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| Franky Zapata’s ‘Flyboard’ Flight Across English Channel Fails | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| LONDON — Last week, the world learned that Franky Zapata could fly, thanks to a dazzling Bastille Day performance on his hoverboard in Paris. On Thursday, as he tried to cross the English Channel, the world learned he can also swim. | LONDON — Last week, the world learned that Franky Zapata could fly, thanks to a dazzling Bastille Day performance on his hoverboard in Paris. On Thursday, as he tried to cross the English Channel, the world learned he can also swim. |
| Mr. Zapata’s highly anticipated and daring attempt to cross the English Channel on the jet-powered hoverboard ended in failure, when the device and its rider plunged into the water 15 minutes after takeoff from Sangatte, in northern France. | Mr. Zapata’s highly anticipated and daring attempt to cross the English Channel on the jet-powered hoverboard ended in failure, when the device and its rider plunged into the water 15 minutes after takeoff from Sangatte, in northern France. |
| Mr. Zapata, the French inventor of the aircraft that he calls a “flyboard,” was uninjured but disappointed, according to his team. | Mr. Zapata, the French inventor of the aircraft that he calls a “flyboard,” was uninjured but disappointed, according to his team. |
| He missed a landing platform mounted on a boat midway through the journey, about 11 miles from his destination, where he intended to refuel, according to Stéphane Denis, a member of his technical team, who spoke with French news outlet BFMTV. | He missed a landing platform mounted on a boat midway through the journey, about 11 miles from his destination, where he intended to refuel, according to Stéphane Denis, a member of his technical team, who spoke with French news outlet BFMTV. |
| Mr. Zapata was uninjured and was recovered quickly from the water. “He is very angry,” Mr. Denis said. “It’s a huge disappointment.” | Mr. Zapata was uninjured and was recovered quickly from the water. “He is very angry,” Mr. Denis said. “It’s a huge disappointment.” |
| Large crowds had gathered on the beach in Sangatte, sharing photos and videos on social media of Mr. Zapata as he set off on his journey to roaring applause. | Large crowds had gathered on the beach in Sangatte, sharing photos and videos on social media of Mr. Zapata as he set off on his journey to roaring applause. |
| The device is powered by five small jets and can fly at up to 87 miles per hour at an altitude of between 50 and 65 feet. | The device is powered by five small jets and can fly at up to 87 miles per hour at an altitude of between 50 and 65 feet. |
| Mr. Zapata’s destination was Dover, England, which he had hoped to reach in as little as 20 minutes. His flight was timed to coincide with the 110th anniversary of the first powered flight between France and England, by the aviation pioneer Louis Blériot, who became a French national hero. | Mr. Zapata’s destination was Dover, England, which he had hoped to reach in as little as 20 minutes. His flight was timed to coincide with the 110th anniversary of the first powered flight between France and England, by the aviation pioneer Louis Blériot, who became a French national hero. |