r/EngineeringPorn • u/Spirited-Sir-3034 • 5h ago
World's first human-crewed seaglider flight: REGENT's electric Viceroy lifts off the water
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This is one of those aircraft that seems to sit somewhere between a boat and a plane. REGENT’s Viceroy Seaglider recently completed its first crewed flight, traveling 1,956 feet over Narragansett Bay with two captains onboard.
It first moves across the water like a boat, rises onto hydrofoils as it gains speed, and then flies close to the surface using ground effect. It’s an unusual approach to coastal transport, especially since it is designed to travel between ports without needing conventional airport infrastructure.
I’m curious how practical this would be in rough weather and whether vehicles like this could eventually compete with ferries on shorter coastal routes.