This is unbelievable
I better start saving my money.
OPTION 1 . AMP jet - A jet built into the board
Or
OPTION 2 , AMP mast - A motor on the mast
Great work Fliteboard and FLITELab
That Jet option whilst looking safe and amazing has got to be very very expensive
Just got the FoilDrive Gen2 which is an awesome bit of kit. When I get my next propulsion unit in 18 months there will be so many choices Manta, FD Gen 3(I would guess by then), Flitelab, etc etc. 
I saw Adam Bennetts testing what I suspected to be an inboard jet board earlier last year. I could tell it had an inboard water propulsion system as there was nothing on the deck and nothing on the mast, but he was boosting onto fat waves and also trying to pop up on flat water. No remote control either.
The flat water pop up definitely took a lot of skill, as once the jet outlet at the back of the board was above water obviously there was no more forward drive so a very big Ollie up onto foil was needed and a lot of frantic pumping to gain height and speed, but then Adam can just pump around for ever.
My wife said "I saw some guy near you who looked like a crazy flapping chicken.."
I said to her "oh, that guy, he just happens to be one of the best foilers in the world, what hope have I got" ?
My understanding is the Amp Jet will only get you initial board speed whilst the board is completely in the water, so once the foil engages and the board lifts out of the water you're just normal foiling. As per the promo video it can get you onto a wave without paddling so good for fatter prone waves or prone downwinding.
Definitely couldn't efoil in any way other than perhaps taxi/cruise to get out to lineup.
I suppose you could use it for light wind winging as well, to get initial board speed then pump wing and board up onto foil ?
Won't be cheap
Select to expand quotefoilthegreats said..
Looks amazing!
?si=e4nFrP3nBkLY7u-W
Maybe I missed the edit, but Bennetts smoked the DW boarders!
Select to expand quoteHwy1North said..foilthegreats said..
Looks amazing!
?si=e4nFrP3nBkLY7u-W
Maybe I missed the edit, but Bennetts smoked the DW boarders!
Yes he did.
Plus Bennetts rips.
You can run smaller front wings by the looks of it.
Apparently he was running a 4'2 board coming in around 6kg...
This is going to be sick.
I used to think that downwinding on a prone board would be the ultimate but have since realised the longer narrower boards are no disadvantage and are actually faster in a downwind situation. It's fun on a prone but not better IMO. Applaud any improvement tech that opens that foiling up for more people and learning etc but for me I prefer to prone mainly in the surf only. Longer boards and holding a paddle is still cool and faster.
Select to expand quoteHwy1North said..foilthegreats said..
Looks amazing!
?si=e4nFrP3nBkLY7u-W
Maybe I missed the edit, but Bennetts smoked the DW boarders!
Edits can show whatever you want them too.
No doubt Bennetts is an amazing foiler but I don't think that really has anything to do with the flightlab board, once he is up it is really of no additional benefit, except maybe you can run a smaller foil.
Although they do look like great shortcuts to downwinding for those with the money that don't want to spend the time learning to paddle up.
Select to expand quoteIanInca said..
That Jet option whilst looking safe and amazing has got to be very very expensive
Hey Frothers
Chris here, I am the inverter of The AMP Board. Fire away with any questions and I will do my best to answer. I cannot talk about price but I can say it's going to be more competitive than you think ;-)
The 4'2 with both batteries weighs closer to 7kg but if you only run one batt (less runtime and thrust) it is closer to 6. Not final weights so it could change but hopefully close.
Yes it is definitely a challenge to get up on the flat but any bump solves that we have 25kg of thrust. It goes!
If you don't pump back out you have paddle assist that lets you paddle your 4'2 faster that a 9'1 mal.
2 batteries gives you 80ish boosts or a combo of boost and paddle assist. I can usually get a 2hr session on one battery using both paddle assist and boost and I fall a lot ??
The Jet is the ultimate for more advance proners as they usually pump around. Perfect for downwinding and Winging as there is no drag on the board or mast and is a 5sec install from blank cartridge to Jet and no one even know you have it.
I often ride the board without the Jet. Then if the tide fills in or I have run out of steam then it's a trip back to the beach, throw the cartridge in and go back out :-) Same if the wind drop out and I am winging
This is not meant for downwind racing as it would probably never be allowed. It's meant for having fun downwinding. And in all the back to back test we feel it is more agile. We will also be expanding the range of boards over time.
