Electric Marine Gliders: The Future of Aviation
Introduction
The promise of electric aviation has long been hindered by the limitations of battery range and the cumbersome certification process. However, Regent, a Rhode Island-based startup, is poised to revolutionize the industry with their innovative electric marine gliders. These cutting-edge vehicles draw inspiration from electric marine gliders in the maritime sector and combine elements of jet skis, hydrofoils, and electric aviation. In this article, we will explore the concept of electric marine gliders and their potential to transform the world of aviation.
The Birth of Electric Marine Gliders
Regent’s co-founder and CEO, Billy Thalheimer, previously worked at Aurora Flight Sciences and drew inspiration from the maritime industry to tackle the challenges of electric aviation. Electric marine gliders offer a solution for achieving sustainable and all-electric travel within the 50 to hundreds of mile range while simplifying the certification process. By combining jet ski technology with hydrofoils and electric aviation, these gliders operate as boats in docks and harbors and take off from wave-tolerant hydrofoils to fly above open water surfaces. This unique approach ensures greater range and efficiency compared to traditional aircraft.
Understanding Marine Gliders
It is essential to clarify the classification of marine gliders, formally known as wing effect vehicles on the ground (WIG). Currently, these vehicles fall under maritime jurisdiction at the international and national level. Regent’s choice to undergo certification through maritime law does not compromise safety standards; rather, it streamlines the regulatory process. Marine gliders exclusively operate on water, flying within the wingspan of the water surface. By utilizing ground effect, which creates an air cushion near the surface, these gliders experience improved aerodynamic efficiency and range. They can reach cruising speeds of up to 180 mph and cover distances of up to 180 miles on a single charge. With advancements in technology, the battery range is projected to increase to 350 to 500 miles by the end of the decade.
Investor Enthusiasm and Strategic Partnerships
Investors have responded enthusiastically to Regent’s vision. In a recent Series A funding round co-led by 8090 Industries and Founders Fund, the startup raised $60 million, bringing their total funding to over $90 million. Notable investors include Point72, Caffeinated Capital, Mark Cuban, the UAE Strategic Development Fund, Future Planet Capital, and strategic investments from the Japan Airlines Innovation Fund, Yamato Holdings (Japan’s largest logistics company), and Lockheed Martin. The significant financial backing will be utilized to build and test a proof-of-concept prototype and expand the team from 55 to approximately 100 members by 2024. The company aims to commence testing next summer, with the first human flight scheduled for late 2024.
Product Pipeline and Expansion Plans
Regent has two exciting products in the pipeline. The first is Viceroy, a 12-passenger vehicle set to enter service by mid-decade. Offering a novel and sustainable transportation option, Viceroy will revolutionize short to medium-range travel. The second product is Monarch, a 100-passenger marine glider that will cater to larger-scale transport needs. Regent has additionally signed a memorandum of understanding with Japan Airlines, expanding an existing partnership with the airline’s JAL Innovation Fund. The collaboration aims to establish marine glider operations in Japan. Similarly, other potential markets for expansion include Miami, the Bahamas, the Pacific Northwest, Hawaii, and international markets around the Mediterranean Sea, English Channel, and North Sea.
Conclusion
Electric marine gliders embody a new era of aviation, merging the best aspects of electric propulsion, hydrofoil technology, and the efficiency of water transportation. These vehicles hold immense potential to transform the way we travel, offering sustainable, all-electric options for short to medium-range journeys. Regent’s groundbreaking approach to the certification process and strategic partnerships with industry leaders position them as pioneers in the emerging market. As they strive to revolutionize aviation, the future of electric marine gliders looks bright, propelling us towards a greener, more sustainable future of transportation.
Summary
The promise of electric aviation has been hampered by the limited range of batteries and the lengthy certification process. However, Regent, a Rhode Island-based startup, plans to revolutionize the industry with their innovative electric marine gliders. These gliders combine jet ski technology, hydrofoils, and electric aviation to create a sustainable and efficient mode of transportation. By taking inspiration from the maritime sector, Regent aims to overcome the challenges of electric aviation and simplify the certification process. Marine gliders operate like boats in docks and harbors, taking off from wave-tolerant hydrofoils and flying within a wingspan of the surface over open water. The adoption of maritime law certification streamlines the regulatory process without compromising safety standards. With the ability to fly within ground effect, these gliders experience improved aerodynamic efficiency and range. Regent has garnered significant investment, with a Series A funding round raising $60 million. The company plans to build and test a proof-of-concept prototype and expand its team. Their product pipeline includes Viceroy, a 12-passenger vehicle, and Monarch, a 100-passenger marine glider. The company has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Japan Airlines to establish marine glider operations in Japan. Electric marine gliders have the potential to revolutionize the aviation industry and provide sustainable travel options for the future.
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The promise of electric aviation has been hampered by the limited range of batteries and the lengthy certification process. Regent co-founder and CEO Billy Thalheimer, who previously worked at Aurora Flight Sciences, has looked to the maritime sector, and more specifically electric marine gliders, for the answer to both of these challenges.
“How can we make something that is all-electric and sustainable in that 50 to hundreds of mile range and take care of the certification side?” Thalheimer told TechCrunch in a recent interview. The answer, he maintains, is to combine jet skis with hydrofoils and electric aviation. These electric marine gliders operate like a boat in docks and harbors, taking off from wave-tolerant hydrofoils and flying within a wingspan of the surface over open water.
It is important to note that a marine glider is a class of vehicle called wing effect vehicle on the ground, or WIG, which at the international and national level is under maritime jurisdiction. Receiving certification through maritime law, which is a multi-year process, does not lower the bar for safety, Thalheimer said, adding that it simply gives the company an easier regulatory process to get there.
Marine gliders only perform water transportation from dock to dock and always fly within the wingspan of the water surface. And because these craft fly within ground effect (a cushion of air near the surface), the craft sees improvements in aerodynamic efficiency and range. They reach cruising speeds of up to 180 mph while traveling up to 180 miles on a single charge, according to Regent. As technology improves, it will be possible to achieve a battery range of 350 to 500 miles by the end of the decade, Thalheimer said.
Investors seem enthusiastic about the idea. The Rhode Island-based startup announced this week at the UP Summit that it had raised $60 million in a Series A round co-led by 8090 Industries and Founders Fund. The round brings the company’s total funding to date to more than $90 million. Point72, Caffeinated Capital, Mark Cuban, the UAE Strategic Development Fund, Future Planet Capital and others, as well as strategic investments from the Japan Airlines Innovation Fund, Yamato Holdings (Japan’s largest logistics company) and Lockheed Martin. The company has raised $90 million to date.
The funds will be used to build and test a proof-of-concept prototype, as well as grow the team from 55 people to approximately 100 in 2024. The company plans to begin testing next summer with the first human flight in late 2024, Thalheimer said. TechCrunch on the sidelines of the UP Summit event. The company has two products in the pipeline: Viceroy, a 12-passenger vehicle expected to enter service by mid-decade, and Monarch, a 100-passenger marine glider.
Regent also said it signed a memorandum of understanding with Japan Airlines, a deal that expands an investment from the airline’s JAL Innovation Fund venture fund. The goal is to work to establish marine glider operations in Japan.
But Japan is not the only potential market. Thalheimer said other areas around Miami, the Bahamas, the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii also make sense, as well as international markets around the Mediterranean Sea, English Channel and North Sea.
Electric seaglider startup Regent takes flight with $60M in new funding
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