Flyboard presentation

Technical information
Flyboard
presentation
2013
ZAPATA RACING
The Flyboard is a board like a wakeboard one brightens up with two pipes which, linked to a
PWC (personal watercraft product) turbine with a 18 meters pipe, allows its user to highs up to
10 meters from water. The board orientation is made by the board inclination. Two pipes fixed
on the forearms’ user give two water jets, which insure a perfect equilibrium as ski poles.
The height that can be reached depends from the Jet-Ski power. With a 150HP, the Flyboarder
can already highs up to 5 or 6 meters and with a 250HP, the user will use the maximum pipe
length that is 10 meters.
The Flyboard can be used alone or at two-users.
At two users, one person on the jet who controls the gazes while the second flies on the
Flyboard.
Alone thanks to an optional electronic kit that allows to control the gazes from the Flyboard
with a throttle placed in the right hand.
The Flyboard is a “water propelled levitation engine”, designation gave by the Maritime Affairs
Directorate and defined by a decree published by the Ecology ministry the 5th July of 2012
(annex)
“an engine using a water draining in order to highs up and move above water stretches (sea, river,
lake) from which it powers itself. The mechanical element that communicates to water the
necessary power that allows the move can be integrated to the engine or supported by a float.”
However, the Flyboard by being linked to a hose and therefore using the PWC’s diverted power
from which it is connected to, does not use any motor neither engine. In this way, no gas neither
noise pollution is created compared to a PWC.
Regarding the mechanic elements, the Flyboard is an engine which uses an important water output
in order to ensure the proper thrust but which uses low pressure (2 bars) that can’t imply neither noise than danger for the users as well as for the people around. For information and comparison, a
classic shower uses a 4 bar pressure.
However, it is possible to notice a clear diminution of decibels when the PWC is used as a
propulsion unit in calm water as opposed to a PWC used in calm water (about 10%) and almost 70%
less decibels when the PWC is used in the waves. This is for the following reasons:
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The PWC doesn’t reach its average speed, so the exhaust exit stays in the water
In a slightly deformed sea, the PWC pump gets out of the water 5 or 6 times per second
which creates a very powerful noise specific to the cavitation phenomenon
When the pump gets out of the water, the engine is relieved and the only way to stop it is a
RPM limitator on start which also causes a noise that is easily recognizable as the engine
jerking
When the PWC gets out of the water, this means it has hit a wave half a second before and
half a second after which makes at least 70 to 80% of the noise made by PWCs
As a consequence, the Flyboard cannot in any way cause noise or environmental pollution above
the ones caused by the PWC which powers it.
Regarding the security, there are today 2500 machines which work around the world with no
accident reported (see annex 2: insurance contract), this is due to particular attention paid to user
security, and many efforts in terms of training and accident prevention but also to the fact that the
Flyboard is not, by nature, a dangerous product (see annex 3 on technical aspects: homologation
file which was submitted to the “DAM” (in France) on all security systems, electronic systems and others).
Even when falling, the user doesn’t go over 40km/h which equals to a 4m high jump. This is due to the inertia caused by the water shoots and it applies even if the used in in horizontal position
compared to the surface of the water.
The Flyboard is also equipped with buoyancy elements which ensure the higher security regarding
drowning risks.
Indeed, even if the PWC engine is not started and even if the user breaks the rules by not wearing
life vest, he will always have the head out of the water.
The movement capacity is almost equal to the PWC one because the PWC follows the exact
trajectory as the one decided by the Flyboarder (such as a trailer does except for the reverse that a
PWC with a Flyboard can’t do).
Moreover, in case of very bad weather (which is not disturbing for the Flyboard) and in case where
the weather get worse very quickly, the quick nozzle allows the user to join the edge very quickly.
Finally, the maximum Flyboard speed can’t exceed 24km/h on flat water. For comparison, the
speed record in kite surf is 100km/h.
According to the Flyboard product quality, the non-supplementary impact on the environment and
the ZR inflexibity regarding security questions, the nautical basis open daily worldwide and the sales
quantities keeps increasing (6500 Flyboard sold in June)
ANNEXS
LISTE DES FOURNITURES POUR UN FLYBOARD 2013
POUR UN FLYBOARD IL FAUT:
REF
QTE
DESIGNATION
FB02007
02
TUBE ALIMENTATION STABILISATEUR – caoutchouc - pression d’éclatement 10 bars –
pression de service maximum 2 bars
FB02004
02
CHAUSSURE – type wakeboard haut de gamme
FB02B02
01
PLANCHE – ABS + plaque renfort aluminium + polystyrène
FB02B01
01
CONNECTEUR Y 1 buse droite et 1 buse gauche - fonderie aluminium – pression
d’éclatement 40 bars – pression de service maximum 6 bars
FB02022
01
SANGLE D’ATTACHE AVANT – polyester – traction 2000 kg
FB02021
01
MOUSQUETON AVANT – inox – traction 1500 kg
FB02020
01
SANGLE TUBE – polyester – traction 2000 kg
FB02002
01
TUBE D’ALIMENTATION - tuyau type incendie polyuréthane + fibre polyester pression d’éclatement 45 bars – pression de service maximum 6 bars
FB02A08
01
INTERFACE TURBINE - fonderie aluminium – pression d’éclatement 40 bars – pression
de service maximum 6 bars – traitement thermique
FB02A07
01
KIT ACCESSOIRES FLYBOARD – visserie inox 316L – collier inox 316 L aux normes en
vigueur
FB02A06
01
STABILISATEUR DROIT ASSEMBLE – alu + coquille ABS + mousse néoprène + poignées
type VTT
FB02A05
01
STABILISATEUR GAUCHE ASSEMBLE - alu + coquille ABS + mousse néoprène +
poignées type VTT
FB02A03
01
PIVOT TUBE - fonderie aluminium – pression d’éclatement 40 bars – pression de
service maximum 6 bars – billes plastiques Polyacetale
FB02A01
01
COUDE EQUIPE – fonderie alu - pression d’éclatement 40 bars – pression de service
maximum 6 bars – résistance eau 4 bars