Posted on 07/14/2019 1:52:57 PM PDT by BenLurkin
Frank Zapata demonstrated his device above the crowds at the Champs-Elysee, soaring high into the air on what looks like a futuristic hoverboard. A former jet-skiing champion, Zapata operated the device by leaning forward as if on a Segway.
As part of his display, he flew to and fro before stopping gracefully in midair while holding an unloaded rifle...
Zapata claims that the Flyboard can reach a top speed of 190 km/h, with a predicted top speed of 200 km/h. According to his website, it can fly up to 150 metres for ten minutes, carrying a maximum load of 100 kg. The predicted limits are even higher — the Flyboard has a max altitude of 3,000 metres, a maximum flight time of 30 minutes and a maximum carrying capacity of 200 kg.
(Excerpt) Read more at theweek.in ...
When I first read this I thought it said “Frank Zappa”, so what the hell is he doing on a hoverboard. Didn’t he die, like 25 years ago?
Dyslexia is such a b!+c#.
Thought they carried the white flag
1CdA x 25.6psf x 7 sq ft= about 200 Pounds of wind load @ 100MPH?
Maybe he could go superman style?
Armed with pressure and drag data, you can find the wind load using the following formula: force = area x pressure x Cd. Using the example of a flat section of a structure, the area – or length x width – can be set to 1 square foot, resulting in a wind load of 1 x 25.6 x 2 = 51.2 psf for a 100-mph wind. A 10-foot–by–12-foot wall claims an area of 120 square feet, meaning that it would have to withstand a 100-mph wind load of 120 x 51.2 = 6,144 psf. In the real world, engineers use formulas that are more sophisticated and contain additional variables.
https://sciencing.com/calculate-wind-loads-wind-speeds-6104140.html
Frontal area is typically measured in metres squared. A typical cyclist presents a frontal area of 0.3 to 0.6 metres squared depending on position. Frontal areas of an average cyclist riding in different positions are as follows
Tops* 0.632
Hoods* 0.40
Drops* 0.32
Coefficient of drag
Person stood upright 1.0
https://www.cyclingpowerlab.com/CyclingAerodynamics.aspx
Standing up?
it won’t be pretty when he falls off
Without a human on board, it could quadruple its range, hold twice as much ammunition, and be five times more difficult to shoot down.
Those are called “drones”.
This is a concept that was discarded before as it exposes the soldier too much.
The stunt with a rifle is entirely bizarre in an antigun 1984ish nation
What’s that large thing on his back?
Precisely.
Maybe he is recruiting for the new French Space Marines?
That is straight down when it shuts off.
Yeah, too bad the French speak French and it’s a beautiful country if only no French around.
I wonder of Joycelyn Elders liked Frank Zapata’s music.
Of course, that's when you pull the ejection seat lever.
If turbine not that noisy, the special ops around the world will tweak it to be used instead of hang glider.
I can guess it was a battery pack. That thing was pushing some serious air and it must use a lot of juice.
Buell? Sheesh, those things haven’t been made in ages... you must put in some time and care to keep it running.
“This guy can go 200km/h. That’s probably 300 or 400 mph converted.”
actually, it’s 124 mph ...
Bizarre form of troop transport? I.E. Ride “the hover-thing” to the mission insertion point? The army seemed pretty hell-bent a couple years ago about making Iron Man a reality... though personally, this is bringing back unpleasant memories of Willem Defoe as Green Goblin in Spider Man.
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