REGENT’s Viceroy Seaglider has completed its first crewed flight, with two captains flying above Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island during a 2026 test. The company says this is the “world’s first” crewed flight of a “flying boat.”
During the 30-second test, the prototype flew 1,956 feet (596 meters) at about 33 feet (10 meters) above the water. This flight is a big step for REGENT as it prepares the Viceroy for the final phase of sea trials.
The company is developing the vehicle as a new form of maritime transportation that can move from docks like a boat before transitioning into flight. Its 2026 testing campaign has combined real-world water trials with simulation work to improve the vehicle ahead of commercial operations.
Two captains take the controls
The crewed test came after earlier efforts to boost the Viceroy’s speed on hydrofoils. These trials helped get the prototype ready to move from traveling on water to flying…