- REGENT is building the seaglider, an electric flying ferry that will bring people across coastal cities.
- Two seaglider models are being developed, both expected to shuttle passengers 180 miles at up to 180 mph.
- Hawaiian Airlines is the first US-based carrier to invest in REGENT's larger seaglider model known as Monarch.
Loading...
Hawaiian Airlines plans to fly 8-engine 'seagliders' that are part-plane, part-boat and can fly 180 mph — meet REGENT
May 25, 2022, 1:15 PM ET
Share
Gone are the days of slow ferries and seasickness, if REGENT — an acronym for "regional electric ground effect naval transport" — has its way.
The Boston-based startup is building the "seaglider," an electric flying vehicle that will bring passengers to different coastal cities.
The seaglider fits somewhere in between an aircraft and a boat.
According to its makers, the seaglider's propellers push the air under the wings, allowing the vehicle to maintain lift and hover just a few feet above the surface of the water.
Source: Future Flight
Meanwhile, its speed is comparable to that of an aircraft, while its operating costs are more similar to a boat.
Moreover, the vehicle will be six times faster than a ferry with its ability to travel up to 180 mph with a 180-mile range…
…while its "next-gen batteries" will allow the seaglider to navigate up to 500 miles.
This means the aerodynamic flying ferry will have twice the range of an electric aircraft at its size, according to REGENT.
The company is looking to use the flying ferry to shuttle passengers between Boston and New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, and across different Hawaii islands, to name a few route options, according to a report from CNBC.
Source: CNBC
Similar to other EVs, the electrification of the seaglider means relevant costs — such as maintenance, taxes, and environmental "costs" like emissions — will be significantly decreased.
But unlike other forms of electric transit that are reliant on the rapid expansion of new infrastructures, the seaglider can use docks that already exist. This also means that passengers will not have to clear airport security, according to REGENT's website.
However, this concept isn't as futuristic as it seems. REGENT's flying ferries are expected to hit the market in 2025, starting with its 12-passenger Viceroy model. The larger 100-person Monarch is scheduled to enter service in 2028.
REGENT's first prototype was unveiled at the CoMotion Miami mobility conference in April, which was the first time the plane was presented to the public. According to the company, the plane will begin flight tests in 2023.
Source: Regent
At the conference, REGENT signed a deal with New Zealand's Ocean Flyer for 25 seagliders, making its total orders worth $6 billion.
Source: Regent
Ocean Flyer is expected to fly the seagliders in 2025. According to the company, the fully electric planes will reduce operating costs without sacrificing comfort or efficiency.
Source: Ocean Flyer
Also investing in the company is Hawaiian Airlines, which announced its commitment on May 11.
Hawaiian is the first US-based carrier to partner with REGENT for the Monarch, though companies like Fly the Whale and Southern Airways Express have already invested in the Viceroy model.
"Innovative inter-island transportation has been core to our business since 1929 when we replaced steam ships with airplanes," Hawaiian CMO and COO Avi Mannis said. "We are excited to be an early investor in REGENT and to be involved in developing their largest seaglider – a vehicle with great potential for Hawaiʻi'."
REGENT's seaglider concept is the brainchild of MIT graduates Billy Thalheimer and Mike Klinker, who now serve as the company's CEO and CTO, respectively.
Both formerly worked at Boeing's Aurora Flight Sciences, which specializes in autonomous aircraft.
In early 2021, REGENT raised $9 million in a seed round with Founders Fund — which previously invested in Airbnb, SpaceX, and Facebook — and Caffeinated Capital, which has invested in Clubhouse, Boom, and Wish.
Source: Caffeinated Capital, Founders Fund