'Flyman' Will Attempt to Cross the English Channel Again

A French inventor will attempt to cross the English Channel on a jet-powered hoverboard for the second time.
Donna Fuscaldo
Flyboard in ActionZapata 

French inventor Franky Zapata, creator of a jet-powered hoverboard that can go more than 100 miles-per-hour, will attempt to fly across the English Channel for the second time in a week.

Known as the "Flyman," Zapata is attempting to fly across the channel to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the first airplane flight across the Channel. Zapata told LeParisien flying across the Channel with a jet-powered hoverboard is the realization of a dream but said he's stressed out as he prepares for the flight Sunday.

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'Flyman' to Try Second Attempt in Days 

Last week Zapata failed to cross, crashing into the English Channel after missing the landing for refueling. The inventor was uninjured and undeterred. This time around Zapata and his team plan to use a larger boat for the refueling landing. 

Zapata will have to stop halfway through the twenty-minute flight to refuel. The Koresene tank worn on Zapata's back to power the Flyboard can only last about ten minutes in the air at an average speed of 87 miles-per-hour. The Flyboard can reach top speeds of as much as 118 miles-per-hour.

The inventor made headlines earlier in the year when he showed off the Flyboard during a Bastille Day demonstration. But crossing the English Channel will require more work on the part of the machine. Zapata gives himself a 30% chance of succeeding, telling the LeParisien that the Bastille Day demonstration required 3% of the Flyboard's output and this will require 99%.  Zapata had planned to refuel twice, once in England and once in France but because of an unfavorable ruling by the maritime prefecture is only refueling once.