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US Marines to get high-speed, radar-evading electric seagliders for rescue ops
21–30 of 107 posts
Re: US Marines to get high-speed, radar-evading electric seagliders for rescue ops
#22From the wiki I take it they have yet to build and fly a full-sized prototype "A 1/4 scale model was successfully demonstrated in 2022 in Narragansett Bay"[1] Also I assume radar-proof is just because it's a ground effect vehicle that will never fly high enough to show up on radar it certainly doesn't look all angular like a stealth bomber. In which case my bicycle is also radar-proof? [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wi…
They just started testing a full scale prototype like at the start of March. https://www.regentcraft.com/news/regent-begins-sea-trials-of...
They've done boat mode tests, but they haven't flown yet.
Re: US Marines to get high-speed, radar-evading electric seagliders for rescue ops
#23I wonder why the title clarifies "for rescue ops". Is there anything inherent to this technology that prevents it from being used for anything else? The article body insists on "demonstrations relevant to specific defense operations" which sounds quite broad and not limited to rescue ops in any way.
- Very fast
- avoids radar/detection
- water based
My first assumption is that this is for stealth ops. "Rescue" doesn't need those features.
Re: US Marines to get high-speed, radar-evading electric seagliders for rescue ops
#24>high speed
these are prop aircraft.
>radar evading
except for that insane heat signature coming from the half dozen DC motors and the RF emissions from them.
>electric
unless teslas making it...probably not...
this sounds like a pork project...or PR fluff.
Re: US Marines to get high-speed, radar-evading electric seagliders for rescue ops
#25is this a ground effect machine?
"seaglider" is apparently a new word for ekranoplan. The difference is, the new ones tend not to be so enormous [1]. See e.g. https://www.regentcraft.com/seagliders/viceroy and https://www.hawaiiseaglider.org/what-is-a-seaglider It's the same craft with a different paint job Yes, they are Wing-in-Ground craft 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caspian_Sea_Monster
I suspect that in this case "seaglider" is just REGENT's marketing name, rather than a term with broader uptake. All the places I'm seeing the name 'seaglider' used in this context look like REGENT's prospective customers.
The term is also being used for some underwater drones (see https://apl.uw.edu/project/project.php?id=seaglider and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seaglider).
Re: US Marines to get high-speed, radar-evading electric seagliders for rescue ops
#26Congratulations for having capabilities Russia has had for three decades.
Re: US Marines to get high-speed, radar-evading electric seagliders for rescue ops
#27I wonder why the title clarifies "for rescue ops". Is there anything inherent to this technology that prevents it from being used for anything else? The article body insists on "demonstrations relevant to specific defense operations" which sounds quite broad and not limited to rescue ops in any way.
- Very fast - avoids radar/detection - water based My first assumption is that this is for stealth ops. "Rescue" doesn't need those features.
Fast and water based I can sort of see, but there's no point to it avoiding radar. The range of 180 miles (assuming I read that correctly) also makes it pretty pointless for search and rescue. You would have to know where someone is, the weather must be good enough to land on water, and they can't be more than 60 miles away.
A NH90 helicopter is faster, at 190mph (300km/h) and have longer range at 500 miles (800km). It also doesn't have to land to rescue someone.
Re: US Marines to get high-speed, radar-evading electric seagliders for rescue ops
#28From the wiki I take it they have yet to build and fly a full-sized prototype "A 1/4 scale model was successfully demonstrated in 2022 in Narragansett Bay"[1] Also I assume radar-proof is just because it's a ground effect vehicle that will never fly high enough to show up on radar it certainly doesn't look all angular like a stealth bomber. In which case my bicycle is also radar-proof? [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wi…
They just started testing a full scale prototype like at the start of March. https://www.regentcraft.com/news/regent-begins-sea-trials-of... They've done boat mode tests, but they haven't flown yet.
Thanks for sharing, I honestly wish this company the best electric planes are a hard problem to solve and it's good to see anyone making an honest effort.
However to poke just a little fun this line stands out as a hilarious marketing claim that cannot possibly be true
"Almost all (98%) of UAE coastal residents are interested in riding a seaglider, according to our global consumer survey."
It's also interesting to note that the CEO has appeared on no fewer than 13 different podcasts between mid-2022 and last week which is I suppose how one would go about getting a high value US defence contract these days.
Re: US Marines to get high-speed, radar-evading electric seagliders for rescue ops
#29I wonder why the title clarifies "for rescue ops". Is there anything inherent to this technology that prevents it from being used for anything else? The article body insists on "demonstrations relevant to specific defense operations" which sounds quite broad and not limited to rescue ops in any way.
- Very fast - avoids radar/detection - water based My first assumption is that this is for stealth ops. "Rescue" doesn't need those features.
TBF, You never know when you might need to sneak up on a shoreside compound, go in and “rescue” a bunch of people from their beds, and get back out undetected.
Re: US Marines to get high-speed, radar-evading electric seagliders for rescue ops
#30Earlier quoted context omitted.
"seaglider" is apparently a new word for ekranoplan. The difference is, the new ones tend not to be so enormous [1]. See e.g. https://www.regentcraft.com/seagliders/viceroy and https://www.hawaiiseaglider.org/what-is-a-seaglider It's the same craft with a different paint job Yes, they are Wing-in-Ground craft 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caspian_Sea_Monster
I suspect that in this case "seaglider" is just REGENT's marketing name, rather than a term with broader uptake. All the places I'm seeing the name 'seaglider' used in this context look like REGENT's prospective customers. The term is also being used for some underwater drones (see https://apl.uw.edu/project/project.php?id=seaglider and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seaglider ).
Sure, it seems to be this Regent that wants to make "seaglider" a thing.
You can understand why they don't use "ekranoplan" as the marketing term. Its going to only be familiar to those who are into Soviet History, Aviation trivia or specific Sci-Fi.
And it's not going to bring small, modern, electric craft to mind.