• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Engineering Designer Magazine

Engineering Designer

  • Home
  • Technology
  • Education
  • Sustainability
  • Materials
  • Medical
  • Construction
  • Advertise
  • iED
You are here: Home / Sustainability / New coastal plane will fly on a cushion of air

New coastal plane will fly on a cushion of air

August 26, 2022 by Geordie Torr

All-electric coastal aviation start-up REGENT has used the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of cloud-based software and services to help pioneer a new category of vehicle called the seaglider, a high-speed zero-emission vehicle that operates exclusively over the water to drastically reduce the time and cost of moving people and goods between coastal cities.

Advertisement

The REGENT seaglider, an all-electric wing-in-ground-effect (WIG) vehicle, travels in one of three modes: floating on its hull near the dock, foiling on its hydrofoils at up to 40 knots as it comes in and out of port, or flying above the waves at 160 knots while cruising to its destination. When in flight, it operates a few metres above the surface of the water, relying on the ground effect phenomenon – essentially flying on a cushion of air.

The seaglider combines the high speed and comfort of an airplane with the low operating cost of an electric vehicle. It differs from past WIGs due to its hydrofoils, distributed electric propulsion and aerospace fly-by-wire controls. These elements enable safe harbour operations, increased wave tolerance and a comfortable passenger experience.

Advertisement

‘At REGENT we are focused on bringing a revolutionary new vehicle to the transportation market with the potential to change how both people and freight move over the water,’ said Mike Klinker, chief technical officer and co-founder of REGENT.

REGENT’s flagship seaglider, the 12-passenger Viceroy, will be to service routes up to 290 kilometres in length with existing battery technology and routes up to 800 kilometres in length with next-generation batteries, all via existing dock infrastructure. Additionally, its operation as a wing-in-ground-effect vehicle above the water enables maritime testing and certification. This is an efficient pathway to entry-into-service, allowing customers to experience high-speed, zero-emission coastal mobility sooner than electric aviation options, while maintaining similar levels of safety.

Filed Under: Sustainability, Technology

Advertisement

Primary Sidebar

SUBSCRIBE And get a FREE Magazine

Want a FREE magazine each and every month jam-packed with the latest engineering and design news, views and features?

ED Update Magazine

Simply let us know where to send it by entering your name and email below. Immediate access.

Trending

Tiny robots inspiored by click beetles

Collaborators create innovative geotechnical sensor for road monitoring

Scientists develop precision arm for miniature robots

Engineering start-up secures investment for technology to release seized nuts and bolts

British company to design green gas-to-power barges for Greek islands

New micro-battery could be used to power tiny robots

Made in Britain and the British Design Fund team up for 2023

New corrosion sensor offers several benefits

Caltech launches space solar power project

Scientists create novel steel-bronze alloys

Footer

About Engineering Designer

Engineering Designer is the quarterly journal of the Insitution of Engineering Designers.

It is produced by the IED for our Members and for those who have an interest in engineering and product design, as well as CAD users.

Click here to learn more about the IED.

Other Pages

  • Contact us
  • About us
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms
  • Institution of Engineering Designers

Search

Tags

ied

Copyright © 2023 · Site by Syon Media