French extreme athlete Franky Zapata is the first „flying man“ to cross the English Channel. The 40-year-old jet ski world champion landed on schedule with his Flyboard Air in the morning in the UK. 20 minutes before he had started in northern France.
From Sangatte to the British coastal town of St. Margaret’s Bay is about 35 kilometers. The flyboard on which he stands has five engines. They are – like airplanes – operated with kerosene.
During his first attempt, the Frenchman crashed at the end of July while refueling into the sea. Zapata had already attracted much attention as a stalwart „rocket man“ at the National Day celebrations in Paris on July 14th.
