You hear about Flightboard, Flyboard and Fliteboard, but what are the differences? The E-SURFER team clarifies.

By Andreas Lakeberg — founder of E-SURFER, eFoil expert since 2017 and board member of the Global Foil Board Sports Association (GFA)
As of November 2026

Flyboard, Flightboard or Fliteboard? A Flyboard is a board that lifts you several metres above the water using the jet of a jet ski; the water reaches you through an 18 or 23 m hose. A Fliteboard is an eFoil, a surfboard with an electric motor and underwater wing. A Flightboard is not a water sports device at all, but a flight information display.

Interested in a Flyboard? You can get one from us on request: we advise you on the kit, the controller and the right jet ski. If you want to fly without a jet ski and without exhaust fumes, you will find all eFoils with prices under Buy an eFoil.

What is a Flyboard?

A Flyboard is a small board with two bindings and nozzles underneath. A jet ski pumps its propulsion water through a hose to these nozzles, and the thrust lifts you above the water. You control the jet with a remote and steer by shifting your weight. It was invented in 2011 by the Frenchman Franky Zapata.

Technically, a Flyboard kit consists of the board (deck) with bindings, an 18 or 23 m hose and a U-pipe that diverts the jet ski's water outlet. Add to that the wireless controller (EMK): with it, the rider sets the jet power and can start and stop the jet ski engine. For beginners, the instructor on the jet ski usually does this.

Franky Zapata was a jet ski racer. According to his company, he designed the Flyboard in less than 24 hours and filed a patent in 2011; within barely two years, almost 10,000 units had been sold. Zapata only built Flyboards until 2019. Today, Flyboard® Europe (Zielonka, Poland) is the official distributor. The current model is the Flyboard® Pro Series, successor to the Flyboard Legend.

How much does a Flyboard cost?

The Flyboard® Pro Kit with board, bindings, swivel system, 18 m hose, U-pipe and quick coupling costs €5,473.50 including VAT from the official distributor. The wireless controller (EMK) costs from €1,845 extra. Ready to fly, you end up at around €7,320, plus a jet ski (as of November 2026).

Older figures you find online, such as "€3,000 to €7,000 for a set", are therefore outdated. Which controller fits your jet ski depends on the make and model; the distributor offers adapters for Sea-Doo, Yamaha, Honda and Kawasaki. Tell us which jet ski you have and we will put together a suitable offer: request a Flyboard.

How high and how fast does a Flyboard fly?

The manufacturer only speaks of "several metres" above the water and gives no top speed or maximum flight height. The height is limited by the hose length (18 or 23 m). For comparison: for its water hoverboard, which runs on the same hose, the distributor states up to 8 m height at an average of 40 km/h.

Figures often quoted, such as "up to 15 m" or "up to 50 km/h", do not appear in any manufacturer source we found. The distributor does not state a minimum power for the jet ski either; instead, it matches the nozzles to the jet ski's power.

Do you need a licence to ride a Flyboard?

Usually the jet ski driver needs one, the Flyboarder often not. A Flyboard only works with a jet ski, and in Germany, France, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands, for example, jet ski drivers need a boat licence. Rules for the Flyboard itself are rare, so ask the local water authority first.

The official distributor recommends the Flyboard from age 16. Some examples: in France, the Haute-Savoie prefecture classes the Flyboard as an "engin à sustentation hydropropulsé"; these devices are banned on Lake Annecy, and in our reading the rider needs a coastal boat licence or must be accompanied by a holder. In Germany, devices driven by a water jet from another vessel are expressly banned on Lake Constance.

In Spain, the Melilla harbour master treats the Flyboard as a self-propelled recreational craft: minimum age 18, or 16 with parental consent. In Italy, the Cagliari harbour office bans the Flyboard in bathing areas except in launch corridors. The eFoil rules by country are in Where are eFoils allowed?, for the UK in eFoil UK: rules, licence and where to ride.

Where can you try a Flyboard, and what does it cost?

