Important Innovations Collection

1st Jet Powered Hoverboard Flight Across English Channel Source:  Franky Zapata Practicing (Top 7/25) and on Historic Flight (8/4) French Inventor Goes 106 MPH French inventor Franky Zapata successfully crossed the English Channel today on  a jet powered hoverboard that he invented.  It's a 22 mile trip that took him 22 minutes from Sangatte, France to Dover, England.  At times he reached speeds of 106 mph. Second Try Brought Success For Zapata, the second attempt brought success.  In late July, he made his first attempt but fell into the water when trying to land on a refueling platform in the middle of the Channel.  He missed it by inches. During today's successful flight, he stopped once at a refueling platform to refuel because he started the journey with just 10 minutes worth of fuel onboard.  When he landed in Dover, he commented:  "We made the machine 3 years ago and now we've crossed the Channel.  It's crazy!" Zapata ...

Crowdfunded, Toyota-backed, Volunteer Team Building a Flying Car Source:  Cartivator's Concept Flying Car Skydrive Cartivator Innovation Volunteers This is an extraordinary and inspiring story of technology advancement and individuals' commitment to creating innovation.  In Japan, volunteers in a "Cartivator" group are building the Skydrive flying car, shown above.  This is a crowdfunded effort that has gotten the backing of Japanese auto giant Toyota, where some of the Cartivators work.  They and Toyota want to fly the Skydrive to light the flame at the opening ceremony of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. CES Las Vegas 2019 A scaled down version of the "Toyota flying car" will be shown at the big annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week.  The Cartivator team is a group of weekend warriors working on the Skydrive during their weekends.  And they have a plan.  They're aiming to build a prototype, establish a theory of flight control...

Gravity's Jet Pack Suit Source:  Gravity Industries Are You Ready for the Next Frontier in Human Flight? This is fascinating personal flight innovation.  Gravity Industries has designed an advanced jet pack suit.  It uses 3 microturbines.  The engines are the size of a loaf of bread.  They are attached to each hand and on the back.  The company says the engines are precisely controlled and powered by kerosene. Tested, Works, Patent Pending The suit carries enough fuel for 8 minutes of flight.  The engines generate a stable tripod of thrust totaling 1000 horsepower.  It's been tested and works.  The technology is patent pending.  The price is $440,000.  This Gravity suit has been cited as one of the top 100 innovations of 2018.  The company Gravity was founded in 2017. Ed Kane . For more travel and other breakthrough innovations go to my Amazon page          amazon.com/author/ekane