This super cool jet-powered Flyboard is a cross between a surfboard and a skateboard
- A video has gone viral showing a man using a hoverboard-like device
- In the video, the man can be seen flying through the air seamlessly
- The device even helps him land gracefully on the ground
Published on Jun 18, 2024 at 3:42 PM (UTC+4)
by Nalin Rawat
Last updated on Jun 20, 2024 at 6:29 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
If you have been on the internet long enough you might have heard about jet packs, but have you ever heard of a Flyboard?
Recently a video went viral in which a man can be seen flying and landing on the ground with the help of a hoverboard-like device.
The device in question is called Flyboard Air, invented by French water-craft rider Franky Zapata.
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A hovering skateboard
Zapata invented the Flyboard and is the founder of Zapata Racing.
The earlier version of the hovercraft was connected to a remote-controlled watercraft via a water tube.
The Flyboard used the water pumped via the tube to propel the rider high above the water.
However, Zapata thought, what if you got rid of the hoses and used real jet engines?
Just like the ones used on jetpacks and flying motorcycles.
Flyboard Air
Enter Flyboard Air, a hoverboard that is powered by five jet turbines.
This makes Marty McFly’s flying skateboard look like a toy.
It can deliver a top speed of nearly 110 mph, a max altitude of 10,000 feet, and about 10 minutes of flight time.
However, the rider has to weigh less than 113kg (250lbs).
Zapata’s company Z-AIR also received €1.3 million from the French military in 2018.
However, according to Zapata, the Flyboard Air was not yet ready for military use, due to the noise it creates and the challenge of learning how to fly the device.
Other than this hoverboard, some militaries around the world have also shown interest in jet packs.
Even the Royal Marines Commandos tried out the ‘Iron Man’ jet pack suits in a training demonstration.
In another case, a paramedic used a jet pack to reach the top of a mountain in 3 minutes.
If the Flyboard Air can be used in situations like these it can become more than a recreational device.
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Nalin started his career by working with various national newspapers in India. He has also worked as a writer/editor for many popular websites, while still pursuing his journalism and mass communication degree. Working as a digital nomad has allowed him to inform and educate through his work. When he is not writing, you can find him playing video games or travelling the mountains on his bike.
