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Frenchman to retry 'flyboard' trip across English Channel | TribLIVE.com
U.S./World

Frenchman to retry 'flyboard' trip across English Channel

Associated Press
Associated Press
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AP
In this Wednesday July 24, 2019 photo Franky Zapata, performs a training flight over the Saint Inglevert airport near Calais, Northern France. French inventor, Zapata, will try again to traverse the English Channel on a flying board after his first attempt last week failed halfway. FILE - In this Wednesday July 24, 2019 file photo Franky Zapata, performs a training flight over the Saint Inglevert airport near Calais, Northern France. French inventor, Zapata, will try again to traverse the English Channel on a flying board after his first attempt last week failed halfway. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler, File)
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AP
People watch as Franky Zapata, a 40-year-old inventor, takes to the air in Sangatte, Northern France, at the start of his attempt to cross the channel from France to England Thursday July 25, 2019. Zapata is anchored to his flyboard, a small flying platform he invented, taking off from Sangatte, in France’s Pas de Calais region, and flying to the Dover area in southeast England.
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AP
In this Wednesday July 24, 2019 photo Franky Zapata, prepares to start a training flight over the Saint Inglevert airport near Calais, Northern France. French inventor, Zapata, will try again to traverse the English Channel on a flying board after his first attempt last week failed halfway. FILE - In this Wednesday July 24, 2019 file photo Franky Zapata, prepares to start a training flight over the Saint Inglevert airport near Calais, Northern France. French inventor, Zapata, will try again to traverse the English Channel on a flying board after his first attempt last week failed halfway. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler, File)
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AP
Franky Zapata, a 40-year-old inventor, takes to the air in Sangatte, Northern France, at the start of his attempt to cross the channel from France to England Thursday July 25, 2019. Zapata is anchored to his flyboard, a small flying platform he invented, taking off from Sangatte, in France’s Pas de Calais region, and flying to the Dover area in southeast England.

PARIS — A French inventor will try again to traverse the English Channel on a flying board after his first attempt failed halfway.

Franky Zapata’s wife, Christele, said Wednesday that he will retry the 22.4-mile journey Sunday from the French town of Sangatte to the area near Dover.

Last week, on his first attempt, Zapata crashed into a refueling boat 12 miles into the trip. This time, his wife said he will use a larger boat for the refueling stop in hopes of making landing easier.

He had to build a new board, a customized version of the Flyboard his company sells for watersports. The engine is fueled by kerosene he carries in a backpack, his feet fastened to the board.

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Categories: News | U.S./World
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