Historic First Crewed Flight of REGENT’s Viceroy Seaglider
In a landmark moment for aviation and maritime transport, REGENT Craft successfully completed the world’s first human-crewed flight of its all-electric Viceroy Seaglider on September 2, 2026. This historic event took place at the company’s headquarters on Narragansett Bay, North Kingstown, Rhode Island.
The Viceroy, the largest all-electric wing-in-ground effect (WIG) craft ever to carry people, achieved a flight distance of 1,956 feet (596 meters) at a height of 33 feet (10 meters) above the water surface. The flight lasted for 30 seconds, with two captains at the controls. This innovative seaglider combines three operational modes: floating on its hull, foiling on hydrofoils, and flying within one wingspan of the water’s surface using ground-effect aerodynamics.
Designed to carry 12 passengers and two crew, the Viceroy can reach speeds of up to 180 mph over a range of up to 180 miles. It is powered by a dozen electric motors strung along the leading edge of its wing. A triple-redundant digital fly-by-wire system manages automatic pitch, roll, and altitude control in flight.
“This is the moment we have been envisioning and tirelessly pursuing for the past five and a half years,” said Billy Thalheimer, co-founder and CEO of REGENT.
The milestone also follows the company’s recent $240 million Series B funding round to scale manufacturing of its Viceroy and Squire product lines.
Source: REGENT Craft Official Press Release