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https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/...ing-cross-english-channel-hoverboard-n1034341
DOVER, England — An inventor’s attempt to cross the stretch of water between France and England on a hoverboard ended in failure Thursday after he plunged into the sea.
Franky Zapata’s flying start came to an abrupt end some 11 miles into his journey across the English Channel when he fell into the water after stopping to refuel, according to Stephane Denis who helped organize the attempt.
The former jet ski champion was not injured but will not attempt to cross the Channel again on Thursday, Denis said. He is expected to try it again soon.
Zapata’s bid to cross the approximately 22 mile stretch of water on a hoverboard was meant to coincide with the 110th anniversary of the first-ever flight across the English Channel in an airplane, achieved by Louis Blériot.
If all went to plan, the journey to the English coast was predicted to take around 20 minutes.
Zapata, 40, who is dubbed "Flyman" by French media, came to prominence after he wowed spectators at Paris’ annual Bastille Day celebrations by flying over the military parade in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
But he told Le Parisien newspaper last week that Bastille Day was “easy” in comparison to crossing the English Channel.
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https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/...ing-cross-english-channel-hoverboard-n1034341
DOVER, England — An inventor’s attempt to cross the stretch of water between France and England on a hoverboard ended in failure Thursday after he plunged into the sea.
Franky Zapata’s flying start came to an abrupt end some 11 miles into his journey across the English Channel when he fell into the water after stopping to refuel, according to Stephane Denis who helped organize the attempt.
The former jet ski champion was not injured but will not attempt to cross the Channel again on Thursday, Denis said. He is expected to try it again soon.
Zapata’s bid to cross the approximately 22 mile stretch of water on a hoverboard was meant to coincide with the 110th anniversary of the first-ever flight across the English Channel in an airplane, achieved by Louis Blériot.
If all went to plan, the journey to the English coast was predicted to take around 20 minutes.
Zapata, 40, who is dubbed "Flyman" by French media, came to prominence after he wowed spectators at Paris’ annual Bastille Day celebrations by flying over the military parade in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
But he told Le Parisien newspaper last week that Bastille Day was “easy” in comparison to crossing the English Channel.
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