Franky Zapata fails during her first attempt to cross the Channel aboard his Airscooter
Franky Zapata tried to cross the sleeve aboard a Airscooter. © Zapata
It could have been an incredible advertising for its new flying machine, but ultimately it is the cold shower – or rather the big dive. Franky Zapata attempted a crossing of the Channel this afternoon aboard its Airscooter. Presented for the first time two years ago, this “Personal aircraft” looks like an XXL drone or a mini-helicopter.
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A failure following a breakdown on one of the engines
The 46-year-old man took off from Blériot-Plage in Pas-de-Calais, at 3:08 p.m. on Friday, July 25. He was trying to cross the round by the air, a trip of about 35 km to reach Douvres in England. Unfortunately, after a few minutes, he was forced to bite.
We had a little technical concern on a heat engine, suddenly, he preferred to bite, it was a scenario that we had planned in the event of big difficulties.
Fortunately, it was equipped with an electric parachute and was able to be quickly recovered by a boat, safe. The concern would be linked to one of the thermal engines of the device.
It is not the first time that he has tried a crossing of the Channel by the air. In 2019, Franky Zapata succeeded in crossing his flyboard, a flying skateboard propelled by five mini-turbines with jet. After a first failure, he finished crossing during his second attempt, with just a stop in the middle to fill up on kerosene.
The Airscooter available next year in Las Vegas
The Airscooter is much more comfortable with a small cabin for a person. This VTOL (aircraft with vertical take -off and landing) is a hybrid device, with electric and thermal engines. It is able to transport a load of 120 kg and can reach a top speed of 100 km/h. Thanks to its 18.9 L reservoir, it has a two -hour autonomy, which should have allowed it to cross without stopping.
The crossing should have been an opportunity to prove itself to be proven, its very first inhabited flight having taken place in early June. It is only a postponement, and there is no doubt that Franky Zapata will retry a crossing once he has solved the problem which forced him to abandon this first attempt.
Despite this failure, “The flying man” Plan to open its first flight center in Las Vegas next year. It will be possible to test the Airscooter without pilot pilot, after a short training.
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