On Wednesday, Regent Craft of North Kingstown unveiled its Seaglider, an innovative hybrid vehicle that combines elements of boating and flying, during a demonstration over Narragansett Bay. Approximately 600 attendees from around the world observed the craft as it accelerated across the water before lifting into the air.

While the Seaglider resembles a seaplane, it is officially classified as a boat and meets U.S. Coast Guard regulations rather than those of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This classification is due in part to its operational design, which restricts it to flying just under 40 feet above the water’s surface, a low altitude that exempts it from traditional aircraft rules. The Seaglider features distinctive, drooping wings reminiscent of a seagull’s, equipped with a dozen electric-powered propellers. It can reach speeds of up to 160 miles per hour while cruising just above the water.

Regent positions the Seaglider as a new form of transportation aimed at traversing coastal routes more quickly than trains, cars, or buses, with less of the hassle typically associated with air travel. For example, commuters traveling between Boston and New York could board the vessel at a harbor and travel along the coastline efficiently, bypassing airport procedures and extensive ground transportation.

The demonstration marked a significant step in Regent’s ongoing effort to resolve longstanding engineering challenges related to this mode of travel and highlighted the company’s ambition to introduce a new category of vehicle within the transportation sector. However, Regent now faces the challenge of attracting both consumers and commercial operators to adopt the Seaglider in a market dominated by established travel options. How the company will navigate regulatory, competitive, and logistical hurdles remains to be seen as it seeks to carve out a niche for this unconventional vehicle.