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REGENT

Defence · North Kingstown, United States · Founded 2020

REGENT (Regional Electric Ground Effect Nautical Transport) is a manufacturer developing all-electric, wing-in-ground (WIG) effect vehicles known as seagliders for coastal transportation. Founded in 2020 by MIT-trained aerospace engineers Billy Thalheimer (CEO) and Mike Klinker (CTO), the company aims to provide a new mode of high-speed, low-cost, zero-emission travel between coastal destinations. The founders met at MIT and later worked at Boeing's subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences on electric aircraft, where they identified the limitations of battery technology for aviation and conceived of the seaglider as a more efficient alternative for regional routes. REGENT's business model is to sell these vessels to transportation companies, including airline and ferry operators. The company has secured a significant commercial order book from customers worldwide, including Mesa Airlines, Brittany Ferries, and Japan Airlines. Its market is projected to be substantial, with an initial estimate of $11 billion, potentially growing as battery technology improves. REGENT has raised over $100 million in funding from investors such as Founders Fund, Mark Cuban, Peter Thiel, and Lockheed Martin. The flagship product, the "Viceroy," is a 12-passenger seaglider that operates exclusively over water in three modes: floating on its hull in harbors, rising onto hydrofoils as it gains speed, and then flying within one wingspan of the water's surface in 'ground effect'. This aerodynamic principle allows the vehicle to achieve airplane-like speeds of up to 180 mph with the low operating cost of a boat. The current design has a range of up to 180 miles with existing battery technology, with future versions expected to reach up to 500 miles. A key advantage is its ability to use existing dock infrastructure, avoiding airport congestion. Unlike aircraft, seagliders are regulated as maritime vessels by the U.S. Coast Guard, with technical support from the FAA, which is a key part of the company's strategy to reach the market faster and at a lower cost than certifying a new type of aircraft. The company successfully tested a quarter-scale prototype in 2022 and has since been testing a full-scale prototype named 'Paladin'. Human-crewed test flights were planned to begin by the end of 2024, with commercial service entry targeted for the mid-decade. To meet demand, REGENT is building a 255,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, which is expected to come online in 2026 and create hundreds of jobs. The company is also exploring defense applications for its technology, with a contract from the U.S. Marine Corps. Keywords: REGENT, seaglider, wing-in-ground effect, WIG craft, electric vessel, maritime transportation, coastal mobility, Billy Thalheimer, Mike Klinker, Viceroy, all-electric, hydrofoil, sustainable transport, advanced air mobility, maritime technology, zero-emission, electric propulsion, aerospace engineering, naval architecture, regional travel, transportation innovation, logistics, defense mobility, offshore logistics, green technology, passenger transport, cargo transport, FAA, US Coast Guard, electric ferry