How flyboards work: a step by step guide (2023)

The flyboard recently burst onto the water sports scene after Frank Zapata invented a device powered by a jet ski that allows you to float on water (Wikipedia). The technology seems strange at first, and there are aspects that are not easy to understand with the eyes alone.

Flyboards work by diverting water from the jet ski through a tube connected to the board with jets at the bottom. Riders hold the board at their feet and the jets under the board are pushed up as the jet ski rider accelerates.

It may sound simple, but there are actually several different levels that occur on the flyboard. You also have to think about the controls and how someone moves at the same time, which makes it a much more difficult sport than it sounds.

A step-by-step guide to flyboarding

On the flyboard, you go through several different steps before you take off, and at each step the physics will help you fly in different ways. Let's divide it into the following sections:

1. flight preparation
2. Lie down with your back to the jet ski.
3. Jet ski operator increases engine speed
4. Flying
5. fall or land

Of course, there's more to flyboarding, but let's take a look at the physics behind these three flyboard moments. You might be surprised at how much science is behind this popular water sport, and how much direct control players have over it. Read7 dangers of flyboardingMore information on security.

Fizika flyboarda

1. Preparation for the flight

Before you take off, connect the adapter and hose to your personal watercraft (PWC) or personal watercraft. Then put on your life jacket and flight boots, jump out, lie down and face the opposite side of the boat. A jet ski provides all the aquatic propulsion you need to move through water and air, so it's all about the skis.

Have you ever been on a jet ski and noticed a trail of water behind you? You may know it as a vigil. It is this water that propels personal watercraft through the water at up to 70 miles per hour (speeds this soon-to-retire author still finds exciting). It is also the water that absorbs the tube of your flyboard and turns it into the propulsion system that catapults you into the sky.

Water is shot through 2 to 4 different jets on the deck of your flyboard, leaving balance and directional control to the board rider, not the jet ski rider.

2. Swim directly from the jet ski

Before the flyboard begins to move upwards, it is important to lie as flat as possible while floating on the water (this is much easier than it sounds). Keep your arms close to your body and your head up. As you stand up, it becomes more and more difficult because you have to stay as flat and balanced as possible, with half of your body above the water and half under the water.

If you lose your balance or are not standing upright on the board, you will fall trying to get up. The jets shoot the same amount of water in all corners, and when your weight isn't distributed easily, you tend to lean toward the heavier side. Imagine how an old comparative scale works and you will understand.

The flyboard itself makes it quite easy. Built into the flyboard are stable and rigid boots that help you stay upright, which is necessary when taking off. Some boards have individually controlled spinning boots, while others have a fixed set and you flex your toes to control.

In general, it takes most people less than 10 minutes to learn how to do this, and if you are used to water activities, you will master it much faster. In most cases, as long as you relax enough while keeping your body upright, your body will flow naturally.

3. In the air

The airborne ride is almost like the beginning of a launch, but it becomes even more unstable when the flyboard breaks the surface of the water.

The PWC controls the pressure of the water that is pumped from below the flyboard. This means that the slower the jet ski engine, the lower the water pressure on the flyboard. This creates less push and the flyboard gets closer to the surface of the water.

When PWC is accelerated, opposite reactions occur. The flyboard gets more push from the water ejected by the PWC, which means the flyboard rises. Keep in mind that this means that flyboarding is almost always a two person sport: someone has to steer the boat while the other is on the same flyboard. Sometimes a third person is used as an observer.

As you begin to float through the air, you'll notice the jets pumping water out from under you at incredible speeds. At the beginning of the climb it is important to keep the center of gravity in the center of the board so that the jets can do their job.

Here you can really see the physics behind the flyboard. The jets are very powerful and the ejected water creates significant force under you. Finally, jet ski engines are used to propel passengers from 800 to 1,000 pounds and glide at 50 to 70 miles per hour on the water. Drag friction on boats is much higher than on cars driving with tires on hard surfaces.

The hardest part of flyboarding is flying and learning to balance for long periods of time. As you stand up, you also start to move in different directions, which adds another dimension to maintaining your balance.

Since the force required to propel you up remains constant, but the jets get further and further out of the water as you rise, there are limits to how high you can go. This depends on the rider's weight and the power of the jet ski's engine. 60-70 feet is the most a rider can go, but height is also limited by the length of the tube between the jet ski and the board.

4. Volar

Once you're in the air, flyboarding is a piece of cake, right? Inaccurately! While it can be hard to keep your balance as you soar, it's just as hard to stay airborne and control where you're going if you're not paying attention to what's going on below you.

We have already talked about the importance of balance during the flight. Once you're stable and airborne, manipulate your balance to move in the desired direction.

At the same time, everything keeps happening under you. Thrust continues to come from the boat through the jet nozzle and the hose continues to pump water onto your flyboard.

At this point, the water pressure comes from the PWC, which follows you wherever you go with your flyboard. You can control the actual direction of the flyboard by using your feet to shift your weight to rotate and lean forward to move. The jet ski driver has no control over steering, but he or she has the most control over their altitude.

