have also been procured from the likes of Japan Airlines, Lockheed Martin, and Yamato Holdings.
REGENT confirmed that the first batch of commercial passenger seagliders will be delivered to Southern Airways/Mokulele Airlines as it aims to fulfill its promise of better connecting residents in coastal and island locations.
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