You can try a Flyboard with water sports providers on the coast and on lakes, usually including a short briefing. A first flight of 15 to 20 minutes costs from around €35 in the Netherlands, €45 in Italy, €70 in Spain and €95 in France; in Germany expect €80 to €179 (2026).

Prices vary with the flight time, the location and the season. Many providers offer packages of 15, 20 or 30 minutes; for a first session, 15 to 30 minutes is plenty, because flying is tiring at first.

Is Flyboarding hard to learn?

At first you will fall into the water a lot, that is part of it. In a first-hand report by Popular Science, the author needed several attempts before she hovered just above the surface. For a first session, she considers 30 minutes ideal: long enough to get used to the board, and short enough before your strength fades.

On your first flight, the instructor on the jet ski usually controls the height, so you only concentrate on your balance. A tip for falls: dive into the water with your arms above your head to protect it, even with a helmet.

What is a Flightboard?

A Flightboard is not a water sports device. The word refers to display boards for departures and arrivals or the software behind them, for example screen apps that show flight information in the style of old split-flap displays. If you search for "Flightboard" in connection with water, you most likely mean a Flyboard or a Fliteboard.

What is a Fliteboard?

Fliteboard is an eFoil brand from Byron Bay, Australia. A Fliteboard is a surfboard with a battery, under which sits a 60 to 82 cm mast with an electric motor and underwater wing. Above a certain speed, the wing lifts the board out of the water. It reaches up to 55 km/h, on average about 25 km/h.

Founder David Trewern had the idea in 2016, the company was founded in October 2017, and Fliteboard has been shipping worldwide since 2018. Today the brand belongs to Brunswick Corporation. You accelerate with a wireless hand controller and steer by shifting your weight, like with other eFoils. Unlike the Flyboard, you need neither a jet ski nor a hose: the battery is in the board.

For Fliteboard we offer accessories and service. We sell eFoils from Aerofoils, Lift Foils and Awake Boards and test every model ourselves. How an eFoil works and how to learn it is shown in our video from the E-SURFER YouTube channel:

Everything you need to know as a beginner is in our guide eFoil boards explained. Where can you ride an eFoil in Europe? The map on efoil-spot.com shows you.

Flyboard or eFoil: which one suits you?

A Flyboard is made for spectacular jumps and height, and it always needs a jet ski with a driver or remote control. An eFoil flies just above the water, on its own, quietly and without exhaust fumes. If you already own a jet ski and want action, take the Flyboard; if you want to glide independently, the eFoil.

Andreas Lakeberg, founder of E-SURFER, has ridden all three: Flyboard, Jetlev Flyer and Fliteboard. The photos in this article show him doing it. His verdict for everyday use: the Flyboard is an experience for an afternoon, the eFoil is something you ride every week.

You can try an eFoil before buying on a test ride in Berlin or in an eFoil course. The eFoil rules country by country are in Where are eFoils allowed?.

What is the Jetlev Flyer?

The Jetlev Flyer is a water jetpack and older than the Flyboard. It was invented by Raymond Li, who worked on it from 2002 in St. John's, Newfoundland; the prototype was ready in 2008. The engine and fuel tank float in a separate unit behind you, and the water reaches the nozzles on your back through a hose.

Unlike on the Flyboard, you do not stand in bindings but sit in a seat with a 5-point harness and steer with control arms. The height is limited by the hose to about 8.5 m. The first production model cost 99,500 US dollars in 2011; today the manufacturer from Itzehoe, Germany, offers the 300 hp JF-300 for €99,900 net ex works.

You can get the Jetlev Flyer from us on request, we know the manufacturer personally: request a Jetlev.

Interested in a Flyboard or a Jetlev Flyer? We have tried both and are in touch with the manufacturers. Write to us.

What is the Flyboard Air?

The Flyboard Air is a completely different device: it flies without water and without a hose, powered by five jet turbines. Franky Zapata first flew it in 2016 and set a Guinness record of 2,252 m. On 4 August 2019 he crossed the English Channel with it, 35 km in 22 minutes with one refuelling stop.

Frequently asked questions