The brief

Analyst view

• The Viceroy operates in three modes: hull, hydrofoil, and ground-effect flight. Carries 12 passengers at 180 mph with 180-mile range.
• Ground-effect flight cuts drag 30-50%, reducing energy use and radar signature for defense.
• September 2, 2026 first crewed flight of any wing-in-ground-effect craft with passengers.

Technical approach

As reported

Ground effect

Flying near water lowers energy use

Within one wing span of water surface, induced drag drops by 30-50%. This extends range and reduces power draw, while minimizing radar cross-section.

All-electric

Twelve redundant electric motors

Twelve 120 kW motors provide redundancy and vectored thrust. All-electric eliminates fuel logistics and emissions in maritime transport and defense.

Three modes

Hull, hydrofoil, and ground-effect flight

Accelerates from boat mode to hydrofoil, then ground-effect flight. Operates from any water without runways or special infrastructure.