August 5, 2019

Andrew Campbell 

Franky Zapata, a French inventor, became the first man to cross the 
English Channel by hoverboard on August 4. He only spent about 20 minutes finishing the flight from Sangatte on France's northern coast to Dover nearby, England. He carried a backpack full of kerosene to supply the fuel.

Last month he made the first try, but when he wanted to refuel by landing on a platform on a boat, he fell into the water. Then, he modified his invention by using a larger boat and a larger platform.

Flyboard was also his invention. The Flyboard users can start the journey from the water to the air and make jets of water or some flips.

Zapata told reporters that he had to overcome the challenges from the wind above the channel by adjusting his body's position all the way across. How could he make it when all his body had to resist the wind? His answer was just enjoying it and forgetting about the pain. On landing Dover nearby, he said it was an amazing moment in his life.

Photo:Webshot.