Largely thanks to Michael J Fox and Back to the Future Part II, hoverboards have become something of an obsession for many people, a sort of futuristic holy grail for both techies and thrill-seekers.
In the past, we’ve featured them here at The Engineer in our Video of the Week slot, and countless other attempts to crack the technology can be found on YouTube, along with a host of fakes.
But this week’s video brings something new to the table. It features a flight test of a new jet-powered device called the Flyboard Air built by Zapata Racing, the same people behind the water-powered Flyboard that many of our readers will be familiar with. Although some have decried the video as a hoax, the company’s CEO Franky Zapata – who also pilots the vehicle in the video – recently gave an interview to The Verge that seems to authenticate it.
According to Zapata, the Flyboard Air is powered by four 250hp jet engines, with two additional side engines used for stabilisation. The engines are controlled with a handheld remote that works in tandem with complex algorithms to keep the rider upright, and the device can travel at speeds up to 100mph. However, Zapata said the hoverboard is incredibly difficult to control and requires many hours of practise, and his tests so far have been limited to around 55mph. The device also involves the rider wearing a backpack full of kerosene, so definitely not one for the faint-hearted!
Following the enormous to response to the video, Zapata said he is planning to develop a more user-friendly version for sale to the public. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Too cool. I also expect a bit too hairy to fly for this old dude’s peace of mind. ;-). Cheers.
Great! Crims and terrorists can now cross security fences with ease!
A lot noisier than a ladder though.
I remember reading a sci-fi short story in which DoD shows a bunch of clever scientists a film like this, but says it is an anti-gravity machine. The film ends with a crash in which the inventor dies without saying how it works. It’s a hoax but they don’t know it so work out how to build such a machine.
Anybody else remember the story?
Noise Level by Raymond F Jones I think
Very limited military application, since the operator will be a sitting duck, literally on a can of Kerosene.
Im sceptical. not enough publicity on the internet for this to be real? Im wondering how contrived the clouds of swirling mist is, seems to be lots when he is flying away from the jetty but not much at all when coming in to land.
The platform simply looks too small to have sufficient stability. Can turbines be controlled to such an extent that they have enough that he can move his arm and head without toppling out of control. I must add having been a magicians assistant I am still impressed.
I admist to a degree of envy it certainly looks fun and all without apparent military or govenrnment input
Not all that different than a Harrier- control the thrust and not always the engines. The flight over the water is likely because they dont want to hit the hard ground hurting pilot and platform both.
This video has been accused of being a hoax… to draw people into viewing Zapatas other products. I’m yet to be convinced either way.
nevermind the gyro effects. He would have to move perpendicular to the tilt he wants.
Right, so we don’t see him taking off or coming in to land. And why is that?
It has all been done before!
Martin aircraft in New Zealand have been working on a jet pack for many years and are about to go into commercial production. It is easy to fly, it can fly autonomously at up to 70 km/h and it can stay up in the air more than 30 minutes. It uses ducted fans, not jets.
http://www.martinjetpack.com
The engine is made in the UK
http://www.rotronuav.com/engines/bespoke-engines
Well done gentleman ! Kudos !!! At least a very hard work of new product now in the market for other to improve more ,will have more function add and fun to come ! Hope is for something good !
Congratulation again gentleman ! Hope to see again something new and more improvement for this machine from you guys !
With 1,000 hp to use, I’d be a lot happier and safer with a Veyron
Wow: Very impressive. However the power required is substancial and it appears to be highly dangerous. Like the tester I would only have the guts to fly it over water, but sure they are enough adrenalin junkys in the world for this to be a supercool accessory carrying much kudos. But I think not a mode of tranport that will catch on wholesale. We will have to wait for anti-gravity, but I suspect if any future scientist cracks that one, the power demands will probably be similar, or worse. No time to ditch the wheel just yet! And as RobB mention would pose a security nightmare.