It is boat, hydrofoil, and aircraft all at once, and it could be coming to a coastline near you sooner than you think. The Seaglider, developed by Rhode Island-based REGENT (Range Extending Ground Effect Naval Transport), is an electric, hydrofoiling, wing-in-ground-effect craft that operates at high speed over the water while staying within a wingspan of the surface. It combines the velocity of a light aircraft with the convenience of a vessel that can use standard marina infrastructure, and in 2026 it has moved firmly from concept to serious prototype testing.
Three modes, one machine
At rest, the 55-foot Viceroy Seaglider is simply a boat. Power up its twelve 120kW electric motors and it first rises onto a set of retractable hydrofoils, lifting the hull clear of the water. As speed builds further, the craft enters ground-effect flight, the foils retract, and it skims above the surface at up to 156 knots. REGENT is actively testing its full-scale Viceroy prototype, designed to operate in float, foil, and flight modes, and is progressing toward first flight with humans on board this year.
The Viceroy carries 12 passengers and two crew, with a useful payload capacity of 3,000 pounds. With current battery technology, a single charge supports roughly an hour at cruise speed, giving a range of around 156 nautical miles. REGENT expects that to grow significantly, with next-generation aviation-specific battery packs projected to extend range to 400 nautical miles.
New Zealand already has a seat at the table
While much of the world is still getting acquainted with the Seaglider concept, New Zealand is already committed. In April 2022, Ocean Flyer signed a historic NZ$700 million agreement with REGENT to bring 25 Seagliders to New Zealand, making it the first Seaglider-only company established anywhere in the world. Ocean Flyer’s vision is straightforward but ambitious: sustainable, fully electric, fast, and affordable mass public transport connecting communities across the motu.
“REGENT’s first full-size seaglider entering human sea trials is a defining milestone in the evolution of sustainable maritime movement,” says Shah Aslam, Ocean Flyer CEO
New Zealand’s geography makes it a near-perfect candidate. Long coastlines, island-scattered harbours, and communities separated by open water are exactly the conditions the Seaglider was built for. The Viceroy’s ability to use standard marina infrastructure, rather than dedicated seaplane airports, removes one of the traditional barriers to coastal air-water transport. At a cruise speed more than triple that of a fast ferry, Auckland to Wellington or across Cook Strait become very different propositions.
“This technology represents more than just a new mode of travel. It’s a bold step toward a future where efficiency, sustainability, and innovation redefine how we connect our communities. With seagliders, we are not only reducing emissions but also unlocking unprecedented economic and social opportunities across our coastal regions.” Shah Aslam, Ocean Flyer CEO
A defining year
Following a winter spent on design improvements, data review, and simulation, REGENT entered 2026 with a comprehensive testing effort spanning both on-water operations and simulation-based development, aimed at refining vehicle performance, de-risking operations, and accelerating readiness for commercial service and defence applications.
“2026 is a defining year for REGENT as we continue advancing from prototype testing toward scaled production,” said Billy Thalheimer, co-founder and CEO. “Demand for Seagliders is growing quickly across both commercial and defence markets.”
The test campaign also covers the Squire, a smaller autonomous Seaglider drone using the same ground-effect and hydrofoiling technology. The Squire can carry a 50-pound payload at 70 knots over a range of 100 nautical miles, and is being validated for defence applications including contested logistics and search and rescue.
From testing to production
REGENT is preparing to open a 255,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Rhode Island this summer, where it will build its commercial Seaglider vessels, with first customer deliveries expected in 2027.
The commercial order book tells its own story. REGENT’s commercial orders now exceed US$10 billion, including recent orders from The XXV in the United States and Synerjet in Brazil, while defence work includes an expanded contract with the US Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory. The company has also raised more than US$100 million from investors including Japan Airlines, Lockheed Martin, and Founders Fund.
Building in quality from the start
As the programme scales toward production, REGENT is embedding quality control processes at every stage of the build. Senior Quality Technician John Still uses advanced technology to verify that each component is measured, inspected, documented, and validated before integration, with these processes set to continue as the programme shifts from prototype to production. It is the kind of rigorous groundwork that will matter enormously when passenger-carrying commercial operations begin.
For Ocean Flyer and its New Zealand customers, that moment cannot come soon enough. As Aslam puts it, Ocean Flyer is proud to be leading this charge, shaping the future of transportation in New Zealand and beyond. The Seaglider is no longer a render on a webpage. It is on the water in Rhode Island, foiling, and getting ready to fly.
References
REGENT kicks off 2026 Seaglider test campaign: https://www.regentcraft.com/news/regent-2026-seaglider-test-campaign
Ocean Flyer: https://www.oceanflyer.co.nz/
