Latest news with #Thalheimer
Al Etihad
20-05-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
ADNOC L&S partners with REGENT to trial high-speed electric seagliders for offshore transportation
20 May 2025 16:46 ABU DHABI (WAM)ADNOC Logistics and Services plc (ADNOC L&S), a global energy maritime logistics leader, has selected US-based REGENT's electric seaglider for a proof-of-concept trial to assess the craft's suitability for transporting personnel to and from offshore energy announcement was made at the 'Make it in the Emirates' event, currently taking place in Abu 'Viceroy' seaglider – a next-generation maritime craft – combines the speed of an aircraft with the convenience of a boat, offering high-speed, zero-emission proof-of-concept is the first phase in a potential multi-stage deployment that could see the technology incorporated more widely across ADNOC L&S's offshore logistics will manufacture its electric seagliders in the UAE. It will also provide aftermarket services such as maintenance, boosting local manufacturing capabilities and strengthening the UAE's industrial base. The proof-of-concept trial will also be managed by a UAE-based seaglider operator, delivering additional in-country value and positioning the UAE as a hub for advanced maritime Abdulkareem Al Masabi, CEO of ADNOC L&S, said, 'ADNOC L&S is committed to adopting innovative technologies that enhance the safety, sustainability and efficiency of our operations. This proof-of-concept trial with REGENT's seagliders marks an important milestone in our journey to decarbonise offshore logistics, while supporting 'Make it in the Emirates' through the development of future-ready maritime capabilities in the UAE.'The Viceroy can carry up to 12 passengers or 1,600 kilograms of cargo and is capable of speeds up to 300 kilometers per hour (180mph) for routes up to 300km. Its ability to operate in multiple modes – floating, foiling and flying – offers unique versatility and comfort for offshore with helicopters, the craft provides up to 80% lower operational costs and is equipped with advanced sensors and automated controls to ensure safe and reliable Thalheimer, Co-founder and CEO of REGENT, said, 'REGENT could ask for no better end user for seagliders in the UAE than the largest energy producer in the country and leader in innovation and sustainability. Seagliders will drastically reduce the time, cost, and emissions of offshore energy logistics, and we look forward to working together to set a new standard for the energy industry.' The proof-of-concept trial aligns with ADNOC Group's broader Net Zero by 2045 ambition and supports the UAE's strategic objectives to foster innovation, sustainability and national industrial growth.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Marine Corps bets on electric seagliders 'invisible' to enemy radar for medevac missions at sea
Regent's all-electric boat-plane hybrid project got a major boost from the government this week. The Marine Corps Warfighting Lab extended its collaboration with Regent with an estimated $10 million contract on Wednesday, following the successful completion of a $4.75 million contract. This new phase of testing will focus on examining its seaglider's capabilities on medical evacuation missions. For CEO Billy Thalheimer, a new era of global conflict centered on the Indo-Pacific represents a "reversion to World War II-style tactics," and the needs of the Pentagon will be once again focused on maritime operations instead of desert warfare like the war on terror in the Middle East. No Signal, No Problem: Intelligence Firm Debuts Drone Tech Equipped To Beat Gps Jammers Thalheimer said Regent identified the "capability gap" in the logistics of moving troops and supplies between island chains in the Indo-Pacific. Read On The Fox News App "We want something affordable and mass-produced. We do not have enough boats, the nation is working on our shipbuilding capabilities, we want something easy to operate and easy to crew, because it currently takes two years to train a pilot," he said. The seaglider travels up to 180 miles at up to 180mph speed. It can take off and land on water, "eliminating the need for vulnerable runway infrastructure," according to the company. The aircraft is all-electric, which Thalheimer says makes it easier to refuel anywhere there is electricity, rather than having to transport in gas. "You think about a gallon of fuel today, you know, $6. If we're buying it in the U.S., which can go to 100 to $150 when it's delivered to those, disparate island chains," he said. Regent's Viceroy, which holds 12 passengers with a 65-foot wingspan, completed a successful sea test on Rhode Island's Narragansett Bay earlier this month. Lasers, Space Radars, Missile Interceptors: Defense Leaders Lay Out Vision For Trump's 'Golden Dome' Project Regent's "float, foil, fly" motto describes the flight path of the seaglider: First, it floats on the ocean's surface, then as it picks up speed it "foils," meaning it gliders over the water's surface with wing-like structures known as hydrofoils, which then retract as it lifts into the air. The vehicle leverages "ground effect," avoiding the turbulence of the sky by hovering just around 30 feet in the air. The glider's earth-hugging flight path is also designed to avoid enemy radar. "There's this great opportunity to fly below radar, but really above sonar in this hard-to-see space." One key mission Regent hopes to fulfill is medical evacuations, given the quick turn-around its seagliders can have from floating on the sea near a port to flying. Regent has submitted its design basis agreement (DBA) to the Coast Guard for its Viceroy seaglider to the Coast Guard and expects approval this year. "We are incredibly proud to extend our collaboration with the U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Lab and continue to validate how REGENT's high-speed, low-signature, low-cost seagliders will enable defense missions," said Tom Huntley, VP of Government Relations and Defense at REGENT. "The second phase of our agreement will demonstrate their use cases for contested logistics operations in the maritime domain, fulfilling a critical national security need." The company has garnered over $90 million in investment from investors including 8090 Industries, Founders Fund, Japan Airlines and Lockheed article source: Marine Corps bets on electric seagliders 'invisible' to enemy radar for medevac missions at sea
Fox News
27-03-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Marine Corps bets on electric seagliders 'invisible' to enemy radar for medevac missions at sea
