Today I decided to see if I could find any updates on the electric seagliders that OceanFlyer are planning to use for commercial transport services on the coastline of Aotearoa. There are no updates on the OceanFlyer website. But I did find this article from late 2024 about REGENT getting US Coast Guard approval for test flights of a full scale seagliders, with human passengers;
https://newatlas.com/aircraft/regent-seaglider-full-size-approval/
(1/?)
If you happen to live in Rhode Island, you may get a chance later this year to witness the first manned flights of the Regent seaglider, a unique ocean-hugging electric aircraft that relies on wing-in-ground effect (also known simply as ground effect) to extend its range.
"Ocean Flyer, a business founded by former banker and Air Napier owner Shah Aslam and former New Zealand Air Force chief John Hamilton, is among the earliest customers.
They have a $700m order for 25 seagliders that they plan to operate along New Zealand’s coast for about $30 to $60 one-way. Regent has about NZ$10 billion in orders from around the world."
#MelanieCarroll, 2022
Sounds promising. Updates?
#seagliders #OceanFlyer #AirNapier #ShahAslam #JohnHamilton
Strypey