From hull to foil: A milestone in the Seaglider test campaign

REGENT's Seaglider vessels operate in three modes: float, foil, and fly. Our test program follows that same sequence, validating each mode before moving to the next. This summer, we made one of the most important transitions in that journey: lifting our full-scale Viceroy prototype from its hull and riding on hydrofoils for the first time.

Hydrofoil mode is what sets the Seaglider apart from every other water-launching vehicle. Instead of plowing through the water like a seaplane hull or flying boat, we extend carbon-fiber foils beneath the surface. These underwater wings lift the vehicle about five feet above the waterline, placing the foils in calmer water below the waves. The result is a smooth, stable ride—even when surface conditions are choppy.

The foils are digitally controlled and make constant, precise adjustments to keep the Seaglider’s altitude steady—within inches. That level of precision is tighter than most aircraft autopilots. And because our propulsion comes from whisper-quiet, all-electric motors, the experience is both efficient and nearly silent.

If you watch the wake from a hydrofoiling Seaglider, you’ll notice something striking—there nearly isn’t one. The foils slice cleanly through the water without the drag and spray of a hull. This is why hydrofoiling is key to our design: it delivers the speed, range, payload, and efficiency required for practical all-electric coastal travel.

In this phase of testing, we’ve been running at around 20 mph and gradually building toward our top foiling speed—about 50 mph, which is also our flight speed. This unique overlap means we can collect aerodynamic data while foiling, like running unlimited high-speed taxi tests, before we ever leave the water.

Landing is just as smooth as takeoff. As the foils retract, the deep-V shaped hull reenters the water cleanly, cutting through waves while shedding the wave energy, and keeping the ride comfortable. Each of these maneuvers is part of a carefully paced, safety-first campaign that will culminate in our first flight later this summer—once the data says we’re ready.

This means our vision works at full scale. It’s the bridge between floating and flying, the moment the future of coastal transportation lifts clear of the water.