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BY MARK WORGAN

A prototype electric vessel designed to fly just above the surface of the sea has completed its first crewed flight.

Regent Craft's Viceroy Seaglider, a wing-in-ground-effect (WIG) craft, flew with two captains on board in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island.

The company said the 596m (1,956ft) flight lasted 30 seconds, with the vessel reaching a height of 10m (33ft) above the water.

Regent said the flight made the Viceroy the largest all-electric WIG craft to carry people.

The test marks the beginning of the final stage of sea trials for the vessel, which the company hopes will eventually be used for passenger and cargo transport, as well as military operations.

“This is the moment we have been envisioning and tirelessly pursuing for the past five and a half years: Regent has successfully proven safe, efficient ground-effect flight,” said Billy Thalheimer, co-founder and CEO at Regent. "The Viceroy Seaglider flight marks the start of a new era in mobility, unlocking opportunities across passenger travel, defense missions, and cargo transport. I’m so grateful to the amazing team who made history today. We’re now moving quickly toward production to deliver Seagliders to coastlines around the world.”

Seagliders are designed to combine characteristics of boats and aircraft.

They initially travel on their hull at low speed before rising on hydrofoils as they leave the dock. At higher speeds, they transition into wing-in-ground-effect flight, travelling within about one wingspan of the water's surface.

The effect allows the craft to fly close to the water while using its wings to generate lift.

Hydrofoils are intended to improve stability and manoeuvrability in harbours and coastal waters.

The Viceroy is designed to reach speeds of up to 180mph (290km/h), with a range of up to 180 miles (290km). It is intended to carry 12 passengers and two crew members.

Mike Klinker, co-founder and CTO at Regent says his company will now place the Viceroy Seaglider in production. Regent says it has orders spanning six continents and several years of manufacturing capacity booked. In June, Regent completed construction of what it describes as the world's first Seaglider manufacturing facility.

"Completing this flight test validates years of rigorous engineering and operational work and gives us the confidence to move into full-rate production,” he adds. “We showed today that flying a Seaglider is every bit as smooth and safe as we designed it to be. I can’t wait to get onboard and to share the experience with others as we make our vision for the future of maritime mobility a reality.”

Regent says the vessel will be operated by certified mariners and regulated by the US Coast Guard and maritime authorities in other countries.

The company has previously tested its smaller, uncrewed Squire Seaglider drone.

It has also announced a deal with luxury coastal travel operator The Twenty Five, which is due to become its first US delivery and launch partner.
The company has placed an order for up to 60 Viceroy Seagliders for operations in the north-east and south-east of the US.

The technology is also being developed for military applications, including logistics, medical evacuation and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

Regent has a $15m contract with the US Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory and a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with US Special Operations Command.

Its Squire drone completed its first defence-specific wing-in-ground-effect flight earlier this year, the company said.

The company plans to continue flight testing the Viceroy as it works towards full-scale production and commercial and military operations.