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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
National
Jason Collie

French inventor Franky Zapata succeeds in flying hoverboard over the Channel

A French inventor has this morning succeeded in being the first man to cross the Channel on a jet-powered hoverboard.

Franky Zapata, who failed in an attempt 10 days ago, completed the 22-mile (35.4km) journey from Sangette, near Calais, to St Margaret's Bay in Dover in just 22 minutes.

The 40-year-old told crowds after he landed in England that he had hit speeds of up to 170km/h (106mph).

An emotional Mr Zapata said: “We made a machine three years ago... and now we've crossed the Channel, it's crazy.

“Whether this is a historic event or not, I'm not the one to decide that, time will tell.”

His wife Krystel told Sky News that she was “very happy”, adding: “Everything is perfect...This is his day.”

His first attempt on July 25 failed due to problems while trying to refuelling the kerosine-powered invention.

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