Photo: Getty Images
On August 4, the French inventor Franky Zapata succeeded in achieving his dream and crossed the English Channel with the help of his invention, the Flyboard Air platform.
The idea of the invented flying platform was inspired by Louis Brelio. 110 years ago, on July 25, Brelio was the first pilot to fly over the English Channel. It took Franky Zapata three years to turn his development into a successful end product. The device is powered by five small jet engines and is manually controlled by a throttle that Zapata activates to take off after putting on a pair of boots attached to the board. The inventor also carries kerosene in his backpack.
Just two weeks earlier, a few inches were not enough and Zapata fell into British waters, trying to reach a refueling platform. When making his second try on Sunday, the inventor used a larger platform and also received full assistance of local authorities. During the trial, three helicopters were monitoring Franky Zapata’s safety.
Despite his amazing achievement, the Frenchman is already working on a new invention. Speaking to French media, Franky Zapata said he is already testing a future flying sports car. The prototype is powered by four gas turbines – the end product will use ten and will have a capacity of between 305 km/h and 402 km/h. At the moment, the French Civil Aviation Service does not give Zapata their permission to fly outside the test facilities, but the inventor believes he will be authorized by the end of this month.
Franky Zapata is expected to present his new invention in 2020.
Author: Nadezhda Dragomirova
