$538K investment establishes new hangar operations, supports workforce growth, and advances next-generation coastal aviation
CHESAPEAKE, VA (Apr. 8, 2026) — Advanced air mobility startup Tidal Flight is expanding its Virginia operations with a $538,000 investment at Chesapeake Regional Airport, further positioning Hampton Roads as a hub for next-generation aerospace innovation.
The company will lease approximately 13,000 square feet of hangar space to support research, development, and testing activities tied to its hybrid-electric amphibious aircraft platform. The expansion will also add six new jobs, tripling Tidal Flight’s current workforce.
Founded in Hampton Roads and incubated through the REaKTOR program in 2023, Tidal Flight is developing its flagship Polaris aircraft—a hybrid-electric seaplane designed to carry nine to 12 passengers across regional routes ranging from 100 to 500 miles. The aircraft is engineered to significantly reduce fuel consumption, operating costs, and noise levels while improving durability for coastal environments.
The Chesapeake expansion provides the company with dedicated space to advance full-scale subsystem testing and prototype development, accelerating commercialization efforts in the rapidly evolving advanced air mobility sector.
Virginia’s growing aerospace ecosystem, combined with strong maritime and defense assets in Hampton Roads, continues to attract emerging aviation companies focused on sustainable and high-performance technologies. The region offers access to specialized engineering talent, flight testing infrastructure, and collaborative public-private partnerships that support innovation and scale.
Tidal Flight’s presence at Chesapeake Regional Airport reinforces the city’s role in advanced manufacturing and aviation development, while also introducing new capabilities in hybrid-electric aircraft systems. The project contributes to the broader diversification of the regional economy, where aerospace remains a targeted growth sector alongside defense, energy, and logistics.
State and regional partners, including the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), the Hampton Roads Alliance, and the City of Chesapeake, collaborated to secure and support the company’s expansion. Through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program, Tidal Flight will receive workforce support to assist with recruitment and training as operations scale.
As development of the Polaris platform progresses, Tidal Flight’s investment underscores the increasing momentum behind sustainable aviation solutions and highlights Virginia’s role in shaping the future of coastal and regional air mobility.
