US Coast Guard is about to certify America’s first passenger seaglider
- A new seaglider could soon be certified by the US Coast Guard
- Regent Craft has developed the Viceroy with electric engines
- The craft will fly up to 60 feet above the water’s surface
Published on Mar 29, 2025 at 6:21 AM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Mar 31, 2025 at 2:39 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
The US Coast Guard is preparing to certify the United States’s first-ever full-scale passenger seaglider called the Viceroy.
The company behind it, Regent Craft, was founded around five years ago and is based in Rhode Island.
Regent Craft recently revealed concept renderings as well as the development prototype of the vehicle, with it now already in an advanced stage of development.
If it obtains certification, it will become the world’s first full-scale seaglider for passenger transportation.
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The new seaglider is an all-electric marine craft
Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the craft isn’t its design but its powertrain.
The Viceroy is an all-electric craft, one of the first in the world.
The new glider could also offer massive financial savings on conventional flying boats.
Regent Craft has yet to reveal the precise details of the glider’s electric engines.
What we do know, though, is that it has 12 electric motors and battery packs powering it.
In flight mode, the glider should be able to travel up to 180mph.
Range wise, the Viceroy should be able to take passengers as far as 186 miles away.
The glider will have a capacity of up to 12 people, and be able to carry 3,500lbs of cargo if used as a freighter.
Regent Craft has been testing the Viceroy
Recently, the company has been spotted testing the prototype for the Viceroy.
The first prototype has the name Paladin, and it was seen in the waters of Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island earlier in March 2025.
While it will take flight, the Viceroy and Paladin are technically classed as ground-effect vehicles and regulated as maritime vessels.
It will only fly up to 18 meters/60 feet off the water’s surface.
This is similar to the giant Ekranoplans built by the Soviet Union.
That is why the vessel will require certification from the US Coast Guard.
Once they have approval, the formal design stage will commence.
The final step will be to begin training crew to fly/navigate the vessel.
Unlike a conventional aircraft, the glider also has three operational modes.
It can float like a boat, move on hydrofoils, and then take flight at that 60 feet height.
If all goes well, the Viceroy could pioneer a whole new segment of air/maritime travel.
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Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
