Regent Craft flies its electric Seaglider with crew

Marine transport developer Regent Craft has successfully completed the first crewed test flight of its flagship electric Seaglider. During the trial over Narragansett Bay, the prototype vessel carried two crew members on a 30-second flight. This milestone brings the company's vision of high-speed, zero-emission coastal transit closer to commercial reality.

The Seaglider is designed as a 12-passenger electric vehicle that operates through three distinct phases of motion. It begins by floating on the water like a traditional boat, transitions to riding on hydrofoils as it gains speed, and ultimately takes off to fly just meters above the surface. By utilizing the aerodynamic phenomenon known as ground effect, the craft can achieve high speeds and efficiency while remaining close to the water.

For transportation planners and maritime operators, this successful crewed test represents a viable alternative to traditional regional ferries and short-haul flights. Regent Craft is positioning the vehicle for coastal corridors, with proposed routes already mapped out to connect major hubs such as New York, Boston, and Miami to nearby destinations. Operating within the ground effect allows the vessel to bypass congested airport infrastructure while offering transit times that rival regional aviation.

Engineers and regulatory practitioners will now look to the data from this 30-second flight to validate the safety and stability of the transition phases between hull, foil, and flight. As the company refines the electric propulsion and flight control systems, establishing a new regulatory framework for wing-in-ground-effect vessels will be the next major hurdle before these sea-skimming craft can begin carrying commercial passengers.