Rhode Island startup Regent Craft is targeting 2027 to begin manufacturing its all-electric seagliders, the first commercial aircraft to leverage the “wing-in-ground-effect” aerodynamic phenomenon.
The design, named Viceroy, is classified as a flying boat under U.S. regulations. Designed to fly 10 meters above the water’s surface, it will be certified by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Earlier this month, a crew of two conducted the inaugural flight of the full-size Viceroy prototype, flying the vessel for 30 seconds above the surface of Narragansett Bay near the company’s headquarters.
Regent is now planning expanded testing of that prototype while pursuing certification, company CEO and co-founder Billy Thalheimer said in an interview.
“We’ve been moving quickly,” Thalheimer said. “We’re expecting our first vehicles to come off our manufacturing line by the end of next year, and we’ve been working really diligently with the Coast Guard to support that timeline. And certainly, we expect the FAA will be involved in a technical advisory role on the certification process.”
Since its founding in 2020, the company has raised $340 million and tested several smaller prototypes.
The Viceroy initially moves like a boat on the surface of the water. As it gains speed, the hull lifts off the surface, but two stabilizers, formally called hydrofoils, remain submerged. The stabilizers then retract into the hull, and the craft ascends roughly one wingspan above the water’s surface. At this altitude, there is a cushion of air between the craft and the surface the Viceroy can take advantage of to remain airborne.
Combined with the blown-lift effect of 12 propellers along the wing, the Viceroy becomes more fuel efficient than a boat and extends its range on battery, Thalheimer said.
Wing-in-ground effect, or WIG, has been researched and demonstrated a handful of times since the Cold War. The Soviet Union flew two such craft, known as ekranoplans. Howard Hughes’ massive Spruce Goose plane — which flew only once, briefly — was designed to take advantage of WIG for portions of its flight. Most recently, DARPA had contracted Aurora Flight Sciences to build a seaplane called Liberty Lifter that would utilize WIG. The agency concluded that program in 2025 before the demonstrator was flown.
With the Viceroy, Regent hopes “to replace or supplement traditional coastal ferry operations” and airline services for “coastal routes such as Boston to Nantucket or Miami to the Bahamas,” according to the company’s website and press releases.
The company is also developing a hybrid-electric variant for military applications, Thalheimer said. That smaller drone variant, dubbed Squire, is undergoing testing and development too. One advantage of Squire’s low-altitude flight profile is evading radar, he noted.
One potential application for Squire is a medevac for deployed troops, he said. The company has received $15 million in contracts from the U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Lab to test and demonstrate its all-electric seaglider technology for defense operations.
Given that FAA already has a long line of electric aircraft in the certification process, working with the Coast Guard might help Viceroy get certified more quickly, said analyst Sergio Cecutta.
“We think there is a market for wing-in-ground craft,” said Cecutta, whose company SMG Consulting produces the AAM Reality Index of electric aircraft rankings. “We see an interest from the defense sector, especially for their drone. The size of the commercial market will be limited as these vehicles will supplement ferries and replace some island helicopter routes. I think more opportunities — and consequently the size of the market — will open up once much larger vehicles are available.”
Facts Only
* Regent Craft is a startup headquartered in Rhode Island.
* The company is developing an all-electric seaglider named Viceroy.
* The Viceroy is classified as a flying boat under U.S. regulations.
* The target date to begin manufacturing is 2027.
* The first vehicles are expected off the manufacturing line by the end of next year.
* A full-size prototype flew for 30 seconds over Narragansett Bay.
* The craft is designed to fly 10 meters above the water's surface.
* Certification is being pursued via the U.S. Coast Guard.
* Regent Craft has raised $340 million since its founding in 2020.
* A hybrid-electric drone variant named Squire is under development.
* The U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Lab has provided $15 million in contracts for defense testing.
* The Viceroy uses 12 propellers along the wing and two retractable hydrofoil stabilizers.
Executive Summary
Rhode Island-based startup Regent Craft is developing the Viceroy, an all-electric seaglider designed to utilize "wing-in-ground-effect" (WIG) to fly approximately 10 meters above the water's surface. The company aims to begin manufacturing by 2027, with the first vehicles expected to leave the production line by the end of next year. The Viceroy is classified as a flying boat and is pursuing certification through the U.S. Coast Guard, with technical advisory support from the FAA.
The technology intends to supplement or replace traditional coastal ferry and island helicopter services, specifically on routes like Boston to Nantucket. Beyond commercial use, Regent is developing a smaller hybrid-electric drone variant called Squire for military applications, including medevac and radar-evasive operations, supported by $15 million in contracts from the U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Lab. While some analysts suggest the commercial market may be limited to specific coastal niches, there is notable interest from the defense sector. Success depends on navigating the certification process and the eventual scaling of vehicle size.
Full Take
The strongest version of this narrative is that Regent Craft is successfully bridging a historical gap in aviation—taking a Cold War-era aerodynamic curiosity (WIG) and making it viable through modern battery technology and specialized regulatory pathways. By bypassing the crowded FAA electric aircraft queue in favor of Coast Guard certification, the company is demonstrating strategic agility in navigating bureaucratic bottlenecks.
The narrative relies heavily on the "technological inevitability" of electric transit, though it acknowledges the limited size of the initial commercial market. There is a subtle but significant pivot from the public-facing "green ferry" image to the high-value defense application (Squire). The mention of "evading radar" and "medevac for deployed troops" suggests that the primary catalyst for long-term financial viability may be military procurement rather than coastal tourism.
This reflects a recurring pattern in aerospace: venture-backed "civilian" innovation that finds its most stable footing in defense contracts. The unstated assumption is that the regulatory environment will remain flexible and that battery density will support the "blown-lift" requirements for commercial scale.
Who benefits most? Investors and defense contractors. Who bears the cost? Potential traditional ferry operators facing disruption and the public, should the regulatory "shortcut" via the Coast Guard create unforeseen safety gaps in hybrid-air/sea corridors.
Bridge Questions:
1. How does the energy density of current batteries compare to the power requirements of sustained "blown-lift" for a full payload of passengers?
2. If the craft is certified as a boat rather than an aircraft, what happens to liability and safety standards during the "flight" phase of the journey?
3. To what extent does the military funding dictate the design priorities of the commercial vessel?
Counterstrike Scan: A coordinated campaign would use the "green energy" angle to secure public subsidies and favorable zoning before pivoting entirely to stealth defense contracts. The content here is standard business reporting and does not match an influence playbook.
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