Electric Seaglider Flight Milestone
REGENT Completes First Crewed Flight of Full-Scale Electric Viceroy Seaglider
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Key Points
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The Twenty Five has ordered up to 60 Viceroy Seagliders for domestic deployment in the Northeast and Southeast U.S.
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Regent has a $15 million contract with the U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Lab and a cooperative research and development agreement with U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) for Seaglider development.
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The autonomous Seaglider drone, Squire, completed its first defense-specific wing-in-ground-effect flight earlier this year, underscoring a broader defense development pathway for the technology.
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The test flight occurred on September 2, 2026, in Narragansett Bay with two crew aboard, per local reporting.
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Regent’s Quonset facility is described as the world's first Seaglider manufacturing facility—a 255,000-square-foot site intended to serve as the global production hub.
REGENT Craft achieved a major milestone on September 2, 2026, when its Viceroy Seaglider completed its first crewed flight over Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island. Two crew members piloted the vessel for 30 seconds, traveling 1,956 feet at roughly 33 feet above the water, making it AERONAUT the largest all-electric wing-in-ground effect craft to ever fly with people on board.
The Viceroy is designed to eventually carry 12 passengers plus two crew at speeds up to 180 mph with a range of about 180 miles. Aerospace Global News reported REGENT is now moving into final sea trials as it races toward commercial service and late-2027 deliveries, backed by major partnerships including orders from The Twenty Five and contracts with the U.S. Marine Corps.
Electric Boat-Plane Hybrid Takes Flight
A wing-in-ground effect craft skims just above water using air pressure to generate lift, blending airplane and boat technology. The Viceroy operates in three modes: float like a boat, foil using hydrofoils, or fly just above the surface. RI Monthly confirmed the September test marked the first time anyone flew this type of all-electric design with a crew aboard.
REGENT built a 255,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Quonset, Rhode Island to produce Seagliders. Manufacturing.net described it as the world's first dedicated Seaglider factory, positioned to become the global production hub for the emerging maritime aviation market.
The Twenty Five Orders 60 Seagliders for Coastal Routes
The Twenty Five, a ferry and transit company, has placed an order for up to 60 Viceroy Seagliders to operate in the Northeast and Southeast U.S. The move signals commercial confidence in the technology for regional passenger transport along America's coasts. Fast, electric-powered coastal travel could reduce flight times between major cities while producing zero emissions.
REGENT aims to deliver its first commercial aircraft by late 2027. The company is working through final testing and regulatory approvals needed to operate the Seaglider carrying passengers for hire on regular routes.
U.S. Military Eyes Seagliders for Special Operations
The U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Lab awarded REGENT a $15 million contract to develop and test the Seaglider. Additionally, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) signed a cooperative research agreement to explore military applications of the technology. These defense partnerships fund development while opening potential tactical and transport roles.
REGENT also developed Squire, an autonomous Seaglider drone that completed its first defense-focused wing-in-ground-effect flight earlier this year. The drone version demonstrates the technology's versatility beyond crewed passenger service, pointing to a broader military pathway for unmanned coastal operations.
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