The electric flying ship Regent flies with a budget of 60 million dollars

Electric flying ships are one of the newest and newest flying devices in the world, and many companies are looking to build them. The promise of electric aviation has been delayed by limited battery capacity and a lengthy certification process. Billy Thalheimer (founder and CEO of Regent), formerly of Aurora Flight Sciences, has focused on electric ships to answer two existing challenges.

“How can we do something where these things are fully electric and sustainable, can fly 50 miles, and meet certification requirements?” Thalheimer told TechCrunch in a recent interview. He claims that airships and aviation equipment should be combined. These airships dock like boats in docks and harbors, pass through resistant hydrofoils on waves, and fly over the surface of open water with the help of wing spans.

The important point is that the flying ship is a type of vehicle called a ground-wing vehicle (WIG) that has domestic and international jurisdiction. Thalheimer said getting certified through maritime law is a multi-year process and does not lower safety levels. He further said that this issue can provide a simpler monitoring process.

Naval ships use docks for water transport and always fly within a wingspan. Since these birds fly with the help of ground effect (a mass of air near the surface of the earth), they can see improved range and aerodynamic efficiency. They travel up to 180 miles on a single charge and reach a cruising speed of 180 mph. Thalheimer said battery range could improve by 350 to 500 miles by the end of the decade.

Investors seem eager to get the idea. The Rhode Island-based startup announced at UP Summit this week that it has raised $60 million in collaboration with 8090 Founders and Industries Fund. In this meeting Mark Cuban, Emirates Strategic Development Fund and others participated in the strategic investments of Japan Airlines Innovation Fund, Yamato Holding (the largest logistics company in Japan) and Lockheed Martin. This company has managed to attract 90 million dollars to date.

This funding will be used to build and test a prototype and can expand the team from 55 people to 100 people in 2024. Thalheimer told TechCrunch on the sidelines of the UP Summit event: The company plans to begin testing next summer for the first human flight by the end of 2024. The company has two products in the pipeline: a 12-passenger vehicle called the Viceroy, which is slated to be in service by the middle of this decade. The second product is called Monarch, which is an airship with 100 passengers.

Regent stated that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Japan Airlines. The agreement could expand investment by the airline’s JAL Innovation Fund. The aim is to work towards the activities of Japanese airships. But Japan is not the only potential market for this product. According to Thalheimer, other areas around Miami, the Bahamas, the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii, as well as international markets around the Mediterranean Sea, the English Channel and the North Sea are also suitable markets.

Source: Techcrunch