REGENT, a U.S.-based startup developing electric seagliders, has launched the first full-scale prototype of its all-electric maritime aircraft, marking a key milestone in the technology’s development. The vehicle, named Paladin, conducted its initial on-water tests this week at Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island.
Seagliders combine elements of both boats and aircraft, featuring three operational modes: floating on the hull, hydrofoiling above water, and flying just above the surface within one wingspan. REGENT’s first full-scale prototype, Viceroy, is a 55-foot-long, 12-passenger vessel with a 65-foot wingspan.
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It is powered by a 120 kW electric motor and can reach speeds of 180 mph (156 knots) with a range of up to 180 miles (156 nautical miles) on its current battery technology. The company expects future versions to achieve over 400 nautical miles with next-generation battery advancements.
REGENT, founded in 2020 by MIT aerospace engineers Billy Thalheimer and Mike Klinker, has drawn investment from figures such as Mark Cuban and Peter Thiel, as well as Lockheed Martin.
The company has secured orders worth over $9 billion across six continents, with plans to launch passenger flights later this year.
In January, REGENT began construction on a 255,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Rhode Island, expected to be operational next year. The company is also working with the U.S. Marine Corps to explore defense applications for the seagliders.
.@elonmusk we were productive this week https://t.co/CdoS6qfPAl pic.twitter.com/0u1LfNeJ2q
— Billy Thalheimer (@billythalheimer) March 6, 2025