In case you missed it, earlier this year 37-year-old Franky Zapata, inventor of the Flyboard Air, broke Alexander Duru’s record of the furthest flight on a hoverboard. The record shattering flight made by the French Jet Ski champion took place April 30, 2016 off the coast of Sausset-les-Pins in the south of France. He rode his specially designed jet-powered board called The Flyboard Air, which uses an “Independent Propulsion Unit” to fly hose-free and can stay airborne for up to ten minutes. The Flyboard is not equipped with a jet ski or tether like other types of hoverboards.
The Gizmag staff was anxious to check out Zapata’s world record attempt so they boarded a ship named Albatros, which got underway in the Mediterranean near Marseille, France. Also among the guests aboard the vessel were other members of the press and selected VIPs. The Albatross dropped anchor opposite a take-off platform at Carry-le-Rouet while everyone waited for Zapata to get suited up and fly away.
After Zapata performed a quick systems test, he climbed into the attached boots of the Flyboard Air’s carbon fiber platform and prepared for launch. Once he cranked the jets, he was quickly airborne and cruising along the coastline. This lasted for close to ten minutes before he flew roughly 100 feet above the water, hitting a maximum speed of 44 miles per hour, prior to making his landing in the port of Sausset-les-Pins. Zapata totally smashed Duru’s old record of 905.2 feet with his own amazing flight of 7,389.76 feet! You can check out the video right here. It’s really cool!
