Flyboard Air: military hoverboard demonstration sparks outrage in Paris

The hoverboard was presented during a military parade in Paris, which is a traditional part of the Bastille Day celebrations. The show made waves among experts and civilians alike. 

The hoverboard was navigated by Franky Zapata - not a French soldier, but a regular reservist. He is also the inventor behind this device. After building the hoverboard, Zapata frequently mentioned that Flyboard Air would be suitable for real military action and offered to sell it to military authorities, to be used in special operations.

Unfortunately for Franky, this is unlikely to happen: the device can reach a speed of 200 km/h, but it only holds enough fuel for 10 minutes of flight. Although the hoverboard made a striking impression at the parade, it would not be suitable for real combat. Flyboard Air is also quite noisy, which makes it an easy target for hypothetical enemies.

The French Army is extremely innovative, making active use of drones, UAV and ATV fighters.