French inventor fails in attempt to cross the English Channel on hoverboard; "he will do it again"

[mahatmakanejeeves]

FOREFRONT OF INNOVATION
Published 1 hour ago

French inventor fails in attempt to cross the English Channel on hoverboard, wife vows 'he will do it again'

Paulina Dedaj By Paulina Dedaj | Fox News

French inventor and former military reservist Franky Zapata was unsuccessful in his attempt Thursday to fly across the English Channel on a jet-powered hoverboard.

Zapata, 40, took off from the French coastal town of Sangatte with a flyboard, which he crafted, strapped to his feet. He had hoped to reach St. Margaret’s Bay in Dover, England over 22 miles away in just 20 minutes.


INVENTOR TO CROSS ENGLISH CHANNEL ON JET-POWERED HOVERBOARD

Unfortunately for him, he fell into the water halfway through his journey after attempting to refuel. The platform in the water he was supposed to land on was rocking too much because of waves and he was unable to grab hold of it, eventually falling into the water.



People watch as Franky Zapata, a 40-year-old inventor, takes to the air in Sangatte, Northern France, at the start of his attempt to cross the channel from France to England on July 25, 2019.
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[jberryhill]

1. Ron Obvious' Attempt to Jump the Channel

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[Blue_Tires]

2. I heard that dude on BBC radio yesterday... Fascinating stuff

[TeamPooka]

3. I'm rooting for him to get there. Amazing invention.

[lunatica]

4. So am I

The Wright brothers weren’t too successful at first either. Now look how they changed the world!

Unfortunately it already has military value, though I can see a lot more kinks need to be ironed out. Like being a flying target for one.