We have lift off..
Thread Starter
We have lift off..
https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...-franky-zapata
0908 French time Wednesday....link to French TV feed below (adverts permitting, local broadcasting rules apply etc )
https://www.bfmtv.com/mediaplayer/live-video/
Edit to add: ..Oh dear, according to one on the scene it seems to have gone all Pete Thong during or just prior to the mid-channel refuelling. The "pilot" (Zapata) is said to be OK.
0908 French time Wednesday....link to French TV feed below (adverts permitting, local broadcasting rules apply etc )
https://www.bfmtv.com/mediaplayer/live-video/
Edit to add: ..Oh dear, according to one on the scene it seems to have gone all Pete Thong during or just prior to the mid-channel refuelling. The "pilot" (Zapata) is said to be OK.
Last edited by wiggy; 25th Jul 2019 at 07:27.
Some most impressive gentleman but certainly a high risk venture. I admire this inventor's spirit risking his life to improve his self designed air vehicles. He is certainly no naive desperado and there is some smart backup system built in.
The U.S. Navy's Curtiss NC-4: First Across the Atlantic
if he's stopping to refuel enroute, its not really a channel crossing...
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Well if we're going to be really pedantic, it would still be a Channel crossing, just not a non-stop one.
The U.S. Navy's Curtiss NC-4: First Across the Atlantic
The U.S. Navy's Curtiss NC-4: First Across the Atlantic
Should have said sea to air. He wanted to stay flying all the time.
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I watched him perform at the French GP a few weeks back. Very impressive. He flew around the track and hovered over the grid before returning to land at the strip next to the course. Very fast and loud but (apparently), quite easy to control....apart, it would seem, when trying to land on a boat in the middle of the Channel...
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I can see this in a year or so competing with e scooters and e skateboards and causing havoc on the roads and pavements (sidewalks). Ideal for commuters of course until someone gets killed - oh, they already have - no safety, no training - just hop and and go - As bad as idiot cyclists with their ear pods blasting
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I can see this in a year or so competing with e scooters and e skateboards and causing havoc on the roads and pavements (sidewalks). Ideal for commuters of course until someone gets killed - oh, they already have - no safety, no training - just hop and and go
https://zapata.com/
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Um..do you really think this will be on roads..really...? As far as training, I think you should take a look at his website before you make sweeping comments - you'll see there is a pretty comprehensive training program in place.
https://zapata.com/
https://zapata.com/
Flyboard Air™
Intuitive Flight Controls
- Very easy to learn.
- Designed to be flown without pilot training.
- Designed around the human body and our natural ability to balance.
- Safely train on the water FlyboardŽ
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Successful crossing this morning: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49225001
P.S. Can the Mods please change the title.
P.S. Can the Mods please change the title.
Now this looks like a lot of fun.
Was thinking of posting this in the electric aircraft thread, but as it's neither electric or an aircraft I thought I would start a new thread.
He just crossed the channel on it. I understand he had to land on a boat to re-fuel. But it really looks like it would be a lot of fun to play around on.
He just crossed the channel on it. I understand he had to land on a boat to re-fuel. But it really looks like it would be a lot of fun to play around on.