In other words, if you fly in the opposite direction of the jet ski, you can make it move faster to catch up with you. If you want to stop or slow down, fly towards the PWC. It slows down or stops. All the driving of the jet ski is done through the flyboard hose, it does not have the ability to move the ski.

Although you will have a lot of fun flying, flyboarding is not a popular sport due to its speed. The thrill comes from being so high in the air, enjoying the freedom of floating in the air (despite being literally tethered to the boat).

Flyboard control and the physics behind it

When it comes to controlling your board in flight, there is one way that physics works for you in particular.

We already know why it's important to keep your balance on a flyboard, but what if you could change your balance to control where the flyboard is going? This is exactly how a flyboard moves!

By adjusting your center of gravity, you can adjust which parts of the flyboard move. As you put more weight on a certain area of ​​the flyboard, it gets heavier and harder to push, meaning the opposite direction is lighter and moves up. If you don't move too much weight in one direction, the flyboard will move to where the weight is.

However, one must be careful; You can fall if you care too much about where you are going and you don't want to fall like that. It's dangerous and it can hurt, which isn't necessarily the desired result on flyboarding.

Here is a simple guide on how to move in different directions in the air:

• Will continue:You can walk forward pointing your toes down. As counterintuitive as this sounds, it forces the flyboard to lift back, allowing you to use the jets to move forward.
• Came back:You can move backwards by pointing your toes toward the sky, which raises the front of the flyboard so you can move backwards.
• Move left:To move to the left, bend your right knee. While this doesn't seem like you're shifting the weight too much, you're relieving yourself a bit as you do the work of the flyboard and lift it higher in the opposite direction of where you want to go.
• Move right:To move to the right, bend your right knee. While this doesn't seem like you're shifting the weight too much, you're relieving yourself a bit as you do the work of the flyboard and lift it higher in the opposite direction of where you want to go.

This control will become natural to you very quickly, and once you master it, you will be able to control your flyboard better, go diagonally and change direction faster; It's all in science!

Note: Note that the controlsessay thin. Leaning is a quick way to land on the water. Trust us, you can easily adjust your weight by curling your toes and slightly bending your knees..And if you bend your knees too much, you will be thrown into the water.

The science behind the fall

Now that you know how a flyboard works, including the physics behind each flight step, there's one more thing to discuss: pitch.

We already know that if you lose your balance, you will fall. This can be due to a poor start or too much weight in the corners (or the dreaded consequences of leaning into a corner).

But what is the best way to fall? Since we found that a balance issue will cause one side of the board to rise too high and cause you to fall due to the weight of your body, you will only fall in one direction: head first.

That's how it isextremelyIt is important to wear a hat and life jacket when windsurfing. New flyboarders can only reach 10-15 feet if they get the hang of it quickly. But experienced snowboarders can go up to 50-60 feet. Falling from a great height will hit you painfully in the water, and landing upside down can result in serious injury if you're not wearing a helmet (They).

In the event something happens or something is hiding in the water you fall into, a life jacket will keep you afloat while your PWC operator guides you to safety. Wearing protective gear is one of the most important steps you should take before deciding to flyboard.

However, you can combine the correct fall safety equipment to give yourself the best chance of avoiding fall injuries. If you have seen a diver or can dive yourself, you may already be thinking about the best solution.

Dip with both arms above your head, palms and fingers together. This will break the water as soon as you hit it and you can slice it instead of your head breaking the water and then your chest or shoulders.

Think of it as aerodynamics, except water instead of air. Your hands easily give you room to hit the water, which means you go deeper underwater because you encounter less resistance.

If you fall this way, you are safe, so definitely give it a try.

Many people actually use their falls as an opportunity to get back out of the water without stopping, basically giving the impression that their fall was planned when they went underwater. This requires a lot of coordination and skill, but it's definitely worth a try because chances are you'll fall off at some point during the ride.

Is falling the only way to stop a flyboard?

From the hilarious video compilations you may have seen online, it seems that falling is the only way to stop a flyboard flight once you're there. However, this is not really true.

In fact, it can slowly reach the water if the ship it is attached to slows down. Be careful though, if the driver slows down quickly you risk falling into the water which is no fun for your feet or spine.

Every flyboard floats because it is designed to give you the ability to take a break without having to break away and get out of the water. Landing with a float and life jacket allows you to rest, relax and regain your strength before flying again. By all means take advantage of this, but be careful when in crowded water. You don't want to accidentally put yourself in a bad position when landing.

As you'll soon discover, flyboarding requires a lot of strength from your body, so taking that time to relax and unwind is so much more fun. Even better, you don't have to fall to get there.

Is flyboarding difficult?

Mostly not. It sounds much more difficult than it is. Most people learn to flyboard quickly, and the more you relax your body, the faster you'll get used to controlling your flyboard.

