French 'Flying Man' crosses Channel on jet-powered hoverboard


French inventor Franky Zapata prepares himself next to his Flyboard before taking off for a second attempt to cross the English channel from Sangatte to Dover, in Sangatte, France, August 4, 2019. REUTERS/Yves Herman

SANGATTE, France/SAINT MARGARET'S BAY, Britain (Reuters) - French inventor Franky Zapata on Sunday succeeded in crossing the English Channel on a jet-powered hoverboard he designed, zooming over the Strait of Dover in just over 20 minutes.

After a previous bid in July that ended with him falling into the sea, Zapata took off from Sangatte, just outside Calais in France at about 0617 GMT, on a little platform powered by five small jet engines and carrying kerosene in a backpack.

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