Related video: The electric-powered flying boat that flies just metres above the sea, will provide a kind of maritime bus service. Credits: Video – Newshub; Images – REGENT/Ocean Flyer
The first footage of the zero-carbon seagliders, which would provide a cheaper alternative option to domestic travel around New Zealand, has been released.
Twenty-five all electric, zero-carbon seagliders are being brought into New Zealand in a $700 million agreement involving a company backed by controversial billionaire Peter Thiel.
The deal is between newly-established New Zealand transport business Ocean Flyer and US aerospace company REGENT, whose title is an acronym for "regional electric ground effect naval transport".
Ocean Flyer chief executive Shah Aslam flew to Tampa, Florida late in April to see the first quarter-size prototype being flown, and footage has now been released of the demonstration, which you can see in the video above.
The seagliders are part ferry, part plane and part hydrofoil and the video show them gliding across the water on foils.
"Coast to coast, city to city, faster, comfortable. Affordable, sustainable transportation. This will revolutionize the way transport is done in New Zealand," captions in the video said.
Ocean Flyer said Kiwis can expect to use its services from 2025 to travel routes such as Wellington to Christchurch in one hour from $60 per seat, or between Auckland and Whangarei on 30 minute one way trips from $30 per seat.
Aslam told AM previously that Auckland to Waiheke would be a 12 minute trip starting at $12, while Wellington-Blenheim would be a 25 minute journey starting at $25 per seat.
The first seagliders expected to arrive in New Zealand will be in 2025, which will be the zero-emission Viceroy, which is a 12-seater version. The Monarch seaglider, which seats 100 passengers, is expected to enter service in 2028.