Yesterday, during the 110th anniversary to mark Louis Bleriot's first airplane flight across the English Channel on July 25 1909, French inventor, Franky Zapata attempted to make the 22-mile crossing on his jet-powered flyboard --- but failed.

The former jet-ski champion, who received widespread attention when he took to the skies during France military display on his futuristic flyboard earlier this month and also outran a Lamborghini Huracan, had been hoping to cross from northern France to southern England in just 20 minutes.

About 15 minutes after takeoff from Sangatte, in northern France, the 40-year-old fell into the water while trying to land on a small boat to refuel his flyboard.

The uninjured Zapata, who was around 11 miles from the finish line at St Margaret's Bay, England, is planning a second bid to fly across the Channel next week.

He told the press conference:

"I could see the British borders,"

“We should have done a takeoff and landing test, but we were not allowed”

"When I got closer to the platform, the boat took a wave and it hit the foot of the machine and broke it"

"I lost balance, I fell in the water. The flyboard is damaged, the electronic part has to be redone, the motors are ruined but the base is saved"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIkOTlLXE4Q



Right now, he plans to find a bigger boat that he can land on to refuel his invention. His ₦90 million jet-powered hoverboard, which is about the size of a skateboard, is powered by five small jet engines and fuelled by kerosene which is kept in the rider's backpack.

https://autojosh.com/flyboard-hero-crashes-into-the-sea-during-his-attempt-to-cross-22-mile-english-channel-on-his-n90m-jet-powered-hoverboard/

Cc Lalasticlala Mynd44 Mukina2 Dominique Seun

Dont die next time you fall bro, cos it will be for nothing.

Imagine invention people cannot use.. Why waste time and so much money inventing it?

Please before reminding me I'm backward for thinking such,
Do some research.
The cost,
Re-fueling,
Expertise needed to fly it..

Haba, is it worth it??

professorval1:
Dont die next time you fall bro, cos it will be for nothing.

Imagine invention people cannot use.. Why waste time and so much money inventing it?

Who told you it's an invention people will not use ? So because he failed at the first attempt means he should give up ? That's why we're 5000 years behind them smh

Oluwasaeon:

Who told you it's an invention people will not use ? So because he failed at the first attempt means he should give up ? That's why we're 5000 years behind them smh

You're right bro...

His invention is very safe and didn't fail him...

The refueling platform, the small and shaky boat, failed him.

He aims to get a bigger boat to land on during his next attempt.

Oluwasaeon:

Who told you it's an invention people will not use ? So because he failed at the first attempt means he should give up ? That's why we're 5000 years behind them smh

Mr 5000 years ahead, do your research well.
How many people can afford it?
How is it better than the currently available means of transport?
How long before anybody can learn to fly it?
How much fuel will a 'flyer' have to carry around all the time?

Is it worth it?

Even foreign media houses have labelled it as unproductive.
Who are you?

professorval1:


Mr 5000 years ahead, do your research well.
How many people can afford it?
How is it better than the currently available means of transport?
How long before anybody can learn to fly it?
How much fuel will a 'flyer' have to carry around all the time?

Is it worth it?

Even foreign media houses have labelled it as unproductive.
Who are you?

A Nairalander

Automotive1:


You're right bro...

His invention is very safe and didn't fail him...

The refueling platform, the small and shaky boat, failed him.

He aims to get a bigger boat to land on during his next attempt.

*He's done it this time around

Oluwasaeon:

*He's done it this time around

https://autojosh.com/frenchman-successfully-crossed-22-mi-channel-on-jet-powered-hoverboard-in-second-attempt/

Yes, Thanks

Automotive1:


https://autojosh.com/frenchman-successfully-crossed-22-mi-channel-on-jet-powered-hoverboard-in-second-attempt/

Yes, Thanks

We will NEVER catch up

Following...

Oluwasaeon:
We will NEVER catch up

I disagree