Zapata Ezfly – Flyboard Air for the Public
Flyboard Air You Can Fly
Has Franky Zapata taken the next step with the Zapata Ezfly to bringing the Flyboard Air experience to the general public? Up until recently Franky was the only person to have flown his Flyboard Air invention but with some modifications, including two hand grips that attach to the Flyboard Air base and no fuel backpack being worn by the pilot, there have now been more names added to the piloting list. This includes Franky’s wife Krystel Zapata and a select group of military personnel.
Obviously the constant testing and tweaking of the stabilization system (which is where the real magic lives) has improved to the point that Zapata feels comfortable with the consistently safe flights to allow his wife and others to take this Zapata Ezfly version for a ride. I’m sure many still have safety concerns and questions about the heights reached during these flights and what happens if you fall off the Ezfly? (feet don’t appear to be strapped in and so the pilot is simply standing on the platform and holding on to the hand grips. No new parachute tech is currently able to save a fall from the ‘death zone’ of 15 to 100 ft. I know they test over water but the Flyboard Air has flown over land and soon this Ezfly will be doing the same.
Many are referring to the Zapata Ezfly as a Segway for the sky. Regardless of ease of operation there are many legal hurdles likely left to overcome before we can start ripping to work on these things. Zapata has already faced some challenges in the USA and from his home country of France who in March of 2017 banned him from flying in French airspace. The authorities and Zapata came to a compromise allowing for the continued R & D and test flights to go on in France. Where he can fly has been limited, a selection of airports around the region, but the Flyboard Air and Zapata Ezfly projects show no signs of slowed progress.
Will this be your preferred method of travel in the future? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.