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Franky Zapata !


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French inventor flies from northern France to Dover on jet-powered ‘Flyboard’


A French inventor has succeeded in crossing the Channel on a jet-powered hoverboard, telling journalists upon his touchdown that he had achieved his dream.

Franky Zapata managed the feat on Sunday morning on his second attempt, after being knocked off balance during his first try last month.

The 40-year-old set off on his Flyboard from Sangatte in the Pas de Calais region on the northern coast of France at about 6.17am for the 22-mile (35km) journey to St Margaret’s Bay, beyond the white cliffs of Dover.

Escorted by three helicopters, he completed the crossing in 22 minutes, reaching speeds of up to 110mph (177km/h) flying 15-20 metres (50-65ft) above the water. He arrived into the bay to the applause of dozens of onlookers and journalists.

Zapata’s hoverboard was powered by a backpack containing enough paraffin to keep him airborne for about 10 minutes, which he had to stop to refuel halfway through the journey.

“I’m feeling happy ... it’s just an amazing moment in my life,” he said following his touchdown in Britain. “The last 10% [of the flight] was easier ... because I had the time to look at the cliffs.”...

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/aug/04/franky-zapata-crosses-channel-by-hoverboard-at-second-attempt

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This is just so good, definitely in the Bleriot league in my book. So many possibilities once this becomes mature tech.

Crossing the Atlantic, at about a mile a minute, that's a long time stood up, and a big backpack full of paraffin.

Getting Libyans across the med though might be on 😃  and I wonder how high the wall needs to be now to keep Mexicans out?

 

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