On Friday, the REGENT Seaglider moved a step closer to reality when a full-scale mock-up of the revolutionary electric seaglider was unveiled in the United States. In just two years, REGENT has secured more than $50 million in funding and $8 billion in orders for the Seaglider.

High-level additions to the REGENT team

In September last year, REGENT successfully completed flights with a one-quarter scale prototype Seaglider and the release of the full-scale mock-up is the next step in its evolution. Earlier last week, REGENT announced the appointments of ex-Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg and David Neeleman, co-founder of Breeze Airways, JetBlue and Azul Airlines, to its Board of Advisors.

The REGENT Viceroy flying above water.
Photo: REGENT

REGENT describes the Seaglider as a new category of vehicle that is fast, efficient and emission-free and leading the way in maritime transportation. Transitioning between a boat and an airplane, the Seaglider combines an aircraft's speed with the maneuverability of a boat and operates exclusively over water, utilizing existing dock infrastructure.

The Viceroy is REGENT's flagship seaglider which has a range of up to 180 miles with current battery technology, although that's expected to climb to more than 460 miles with next-generation battery technology. The Viceroy will carry 12 passengers and two crew at a speed of 160 knots and 100% electrically powered.

Co-founder and CEO Billy Thalheimer said that studies show seagliders serve an $11 billion market that he projects will "swell to as much as $25 billion as battery technology advances.

"The $8 billion in orders our company has already received from a variety of companies around the world reflect the need for fast, reliable, and sustainable maritime transportation."

To manufacture this backlog of seagliders REGENT is expanding its global headquarters in the US state of Rhode Island. The company is adding up to 600,000 square feet of new manufacturing and test facilities as it prepares to begin deliveries by mid-decade. To get to that point, REGENT said flight testing will begin in 2024.

Key suppliers are now in place

The company is also shoring up its supply chain by selecting EP Systems for the batteries and MAGicALL for the motors that will power the prototype's all-electric distributed propulsion system. REGENT is also shoring up its team with the appointments of Neeleman and Muilenburg, adding expertise to the strategic investments it has secured from companies including Lockheed Martin, Japan Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines.

Regent Seaglider Taking Off
Photo: Regent

Muilenburg said that from his 38 years of experience, the winning combination has been a product and technology whose value is clearly transformative, with a realistic plan to go from ideation to production readiness, and "that's what I see at REGENT."

"Scaling global distribution and support of aerospace technologies is not easy, but I am supremely confident in this team. REGENT has already begun establishing the manufacturing capabilities and supply chain partnerships that will give them the robust ability to scale global production and deliver on their backlog, safely and effectively."

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The launch customer is Mokulele Airlines

On Friday, REGENT also confirmed that the launch customer would be Mokulele Airlines, a commuter airline operating inter-island flights among the Hawaiian Islands, owned by Southern Airways. Mokulele operates a fleet of 11 Cessna 208EX Grand Caravans to ten destinations within Hawaii.

Mokulele Airlines Cessna Grand Caravan
Photo: Mokulele Airlines

The middle of the decade seems to be a tipping point for many of the new-technology aerospace ventures, be they urban air mobility vehicles, converted electric turboprops or in a category of their own like REGENT. The new two years will reveal who is going to make it through certification and into production, but on the face of it, REGENT has a fighting chance.

What do you think of REGENT's Seaglider? Let us know in the comment section.