Here’s a story that piques my imagination since I am a fan of all things nautical and love innovation.
In early March, Regent Craft, a Rhode Island based start-up, launched its first full-scale protype of the all-electric, 12-passenger Viceroy seaglider. They named the craft Paladin, i.e., a defender of a noble cause.
At 55-feet in length and with a wingspan of 65 feet, the design is the largest all-electric flying machine ever built and represents a significant technological breakthrough. The prototype will initially spend several months of in-the-water and foiling trials as all systems and critical software are tested and refined. In-air gliding trials will commence later in the year.
The Viceroy has been designed to radically disrupt coastal, over-the-water travel for passengers, freight, search and rescue missions and even national defense. It is powered by 12 electric airplane motors that run off ultra-efficient lithium batteries.
The vehicle is amphibious and operates in three modes, first as a displacement craft in the water, then as a hydrofoiler as the hull raises above the surface and finally as a seaglider that rides on what is called the wing effect up to 60 feet above the water.
The wing effect is not a new concept. In the mid-20th Century, Soviet engineers in the former USSR developed large-scale wing-effect craft for rapid troop deployments but the technology never caught on. Now, with the huge advancements made in light-weight carbon-composite construction, foiling technology and electric motors, the concept is ready for prime time.
To get into the science briefly, the wing effect is the phenomenon created by a wide wing over relatively flat surfaces, such as water, that creates a pressure bubble between wing and water and thus effortless lift. This reduces the engine power needed to fly the glider and in turn makes electric propulsion not only possible but highly efficient.
Note that the Viceroy is not called an airplane but is classified as a seaglider, which falls into the watercraft category. This is important because the design will be certified by the Coast Guard and not the FAA, greatly reducing the number of official hoops the builder will have to fly through.
Regent Craft successfully tested their first quarter-scale model as a proof of concept in 2022 and on that basis has raised more than $90 million in seed capital. The company now has $9 billion in orders on their books from commercial airlines, ferry companies and even the U.S. Marine Corps.
