Franky Zapata makes things that fly. He made a board that flies in the air. It uses small engines to go up. He flew it over the sea. It was a big dream for him. Would you like to fly on a board?
Franky Zapata is a pilot from France. He makes machines that can fly. He invented a board that flies in the air. It uses small engines to go up.
. This board is like a mix of a surfboard and a skateboard. He used it to fly across a big sea. The trip took about 22 minutes. He had to stop to get more fuel.
. This was a very big dream for him. He wants to build flying cars too.
Franky Zapata is a pilot from France. He is also an inventor. He loves making machines that can fly. He started using Jet Skis when he was 16. He even won many racing titles.
Franky invented the Flyboard. This is a board that flies in the air. Some versions use water to work. Others use micro-turbines. A turbine is a small engine that uses gas to make power. He also made the Flyboard Air. This version uses five small jet engines. It can fly for about ten minutes.
In 2019, Franky did something very big. He flew across the English Channel. He used the Flyboard Air. He flew at a speed of 170 km/h. He stayed about 15 to 20 meters above the water. The trip took 22 minutes. He had to stop to get more fuel. He used a backpack to hold his fuel. He landed safely in the United Kingdom.
Franky wants to keep making new things. He is working on a flying car. He also has a craft called the AirScooter. It uses electric power to fly.
Franky Zapata is a pilot and an inventor from France. He is famous for creating machines that let people fly. He began his journey with Jet Skis at age 16. He later became a very skilled racing champion. He even won several world titles in racing competitions. Now, he uses his skills to build flying machines. These inventions help people move in new and exciting ways.
Zapata has created several different ways to fly. He first invented the Flyboard, which uses water to lift a person. A remote-controlled watercraft pumps water through a tube to nozzles. This helps the rider stay up in the air. He also made the Flyboard Air, which is a jet-powered hoverboard. This version uses four or five micro-turbines to provide power. These small engines allow the pilot to fly for about ten minutes.
Franky has worked on these machines for many years. He and his father, Claude, started Zapata Racing in 1998. This was a team for high-performance watercraft racing. Franky learned how to be a mechanic through an apprenticeship. He used his knowledge to shape parts and tune racing machines. In 2016, he sold Zapata Racing to a company called Implant Sciences. He continues to invent new things through his company, Z-AIR.
One of his biggest moments happened in August 2019. He wanted to cross the English Channel on his Flyboard Air. His first attempt on July 25 failed when he fell into the sea. He tried again on August 4 and succeeded. He flew at a speed of 170 km/h. He stayed about 15 to 20 meters above the water. The trip took 22 minutes and included a stop for fuel. He traveled from Sangatte in France to Kent in the UK.
Zapata’s work connects to the history of flight. He compared his trip to the first flight across the channel in 1909. He also looks toward the future of travel. He has worked on a prototype for a flying car. His company also developed the AirScooter, which is a hybrid-electric aircraft. He even plans to open a Flight Centre in the United States. This center might let people fly the AirScooter without a full pilot license.
Franky Zapata is a French pilot and inventor who specializes in personal flight technology. He is the founder of Zapata Racing and Z-AIR. His work focuses on creating personal flyers for land and water. These machines allow individuals to travel through the air in ways that were once only possible in science fiction. Zapata has spent his career turning high-performance watercraft expertise into advanced aviation tools.
Zapata's inventions use different mechanical processes to achieve flight. The original Flyboard is a mix between a surfboard and a skateboard. It is powered by a remote-controlled personal watercraft, or PWC. This watercraft operates a pump that sends water through a tube to nozzles. The JetPack is a similar system that allows a user to fly in a seated, secured position. Because the water is pumped through nozzles, the JetPack is very stable. A user can even let go of the controls and remain hovering in the air.
In 2016, Zapata introduced the Flyboard Air, which uses a different mechanism entirely. This is a jet-powered hoverboard that uses micro-turbines to create lift. The version unveiled in April 2016 used four micro-turbines. A later model used five turbines fueled by kerosene. These turbines provide the pilot with approximately ten minutes of flight time. The Flyboard Air is capable of flying autonomously, much like a plane.
Zapata's background is rooted in competitive watercraft racing. He began using a Jet Ski at age 16 and completed an apprenticeship as a mechanic. In 1998, he and his father, Claude, founded Zapata Racing. This team focused on high-performance PWC competition. Zapata shaped shells, steering, and saddles for these machines. He won several European championships and two world champion titles. In 2016, he sold Zapata Racing to the U.S. defense contractor Implant Sciences.
A major milestone occurred in August 2019 during a crossing of the English Channel. Zapata first attempted the crossing on July 25, but he fell into the sea. The refueling platform was moving due to waves, causing the attempt to fail. He tried again on August 4, 2019, using a larger boat for the refueling stop. He flew from Sangatte, France, to St Margaret's at Cliffe in Kent, UK. This successful journey took about 22 minutes. He maintained an average speed of 170 km/h, which is about 110 mph. During the trip, he stayed at an altitude of 15 to 20 meters above the water.
Zapata's technology has attracted interest from various sectors, including the military. In 2017, he provided demonstrations of the Flyboard Air to the U.S. Army. Some reports suggested the price per unit might be $250,000. His company, Z-AIR, also received a €1.3m grant from the French military in December 2018. However, Zapata noted that the device is not yet fully suitable for military use. The high noise levels and the difficulty of learning to fly are current challenges.
Looking toward the future, Zapata continues to expand into new types of aviation. In mid-2025, his company developed the AirScooter. This is a hybrid-electric vertical take-off aircraft. He attempted to cross the English Channel with this craft in July 2025, but a technical fault forced an early landing. He also plans to open a public "Flight Centre" in the Las Vegas area in early 2026. This center may allow people to fly the AirScooter without a full pilot license. These developments show how personal flight is moving toward leisure and industry applications.
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