Franky Zapata: Flyboarding Frenchman crosses English Channel

Re:Franky Zapata: Flyboarding Frenchman crosses English Channel by brohee on Sunday August 04, 2019 @08:48PM (#20610193)

There are seven engines, and the firmware can adjust to the loss of one. "The company also says it’s intuitive and safe to use, with the computer-controlled systems providing built-in redundancies and automatic compensation if one of the jet engines fails. “I thought it was a gust of wind,” Henry Berkowitz, one of the two former special operators who now work for Zapata, told CNBC in 2017."

See https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/23854/one-company-thin...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Franky Zapata: Flyboarding Frenchman crosses English Channel by squarefoot on Monday August 05, 2019 @08:42AM (#20613662)

Thanks for the link! That makes it even more interesting. That military pilot makes it seem even more similar to a flying segway. I only wonder the amount of energy used to drive the center of gravity to maintain balance. In other words, if the same fixture was mounted as a jet backpack how much efficiency would be gained, if any?

[ Parent | on HN ]