At launch we will have 3 prones followed by 2 wingboards.
The AMP Mast is for those who want too hybrid efoil. Can easily get up in the flat and great for learning or for catching a stupid amount of waves in a very short time. We are working hard on reducing the drag on the mast and have a built in 40mm motor in a stupid stiff carbon mast. Trust me this thing is as stiff as a brick!! The jet cartridge get replaced with the Battery only Cartridge and you choose to install 2,3 or 4 batteries depending on how much runtime you want. Same batteries as the jet and yes they are under 160Wh so you can fly with them.
The original idea in 2019 came to me so I could get onto waves that weren't breaking where I lived in Jan Juc. From there I wanted the board to fell as close as possible to a normal prone and not have to think about settings and have hand free operation (Jet option).
The idea of traveling with one board that I can prone, prone with Jet, foil big waves, foil small waves, downwind, wing a sinker from 10knots to 30. I think we have achieved all that.
FYI we got a 4'6 31L prone from full sink up in around 8knots.
Cheers, Chris
Select to expand quotetightlines said..Hwy1North said..foilthegreats said..
Looks amazing!
?si=e4nFrP3nBkLY7u-W
Maybe I missed the edit, but Bennetts smoked the DW boarders!
Edits can show whatever you want them too.
No doubt Bennetts is an amazing foiler but I don't think that really has anything to do with the flightlab board, once he is up it is really of no additional benefit, except maybe you can run a smaller foil.
Although they do look like great shortcuts to downwinding for those with the money that don't want to spend the time learning to paddle up.
Its the doing the hard yards that is the real reward when it all comes together hey mate? I know you like everyone else who has done the time and now feeling the reward understand how good it is when it comes together.
Cool concept and love seeing new ideas that bring foiling to more people, definitely brings up some red flags as well so I am sure we will see the good and bad over time as more of these things start hitting the local beaches.
100% Paul. There unfortunately is going to be that one person that abuses the tech. I love it as I sit a good 50meters wide of the pack and stay out of everyones way which I can't do as easily on an ordinary prone. I love a break that is not even breaking with no one on it. This allows me to go out in those conditions. It was absolutely the whole reason in the first place that I came up with the idea. I love both options for different reasons but I really Love the Jet as no one ever knows I have it and it's the closest thing to a standard prone.
The Jet is controlled by the launchpad that sits in the front of the board. A small screen with buttons that surround it with plenty of sensors inside to monitor everything. There is several modes.
Paddle assist : a low power mode that helps you paddle out, around and duck dive.
Instant boost : hit the button and the computer takes care of the rest with things like acceleration, amount of thrust and max speed until you pop up on foil then it turns it self off. It will also turn off if you don't make it to your feet or crash.
Then auto pilot : which is work in progress but coming along really well. It knows when you are paddling for a wave and turns the boost on for you then also does the rest.
Then once up on foil it has the most advance tracking systems that track more about you ride that you could imagine. Not going to spill all the beans but you won't be disappointed.
Then auto pilot : which is work in progress but coming along really well. It knows when you are paddling for a wave and turns the boost on for you then also does the rest.
How good is that , ground breaking.
So how's the thrust comparison between the Jet in the board and Prop on the mast. If you just had the Jet in paddle assist mode what's the max run time on the 160wh battery ?
Ha I have never tried to run one battery flat in paddle assist mode Piros. I use it for 1 to 2 mins at a time to get back out if I haven't pumped back out.
The motor is running pretty efficiently in paddle assist so continuous with one battery would be around 30 - 45min leaving a few percent of battery left. 2 batts would be double. That would be one long paddle ??
As for Jet vs Prop the Jet is just over 25kg of thrust might be a little more on the final version but you don't really need it. The prop will definitely have more thrust 30 - 40ish maybe more but we might limit it to keep things like batteries and escs cool. Have learnt a ton about the custom 40mm motor we built for the Marc Newson mast and will borrow from those learnings ;-)
Chris, thanks for clarifying and it's an awesome design!! Have you any idea when you will be launching (particularly Jet) as I've held back updating my gen 1 Foil Drive which I've enjoyed for 18 months. Also will the batteries be airline compliant?
