Look at a New Flying Mode

 Electric Sea Gliders

                                        Source:  REGENT

REGENT & Hawaiin Airlines Partner on New Type of E-Plane

A fascinating new form of aviation technology is being developed.  Boston-based REGENT (which stands for Regional Electric Ground Effect Nautical Transport) has developed a new type of electric aircraft that flies just above the surface of the water. Now, Hawaiian airlines is partnering with and investing in REGENT, which was founded by two MIT trained engineers with significant, real world, aviation and aerospace experience.  Hawaiian Airlines expects to deploy the all-electric powered, next generation, sea glider planes for inter-island travel.  This is a brand-new form of zero emissions flying.  In fact, it is a brand-new category in the commercial aviation market as it operates exclusively over water.

Island Hopping Itineraries

Hawaiian Airlines planes to deploy the highly advanced planes for island hoping, such as between the heavily trafficked routes of the islands of O'ahu and Maui. These new planes would dramatically change the flight from a current altitude of 30,000 feet to just above sea-level. 

Brand New Aviation Technology

Sea gliders operate exclusively over water, which makes them a brand-new category in the commercial aviation market. They have the speed of an aircraft but operate from a dock at the operational cost of a boat which is much less expensive than an aircraft. On the water, they perform three modes of travel:  floating on its hull, hydro foiling and flying just above the water's surface.   The technology is breathtaking.  Once the REGENT sea glider starts traveling above the water surface and reaches speeds of 20 to 40 mph, it transitions to its wings and can hit speeds of 180 mph.  It stays aloft on a pressurized cushion of air that forms between the water and the aircraft. The current battery range is 180 miles with next-G batteries expected to provide a 500-mile range.

Decarbonizing Air Travel

Hawaiian Airlines and others are very bullish about this breakthrough aviation technology.  The REGENT Monarch Seaglider will go into commercial service in 2028 with the capacity to carry 100 passengers.  REGENT's current e-plane is called Viceroy.  It is their flagship sea glider and carries 12 passengers. Since these vehicles are all-electric with zero emissions, airlines like Hawaiian believe that new e-vehicles like this will help them reach their goals of being carbon neutral.  In the US, the airlines need to be carbon neutral by 2050.  The global airlines industry is estimated to produce 3% of all global carbon emissions, according to the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT).  For more news like this Daily Vehicle Briefing