Two electric approaches to providing seaside flight come from cold and warm climates and from elevations close to sea level to topping Norwegian fjords. Both rely on electric power to carry up to 12 passengers between seaside destinations.
Regent Seaglider
If the Wall Street Journal can overcome its skepticism and marvel at the $7 billion in letters of intent or other forms of interest, they might look into what seems to be drawing potential customers. That may come from the company’s mission, “To drastically reduce the cost and headache of regional transportation between coastal cities.”
Skimming the water at up to 180 mph, the Regent Viceroy employs Wing In Ground effect (WIG) aerodynamics to lift it high enough to skim the waves while benefiting from flight in ground effect. That cushion of air that helps sustain an aircraft on initial takeoff stays with the Viceroy during its entire flight, reducing the power needed and extending the range.
With today’s batteries, the Viceroy can travel 180 miles. The company thinks they can expand that to 500 miles with new technology cells, something that seems to be coming from several sources. Calculating a battery pack energy density of 200 Watt-hours per kilogram to achieve the 180 mile range, 500 W-hr./kg provides 2.5 times that energy and should result in 450 miles range. Amprius, CATL, and SILA Nanotechnologies, Inc. have all announced such levels and Toyota and others are following suit. The 50-mile difference should be made up with the next set of announcements from cell makers.
Looking a bit like a VIP lounge, even in standard form, the aircraft’s interior provides more roominess and vastly greater visibility of the sights along the way than one finds in a metal tube at altitude. One wonders whether the screen displays will compete with the live scenery scrolling by the broad windows.
Seagliders could have more applications than mere tourist transportation. The military sees its potential as an island-hopping amphibious vehicles with unique “stealth” characteristics from its operating altitude. Because it floats along at about 30 feet above the ocean’s surface, the Seaglider is above underwater SONAR detection and below RADAR height.
In a more visible use, the Viceroy could be deployed on search and rescue missions and provide close-in medical services where required. Because of its amphibious capabilities, the airplane would be ideal for water rescues and searches.
The high level of interest shown in the craft, and recent large-scale demonstrations of the Seaglider’s water- and airborne capabilities continue to show promise. Your editor would love a low-level ocean flight.
Elfly Noemi
The Elfly (pronounced ɛl fliː or ‘ell flee’) Noemi is a twin-motor, more conventional seaplane that, according to its makers, promises emission-free travel or sightseeing. “City center to island? Easy. Harbor to airport? Not a problem. Sightseeing tours through fjords, natural parks, or cities with strict emission and sound regulations? By design.” The somewhat Felliniesque unveiling is a bit surreal, but provides a glimpse of how free and exciting such flights may be.
The second of two electric approaches to sea-side hops can achieve aircraft-type heights, necessary to climb over the peaks surrounding the fjords of Norway, but also helpful in places with obstacles above those of the Maldives, an almost entirely sea-level nation. Elfly acknowledges the challenge. “Born in Norway: A land with more than a thousand fjords and half a million lakes. With most of our population straddling a line between high mountains and the sea, it is difficult, expensive, and environmentally challenging to build adequate infrastructure. Our Noemi seaplane is an effective, non-intrusive solution born from our way of life, capable of reducing hours we’d spend in cars or trains to mere minutes in the air.”
Noemi (no emissions) is partly the brainchild of Tomas Brødreskift, Chief Technical Officer for the company. His earlier efforts include the design, building and flight testing of his Equator P2, two-seat hybrid amphibian and work on a Formula E race plane, among other accomplishments. Noemi’s CEO is Eric Lithun and its Chief Financial Officer is Eirik Sandal. They are working toward a 2030 introductory date for Noemi.
As with the Viceroy, Elfly’s makers are counting on battery technology to propel future improvements. 2023 batteries can provide 170 kilometers (105 miles) of range, while those projected for 2029 could up that to 240 kilometers (149 miles). By 2040 that could progress to 315 kilometers (196 miles), enough to connect almost any two points in the country.
Battery maker EPS CEO Nathan Millecam and Elfly CEO and founder Eric Lithun
Interestingly, both Elfly and Regent are slated to use battery packs from Electric Power Systems (EPS) in their machines. EPS seems already in place with Bye Aerospace, Ampaire, AuraAero, and Diamond Aviation among others. Perhaps closest to seaplane use, Harbor Air uses EPS packs in their DeHavilland Beaver.
A Sea Level Playing Field
With the world’s oceans providing an almost endless supply of ready-made landing areas for seaplanes and amphibians, one could wonder why we ever came to neglect this available resource. Of course, trans-ocean jets made inexpensive flights between continents possible, but as with regional air transport on land, sea-coast towns and villages, tourist destinations, and emergency needs would benefit from the options provided by the electric approaches to waterborne aviation.