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Billy Thalheimer, Regent's co-founder and CEO, at Dubai Airshow.
DUBAI—It is not often you come across a shipbuilder at an airshow, but Regent is making a splash with a full-size immersive mock-up of its flagship Viceroy Seaglider.
Billy Thalheimer, Regent’s co-founder and CEO, explains that “the prototype of the 12-passenger, 15,000 lb. electric Seaglider is set to begin flights early next year and will be the largest electric vehicle ever to fly.”
The prototype is currently undergoing testing in Rhode Island. Regent has amassed more than $10 billion in indicative commercial orders and $15 million in U.S. Marine Corps contracts. With over 600 Seagliders on order worldwide and first deliveries scheduled for 2027, the company is also advancing development of its 100-passenger Monarch.
Offering “low-cost, low-noise and low-emission travel,” the Viceroy Seaglider has a top speed of 300 kph (186 mph) for the electric version and a range of up to 2,600 km (1,400 nm) for the hybrid version. Thalheimer explains that the Seaglider “can take off and land comfortably in 5 ft. waves and operates just 10 m (33 ft.) above the water. It uses ground-effect aerodynamics to achieve fuel-efficient, high-speed travel without the vertical lift limitations associated with eVTOLs.”
Regent aims to offer a ferry or train-like passenger experience with large windows, ample cabin space and rapid point-to-point coastal connectivity. Thalheimer reveals the company is working with an undisclosed customer in the region to explore a Dubai-Abu Dhabi service for which it expects passenger fares to be in the region of AED200-250 ($54-68) with a journey time of 30 min.
The company has also partnered with the UAE’s Strategic Development Fund (SDF) as a local partner. There are plans to establish a manufacturing, maintenance and training facility in Abu Dhabi to support both commercial and defense operations.
“The majority of our markets are in the Eastern hemisphere, and the propensity for people to live along the coastline in the UAE means there is a huge commercial opportunity for us in the region, so it makes sense geographically for us to have a facility here,” Thalheimer says.
Regent has also secured orders for its Seaglider from Abu Dhabi oil company ADNOC for offshore missions. Additional announcements from local operators and regulatory traction are expected at the show.
The company is currently working with authorities globally to ensure that Seagliders are formally recognized as maritime vessels rather than aircraft. “We’re also working locally on confirmation of the maritime pathway in the UAE,” Thalheimer adds.
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