The hardest thing about flyboarding is the physical work you do. While it doesn't directly engage muscles like other water sports, you'll get an idea of ​​how much it takes to maintain your balance over a period of time. It's more like a yoga plank position in the air. Let's call it the flyboard pose. Train your core muscles.

Also, the movement of individual parts of the body, such as B. toes, much more than you might think. Few people train the leg muscles needed to move their toes evenly, so the legs tire quickly.

Your core will remain engaged the entire time you're flyboarding, which requires a lot more from you than you might at first think. While it's a great workout, not giving your body a break can be incredibly difficult. Especially if you're not used to working out your core muscles.

The arms are another area that can be exercised well as they help you maintain your balance. It's good to stretch your arms while adjusting. These are useful for unexpected bumps that cause you to trip.

As with any other sport or muscle in the body, you will get used to it fairly quickly if you practice it regularly. If you really can't believe how much energy you'll use to fly, pay attention to how tired you are when you're done flying.

To make it even easier on your body, try taking a break every 30 minutes to give your muscles time to recover. As it is usually a group activity, you will take turns flying and piloting the jet ski.

What drives a flyboard?

Flyboards are PWC powered, so you'll need to have one with you (and an additional person) every time you flyboard. This is a fairly simple procedure.

The ship moves and sucks in water to power its own engine. This water does not form a groove behind the jet boat, but rather is channeled through a pipe that leads directly to the flyboard.

As more water comes out of the bowl, the pressure increases and the water is distributed evenly in the nozzles, activating the flyboard's thrust. This is how Flyboard flies!

Basically, the power comes from the water pressure provided by the PWC. This means that it normally follows the whim of the boat driver and goes up and down depending on the speed at which the boat is moving.

Who controls the flyboard?

While the flyboard requires directional control, you must manually accelerate the device as the flight progresses, which can be done in two different ways. Two people can control the flyboard: the pilot and the person who controls the PWC.

1. Inspection of personal watercraft

In most cases, the person operating the boat is responsible for how high or low the flyboard flies. Since the flyboard is highly dependent on the water pressure of the PWC, it is very important that the PWC driver understands his relationship to the flyboard.

A PWC driver needs to know that they can control their height by accelerating and decelerating. This will help you when you desperately need a break or worry that you are too deep in the water. Hand signals can help you finish off your PWC driver as long as they know what actions to take based on your needs.

All the PWC rider has to do is speed up or slow down, which is extremely easy. He won't even experience much lag, so he should be able to change pitches fairly quickly.

The operator must also be aware of everything that is happening around him. Since he can't control how high he goes, he needs someone who can react immediately when something gets in his way, like a jet ski or another boat driver. It is the responsibility of both parties, but the operator of the PWC must pay special attention to you and your space to ensure your safety.

2. Control of leaflets

When you first flyboard, you shouldn't have too much control over your ride. You will focus on maintaining your balance and learn how to carefully manipulate your weight for movement. It's enough to draw attention without adding height.

If you're looking for crazy spins and tricks, this kind of control is a must. Without them, you'll never be able to give yourself the momentum and water pressure you need for your tricks, so be sure to check them out if you're trying to up your flyboard game.

However, if you've been flying for a while and want to take control of every aspect of your flight, consider purchasing an add-on that allows you to control your own altitude. These electronic systems give you the ability to adjust the throttle and steer the boat yourself, giving you complete control over everything.

While this is something you can do, it's not necessarily the best idea to take full control, especially if you're doing it because you want to fly solo. There should always be someone on the boat watching the water to avoid accidents with other people. When it comes to water sports, it's crucial to pay attention to what's going on in the water around you. Flyboarding is no exception.

The story behind the Flyboard

Flyboards are relatively new inventions developed by Farnky Zapata in 2012. Since then, it has gained popularity as crowds of people have embraced the idea of ​​flying over water, something everyone expected to happen after seeing Marty use a hoverboard.Return to the future. While we may have crossed that timeline, at least we have the ability to fly over water and reach unprecedented heights!

In 2015, flyboarding hit the big screen when it was featured on a popular TV show.american talent. This immediately created a buzz around the product and made it much more popular than before.

This invention led Zapata to develop a kerosene-powered version of the flyboard that does not require a PWC to fly. However, it is not yet available to the public as the French military has expressed interest in the product. You can find more about this atthis publication of National Interest.

final thoughts

So now you know more about the physics behind flyboards and how they work and are interested in trying it out. Since its launch in 2012, around 2,500 units have been sold worldwide. Many of them are owned by rental companies and water sports shops. The best way to start is to book a lesson near or while traveling to an area where lessons are offered. You can find them on Viator and many other tour booking sites.

The flyboard is one of them.Ways to earn money on a jet ski andwrote a few months ago. These setups start around $2,500 new, but you may be able to get a good deal on a used system. Then have fun with your new toy or use it to teach others and earn some money along the way.

Whatever you choose, you'll approach it with a little more understanding. Most importantly and as always: no matter what you do: stay safe and have fun!