Electric flying boat captures global military attention

REGENT Craft Inc. product Viceroy Seaglider, using ground-effect flight that flies just above the water’s surface has sparked global military and commercial interest, with billions in orders and backing from major aerospace and defense contractors.

The revolutionary electric vessel testing drive video over sea which is now a viral clip on social media features the winged marine vessel, which operates as a hybrid between a boat and an aircraft.

The seacraft has drawn support from influential investors, including Mark Cuban and Peter Thiel, as well as airlines and Lockheed Martin, signaling strong confidence in its dual-use potential.

Co-founded by Billy Thalheimer and Mike Klinker, both veterans of Boeing’s Aurora Flight Sciences, the company has successfully tested a full-scale prototype in Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay.

During operation, the craft transitions through three modes: floating like a boat, rising on hydrofoils, and finally flying on a cushion of air mere feet above the water, achieving speeds up to 50 kts.

With a range of 180 miles on a single charge, powered by batteries equivalent to seven Tesla packs, the seaglider is ideal for island-hopping, coastal commutes, and cargo missions in waves up to five feet.

Commercial interest has surged, with over $10 billion in orders for its 12-passenger Viceroy and 100-passenger Monarch models, targeting a coastal transit market valued at $600 billion.

The U.S. Marine Corps has already signed a $15 million contract with the company, which recently established a dedicated division, REGENT Defense, to serve government clients.

Coastal transportation service provider aims to begin operations in multiple locations globally by 2027, offering a high-speed, efficient, safe and versatile new tool in both civilian and defense sectors.