French inventor to attempt to cross Channel on jet-powered flyboard

'Flying soldier' Franky Zapata expects to cross from France to England in 20 minutes A former jetski champion and French military reservist who became known as the "flying soldier" after he invented a jet-powered hoverboard will attempt to cross the Channel this week. Franky Zapata, who impressed France with a demonstration of his flyboard at this year's Bastille Day parade, has said he will make the crossing on Thursday to mark the 110th anniversary of Louis Blériot's first cross-Channel airpl...