REGENT Craft, an American startup developing a new generation of ground effect vehicles, has announced several developments that it expects to bring them closer to their first crewed test flights, which are expected to take place in 2024.
In a newly formed partnership, Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. (JAL) and REGENT Craft Inc. came together to pave the way for seagliders' business in Japan.
This partnership marks an important step towards a sustainable future, aiming to create a revolutionary mode of transport that is not only environmentally friendly but also safe and efficient.
Before we look at the partnership, let's take a moment to understand what seagliders are and why they have gained so much attention. Seagliders are innovative all-electric vehicles that use a wing effect on the ground to glide several meters above the surface of the water.
Its unique design creates a cushion of air between the wings and the water, allowing the seaglider to move smoothly and efficiently.
What sets seagliders apart is their commitment to sustainability, zero emissions and offering a greener alternative to traditional transportation methods.
Wing-effect ground craft have been around since at least the 1960s, when the Soviet Union experimented with a WIG craft called the Caspian Sea Monster that never passed trials. Since then, use cases have remained limited.
Traditional WIGS were "basically flying boats that take off and land on their hull," Thalheimer tells The National. "They faced the same problems as seaplanes – they can't take off or land in waves bigger than two or three feet."
But the Regent's Seaglider is designed with an intermediate position between boat and glider, deploying a hydrofoil, allowing it to navigate busier waterways and rough weather.
On October 5, 2023, REGENT Craft announced the agreement of a $60 million Series A funding round that will allow it to move forward with a full-scale prototype testing program, with testing of a small-scale prototype already underway in 2022.
The company's new funding round brings REGENT's total raised to date to $90 million. It is co-led by 8090 Industries, a VC firm focused on aerospace, defense and sustainability projects, and Founders Fund, which is associated with Peter Thiel.
According to REGENT's announcement, existing investors are also co-investing in this round. These include companies such as Lockheed Martin, Yamato Holdings and the Japan Airlines Innovation Fund.
With the Japanese airline REGENT Craft has just signed an agreement to make Japan one of the first places in the world to see Seaglider service.
www.aerotime.aero,https://www.globenewswire.com,https://www.regentcraft.com/,https://www.thenationalnews.com/
Comments