New electric flying boat piques interest of commercial, military communities VIDEO

23 August 2025 05:10

The Paladin, a futuristic winged passenger ferry designed by US manufacturer Regent Craft, aims to revolutionize both coastal transportation and naval operations. Combining characteristics of an aircraft and a boat, the 20-meter vessel features twelve electric propellers and a wingspan that allows it to travel on hydrofoils before transitioning to a flight-like mode. It is currently being tested in the Narragansett Bay of Rhode Island in the US state of Massachusetts.

Initially operating like a conventional motorized boat, it lifts on hydrofoils to glide a few meters above water at over 80 km/h. According to reporting by NBC News, the craft is designed to soar roughly 9 meters above the sea at speeds of up to 290 km/h, using “ground effect” — the same aerodynamic phenomenon seabirds exploit for energy-efficient flight.

CEO Billy Thalheimer describes the vision as creating a vehicle “as fast as an aircraft and as easy to drive as a boat.” If successful, the Paladin could slash regional travel times, such as cutting the trip from Rhode Island to New York City to just an hour, compared to three hours by train. Test flights are scheduled for late summer or early fall. The company has attracted major investors such as PayPal CEO Peter Thiel and Shark Tank’s Mark Cuban, signalling confidence in its potential.

One engineering hurdle is transitioning from hydrofoil mode to airborne mode since hydrofoils alone cannot generate enough lift for high-speed flight. To address this, Regent’s design uses propeller-driven airflow to produce additional lift at lower speeds.

Commercial and military interest

Regent is working to secure regulatory approvals from the US Coast Guard and global authorities while marketing its technology for commercial routes in Florida, Hawaii, Japan, and the Persian Gulf.

At the same time, the company is pursuing military applications in partnership with the US Marines, envisioning versions powered by jet fuel for long-range island-hopping missions in the Pacific. These military variants could serve roles in troop and cargo transport, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence operations, and even as mobile platforms for drones and autonomous systems.

Historically, similar concepts were tested by the Soviet Union’s Ekranoplan, a massive ground-effect warship that could reach top speeds eight times that of the fastest US aircraft carrier. While it was built to fly under radar detection, it never saw widespread deployment.

According to the article, reports of Chinese military interest in comparable craft have renewed strategic discussions.

Despite growing enthusiasm, experts like retired Navy Capt. Paul S. Schmitt caution that questions remain about the glider’s detectability, performance in rough seas and high winds, long-term maintenance costs, and overall scalability beyond prototypes. If these challenges are overcome, Regent’s seaglider could redefine regional transport and offer the military a powerful new tool for contested maritime environments.