Regent Craft's electric WIG prototype completes first manned flight on Narragansett Bay
Why It MattersThe manned flight advances electric WIG craft toward commercial passenger service, a niche transport category bridging maritime regulation and short-range air travel.
Regent Craft has completed the first manned flight of its full-scale electric wing-in-ground-effect (WIG) craft prototype, calling it the largest all-electric WIG craft ever to fly with people aboard. The flight took place at Regent's headquarters on Narragansett Bay, with two captains aboard, covering 1,956 feet (596 metres) at a height of 33 feet (10 metres) above the water for 30 seconds.
Regent said its team spent the summer increasing the vessel's hydrofoiling speed ahead of the flight, part of a wider testing programme planned throughout 2026 covering on-water operations and simulation-based development. The craft operates in three modes — float, foil and fly — starting on its hull at low speed, transitioning to hydrofoils after leaving the dock, then flying within one wingspan of the water's surface.
The production vessel is intended to carry 12 passengers and two crew at speeds up to 160 knots over ranges of up to 180 miles (290 kilometres), with amenities including ample legroom, large windows and a quiet ride. Regent said its vessels will be crewed by certified mariners and regulated in the United States by the US Coast Guard, with maritime authorities overseeing operations elsewhere. Brazilian operator Synerjet has ordered ten examples of the craft.
