REGENT Craft has completed its first crewed foil-mode testing marking a significant step forward in the validation of the full-scale Seaglider, a 55ft long with a 65ft wingspan, the 12-passenger Viceroy Seaglider vessel.
The recently tested foiling mode elevates the vessel from the water before it flies, allowing for intermediate speed, easy maneuverability, and a smoother, safer, more comfortable ride. Foiling also enables the seamless and wave-tolerant transition from the hull to the wing.
Billy Thalheimer, co-founder and CEO at REGENT, said, “Seeing our Seaglider prototype rise onto foil for the first time marks a major milestone and a powerful validation of the years of innovation, grit, and world-class engineering our team has poured into this vision. This achievement brings us one step closer to crewed flight, and we couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.”
Even before it takes off into wing-in-ground effect flight, REGENT believes Viceroy Seaglider vessel will be one of the world’s fastest hydrofoiling vessels. The advanced automatic control systems on the foils will enable the Viceroy Seaglider prototype to foil at speeds up to 50kts – twice as fast as production hydrofoil boats today.
The REGENT team will increase the hydrofoiling speed over the summer before taking flight. The first human-crewed Seaglider flight is projected for later this summer.
