Electric Seaglider Manufacturer Opens Production Facility With Record Battery Range Achievement

Regent Craft opened a 255,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Rhode Island on October 1, 2026, to produce its Viceroy electric seaglider aircraft, which achieves 180 miles of range on battery power. The extended range is made possible by ground effect aerodynamics, where flying close to water surfaces reduces drag and increases lift efficiency compared to conventional aircraft. The company secured an additional $5 million Marine Corps contract, bringing total defense funding to $19.25 million.

Regent Craft's achievement rests on leveraging ground effect aerodynamics, a principle dating back roughly nine decades that enables aircraft to operate with significantly reduced drag when flying near water surfaces. This physics-based advantage allows the Viceroy to achieve lift-to-drag ratios substantially superior to conventional aircraft, directly translating to extended battery range without requiring advances in battery chemistry itself.

The regulatory environment also contributes meaningfully to the Viceroy's range advantage. Unlike conventional aircraft, which must maintain fuel reserves for emergency terrain landings, water-based vehicles can rely on the predictability of water surfaces as safe landing zones. This regulatory difference permits the Viceroy to utilize a larger portion of its battery capacity during normal operations, effectively doubling its range compared to similarly equipped electric aircraft.