French inventor crosses Channel on hoverboard
SANGATTE, France: A
French daredevil who spent years developing a jetpowered hoverboard zoomed across the English Channel yesterday, fulfilling his quest after pulling off a tricky refuelling maneuver that cut short his first attempt 10 days ago. Franky Zapata blasted off on his “flyboard” from Sangatte on the northern coast of France at 8:17 am (0617 GMT) for the 35-km trip to St Margaret’s Bay in Dover. Escorted by three helicopters, he soared across the water in the early morning light and landed 22 minutes later in the picturesque bay, to the applause of dozens of onlookers and journalists.
“I’m feeling good. I’m feeling happy, I’m feeling lucky. This is just an amazing moment for me,” Zapata told AFP after landing. He said the indicators in the visor of his helmet showed he raced over the busy shipping lane at a speed of 160-170 km/h, doing zigzags as he neared the coast to try to ease the fatigue in his legs. Minutes after descending from the metal platform where he landed his craft, Zapata broke down in tears of emotion while talking on the phone to his 10-year-old son, who could be heard saying, “Dad, you’re the best!”
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