Is that Iron Man or Green Goblin? No, it is Frank Zapata who is demonstrating his flyboard for President Emmanuel Macron and EU leaders! Frank Zapata is a French inventor who whizzed above the Champs-Elysees in Paris as a part of the Bastille Day celebrations.
Frank Zapata was armed with a rifle while carrying out the demonstration intended for the French President and other EU leaders that were present at the time. According to reports, Frank Zapata took to the skies using his turbine engine-powered hoverboard above a group that was comprised of dignitaries and military personnel that had gathered for the celebration of the national holiday on Sunday. Frank held his rifle in his hand while he made his way around as a part of the annual military parade.
Frank Zapata invented the first functional hoverboard back in 2018 and was able to secure a grant of €1.3 million, equivalent of $1.47 million, by the French military with the aim of developing an aeronautical micro-jet engine that can be utilized by the military. Florence Parly, Armed Forces Minister, told the French radio that the Flyboard ‘could allow tests for different kinds of uses, for example as a flying logistical platform or, indeed, as an assault platform.’
Zapata claims that the flyboard has enough power to attain speeds of up to 190 kilometers per hour, the equivalent of 118 miles per hour. A lot of social media users were quick to point out that Zapata resembles Green Goblin or Iron Man. Some also joked that his help would have been greatly welcomed during the Notre Dame fire incident.
However, not all responses were positive and humorous. Some were not impressed with the display and even expressed their concern that this was a prelude to future warfare. One pointed out quite sarcastically that someone flying around like this while wielding a gun is ‘just what the world needs’. What do you think of the flyboard demonstration given by Frank Zapata?