Hyperglide

Words: Bill Springer.

Photography: Courtesy of Regent.

What do you get when a team of MITtrained, ex-Boeing engineers set out to revolutionize zeroemission, high-speed coastal travel? The short answer is Regent’s Seaglider, an all-electricpowered seaplane they have developed.

But it’s not like any seaplane operating today. It’s what they call a “wing-in-ground-effect craft” that “flies” a few feet off the water's surface that couples the high speed of an airplane with the low operating cost of a boat. Built to the same safety standards of all modern aircraf, it can fy up to 180 miles with existing battery technology, and they project up to 500 miles with next-gen batteries.

On top of all that, it uses hydrofoils to take of. Successful prototypes are already flying. Since the plan is for fully approved Seagliders to be fying by 2025, getting from New York City to the Hamptons or any other short coastal fight may never be the same.