Regent's all-electric boat-plane hybrid project got a major boost from the government this week. The Marine Corps Warfighting Lab extended its collaboration with Regent with an estimated $10 million contract on Wednesday, following the successful completion of a $4.75 million contract. This new phase of testing will focus on examining its seaglider's capabilities on medical evacuation missions. For CEO Billy Thalheimer, a new era of global conflict centered on the Indo-Pacific represents a "reversion to World War II-style tactics," and the needs of the Pentagon will be once again focused on maritime operations instead of desert warfare like the war on terror in the Middle East. Thalheimer said Regent identified the "capability gap" in the logistics of moving troops and supplies between island chains in the Indo-Pacific. "We want something affordable and mass-produced. We do not have enough boats, the nation is working on our shipbuilding capabilities, we want something easy to operate and easy to crew, because it currently takes two years to train a pilot," he said. The seaglider travels up to 180 miles at up to 180mph speed. It can take off and land on water, "eliminating the need for vulnerable runway infrastructure," according to the company. The aircraft is all-electric, which Thalheimer says makes it easier to refuel anywhere there is electricity, rather than having to transport in gas. "You think about a gallon of fuel today, you know, $6. If we're buying it in the U.S., which can go to 100 to $150 when it's delivered to those, disparate island chains," he said. Regent's Viceroy, which holds 12 passengers with a 65-foot wingspan, completed a successful sea test on Rhode Island's Narragansett Bay earlier this month. Regent's "float, foil, fly" motto describes the flight path of the seaglider: First, it floats on the ocean's surface, then as it picks up speed it "foils," meaning it gliders over the water's surface with wing-like structures known as hydrofoils, which then retract as it lifts into the air. The vehicle leverages "ground effect," avoiding the turbulence of the sky by hovering just around 30 feet in the air. The glider's earth-hugging flight path is also designed to avoid enemy radar. "There's this great opportunity to fly below radar, but really above sonar in this hard-to-see space." One key mission Regent hopes to fulfill is medical evacuations, given the quick turn-around its seagliders can have from floating on the sea near a port to flying. Regent has submitted its design basis agreement (DBA) to the Coast Guard for its Viceroy seaglider to the Coast Guard and expects approval next year. "We are incredibly proud to extend our collaboration with the U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Lab and continue to validate how REGENT's high-speed, low-signature, low-cost seagliders will enable defense missions," said Tom Huntley, VP of Government Relations and Defense at REGENT. "The second phase of our agreement will demonstrate their use cases for contested logistics operations in the maritime domain, fulfilling a critical national security need." The company has garnered over $90 million in investment from investors including 8090 Industries, Founders Fund, Japan Airlines and Lockheed Martin.
Khaleej Times
11-02-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Faster than helicopter, cheaper than taxi: UAE could get new transport mode by next year
Travelling at high speeds over water as fast as a helicopter at a cost cheaper than a taxi fare. This is the promise by the CEO of a start-up company that is planning to add another futuristic vehicle to the UAE's transportation network. Called Seaglider, the all-electric, wing-in-ground-effect craft operates dock-to-dock, over-water routes within a wingspan of the water's surface. It combines the speed of an aircraft with the operating cost and accessibility of a boat, said Billy Thalheimer, founder and CEO of Regent Craft, at the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Tuesday. 'The prototype will be on the water very soon and we are expecting to get it tested on the air this summer. The product vehicle will be delivered late 2026 or early 2027,' Thalheimer told Khaleej Times. He added seagliders will be built to the same safety standards as modern aircraft and watercraft. They can operate on service routes up to 180 miles (300km) with existing battery technology, with a potential to serve routes of up to 500 miles (800km) once next-generation batteries become available, all using existing dock infrastructure. The best part is that seagliders can travel as fast as a chartered helicopter at a cost cheaper than a taxi fare. Thalheimer said passengers who will ride a 12-seater Seaglider will each pay only $45 or Dh165 for trip between Abu Dhabi Marina and Dubai Marina. Float, foil, and fly Thalheimer explained seagliders operate in three modes – float, foil, and fly. Seagliders float on their hull at docks or while maneuvering at low speeds, using existing dock infrastructure to pick up and drop off passengers and goods. Seagliders then rise onto hydrofoils — the wings operate underwater to lift the hull out of the water to reduce drag and avoid waves. These will also be used to navigate harbors while on low takeoff speeds. Then seagliders fly over open water at speeds up to 180mph (300kmph) on a cushion of air using a phenomenon called 'ground effect,' meaning they are always 'flying within one wingspan of the water's surface.' Thalheimer showed a video of a seaglider prototype that was tested on actual waters. He added Regent Company, which has global headquarters in Rhode Island, USA, is building the flagship Seaglider, Viceroy, which is a 12-passenger vehicle. He added Regent has a global order book worth more than $9 billion across six continents and has raised more than $90 million from investors including Strategic Development Fund (SDF), Neom, Japan Airlines, and Lockheed Martin. Made in the UAE The country will play a major role in the development of seagliders, noted Thalheimer. There will be local support and investment to expand its global operations, including workforce development, supply chain, integration and seaglider delivery In April last year, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and Regent signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the sidelines of DRIFTx, Abu Dhabi's smart and autonomous mobility transport event. The MoU entails providing support and attracting investment for the technology's development and manufacturing at the Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) cluster, located in Masdar City. 'Plans are maturing,' Thalheimer said confidently, adding: 'We have some big announcements to make in the next couple of days.'
