This is amazing!

WOW!

There's something hinky going on there -- obviously that backpack is his fuel supply, but compare that with the JetPacks . . . something doesn't add up.

As much as I would love this to be real, I can't help but think it's fake

I would post up some Youtube links to videos "debunking" the FlyBoard Air, but we are not yet in Heavy Weather

On the GWR site
www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2016/4/confirmed-franky-zapata-sets-new-farthest-hoverboard-flight-record-in-france-427011
Zapata Racing has achieved the dream of all men and offers you the first video of Franky Zapata flying on the innovation Flyboard® Air.
The Independent Propulsion Unit represents 4 years of hard work for a result exceeding all records:
– Autonomous flight up to 10,000 feet
– Top speed of 150km/h (93,2 mph)
– 10 min autonomy Although the UFO is still in prototype phase and won’t be on the market in 2016, it has exactly the same behavior as the ESH Flyboard® Pro Series.
zapata-racing.com/flyboardair-en/

Just what we need. Another fuel powered, noisy toy for knuckle draggers bored with their V8 utes and jet skis.

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Shifu said..
Just what we need. Another fuel powered, noisy toy for knuckle draggers bored with their V8 utes and jet skis.

And when they've snorted enough jet fuel we'll end up getting maniacs like this guy...

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lao shi said..
On the GWR site
www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2016/4/confirmed-franky-zapata-sets-new-farthest-hoverboard-flight-record-in-france-427011
Zapata Racing has achieved the dream of all men and offers you the first video of Franky Zapata flying on the innovation Flyboard® Air.
The Independent Propulsion Unit represents 4 years of hard work for a result exceeding all records:
– Autonomous flight up to 10,000 feet
– Top speed of 150km/h (93,2 mph)
– 10 min autonomy Although the UFO is still in prototype phase and won’t be on the market in 2016, it has exactly the same behavior as the ESH Flyboard® Pro Series.
zapata-racing.com/flyboardair-en/

Interesting, so seems it is legit.

Why though, does the harness run straight across the guys crotch? That won't end well...

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– Autonomous flight up to 10,000 feet

**** offffffff

thats maximum height we are legally allowed to fly.... i can not imagine a single person on this planet willing to stand on that thing and get to 10kfeet and stay there. even in completely still air.

its very cold your breathing smoke being up there on that pissy little platform standing upright just seams ridiculous with only your feet strapped into some wakeboard boots..... if they had a little angle bracket to lean back against like when they do the wing rideing on the airoplanes then fine. very believeable but 10kfeet with just boots attached i dont think possible. i would not be surprised to find out these NUMBERS were done without an operator onboard and it was just programmed to fly to 10k feet and come back down.

remember people are skydiving at lower heights then this.


oh wait.... thats what autonomous means!! derrrrrr hahahahaha

it's real, was registered by the guiness book of records.

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seanhogan said..
it's real, was registered by the guiness book of records.

Link?

No word on what amazing engine provides a couple hundred kg of thrust using so little fuel?

Furthest flight record - 2.2km. I might be a bit slow but to me that means basically 1.1km out and 1.1km back.

However 10,000ft means over 3km UP and 3km BACK in a controlled manner.

So even if this is legit, his advertising is not.

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Kamikuza said..

seanhogan said..
it's real, was registered by the guiness book of records.

Link?

No word on what amazing engine provides a couple hundred kg of thrust using so little fuel?

Lao Shi posted the link.
But yes, the engines. www.technobuffalo.com/incredible-flyboard-air-hoverboard-really-works-heres-how says "here's how" and then tells ya nothing.
Hmmm

How does he stop it from flipping over and going straight into the water head first?

^^^ Good gryo and software...... they do mention lots of automatic control with the fans

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Mark _australia said..
^^^ Good gryo and software...... they do mention lots of automatic control with the fans

So they must be battery powered, or also sucking gas? Things don't add up...but it looks good

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Mark _australia said...
Furthest flight record - 2.2km. I might be a bit slow but to me that means basically 1.1km out and 1.1km back.

However 10,000ft means over 3km UP and 3km BACK in a controlled manner.

So even if this is legit, his advertising is not.

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seanhogan said..
it's real, was registered by the guiness book of records.

You believe that piece of rubbish? Ripley's Believe it or Not has more cred

4 x 250 hp jet engines, with 2 smaller ones at the sides. Most likely RC plane engines, although they must be seriously cutting edge to produce that much power.

Fuel in a backpack, enough for the 2km flight obviously, and I bet not much more.

If RC planes are anything to go by, startup procedure, maintenance, initial cost etc would be potentially fairly painful with 6 jet engines.

www.theverge.com/2016/4/15/11439798/franky-zapata-racing-jet-powered-flying-hoverboard-interview

^^^ agreed.
I have seen similar size turbines in RC and one engine (only) is pretty damn powerful but is a 2 person start procedure with compressed air and priming and all sorts.....

But like I said flying 2.2km horizontally then claiming 10,000ft vertical capability makes them look like d!cks.

OTOH the Guiness Record link seems legit....?

Didn't happen until Haircut verifies this.

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kiteboy dave said..
4 x 250 hp jet engines, with 2 smaller ones at the sides. Most likely RC plane engines, although they must be seriously cutting edge to produce that much power.

Fuel in a backpack, enough for the 2km flight obviously, and I bet not much more.

If RC planes are anything to go by, startup procedure, maintenance, initial cost etc would be potentially fairly painful with 6 jet engines.

www.theverge.com/2016/4/15/11439798/franky-zapata-racing-jet-powered-flying-hoverboard-interview

How much do they lift?

^^^ Good RC turbine jets are about 30kg thrust. They have made up to about 50kg but they are like $10K EACH
I'd be surprised if he spent that much.......

The issue with them is like most RC stuff it is scale and it is hobby use - it is designed light
For a start they save weight by getting rid of thing like lube systems so bearings wear out fast (eg: cheaper RC turbine jets are lucky to do 40hrs work before rebuild is needed) as they are not the real deal. Extreme reliability like units for passenger use is hardly a concern.


So yeah he could have got 200kg thrust but he would have a few mins flight time and lack of longevity - all for a $100,000 build.

250 hp per engine? Really? That seems... excessive. It's got to be a mistake.