*id imaging the slightly smaller thrust on the Jet will not translate to less "get up power" due to the reduced drag of the prop and battery (gen 2 FD and Manta)
Select to expand quotepaul.j said..tightlines said..Hwy1North said..foilthegreats said..
Looks amazing!
?si=e4nFrP3nBkLY7u-W
Maybe I missed the edit, but Bennetts smoked the DW boarders!
Edits can show whatever you want them too.
No doubt Bennetts is an amazing foiler but I don't think that really has anything to do with the flightlab board, once he is up it is really of no additional benefit, except maybe you can run a smaller foil.
Although they do look like great shortcuts to downwinding for those with the money that don't want to spend the time learning to paddle up.
Its the doing the hard yards that is the real reward when it all comes together hey mate? I know you like everyone else who has done the time and now feeling the reward understand how good it is when it comes together.
Cool concept and love seeing new ideas that bring foiling to more people, definitely brings up some red flags as well so I am sure we will see the good and bad over time as more of these things start hitting the local beaches.
Absolutely Paul and a timely remark.
There were times on my DW learning journey (like yesterday ) when I questioned WTF I was doing.
Then today my gf and I paddled up almost simultaneously and shared bumps for the next 4kms or so on our 14km run.
She has shared the hard times with me and the satisfaction we got today was totally reward for effort.
Not to say it wouldn't be fun without doing all the hard yards first but for us, we wouldn't have it any other way than the way we did it.
Although I can't see myself ever wanting one, I do think this super clean unobtrusive concept looks great.
I just worry that in the wrong hands technology will end up winning the battle for the wave/bump/swell over human power in crowded areas.
As far as DW open ocean swell riding though the more the merrier and for that this looks epic.
Select to expand quoteactivechris said..
The Jet is controlled by the launchpad that sits in the front of the board. A small screen with buttons that surround it with plenty of sensors inside to monitor everything. There is several modes.
Paddle assist : a low power mode that helps you paddle out, around and duck dive.
Instant boost : hit the button and the computer takes care of the rest with things like acceleration, amount of thrust and max speed until you pop up on foil then it turns it self off. It will also turn off if you don't make it to your feet or crash.
Then auto pilot : which is work in progress but coming along really well. It knows when you are paddling for a wave and turns the boost on for you then also does the rest.
Then once up on foil it has the most advance tracking systems that track more about you ride that you could imagine. Not going to spill all the beans but you won't be disappointed.
I'm in! The launchpad alone is worth the price of entry. To me, holding a remote, regardless of how well it works, it a downside unless you're wanting to efoil.
Select to expand quoteIanInca said..
Chris, thanks for clarifying and it's an awesome design!! Have you any idea when you will be launching (particularly Jet) as I've held back updating my gen 1 Foil Drive which I've enjoyed for 18 months. Also will the batteries be airline compliant?
*id imaging the slightly smaller thrust on the Jet will not translate to less "get up power" due to the reduced drag of the prop and battery (gen 2 FD and Manta)
Hey Ianlnca
Yes the batteries will be airline compliant they are under 160Wh so you can travel with 2 per person as carry on.
As for thrust almost every measures static thrust as it's the easiest to measure but it doesn't really tell the full story. We have in the test tank run the system all the way to 30KG of static thrust but the extra power for 30KG vs 25kg is not worth it. Also for most waves if you get your timing and technique right you don't even use 25kg. I quite often get up on wave with only 15 - 18kg but it does depend on the conditions. Just like the early days of surfing when you always paddle for a wave too late.
Are you saying the board including the jet system and battery is 7kg? Please have a larger and less fit rider included in development as a 31 liter board has me at 90kg sitting in the water a bit too deep, whearas 40ltrs for example keeps the foil from bouncing on the bottom. Any idea of when this will be available for purchase?
Select to expand quoteHwy1North said..
Are you saying the board including the jet system and battery is 7kg? Please have a larger and less fit rider included in development as a 31 liter board has me at 90kg sitting in the water a bit too deep, whearas 40ltrs for example keeps the foil from bouncing on the bottom. Any idea of when this will be available for purchase?
True that. Looks like some potential for sure. But I hope they make something for the bigger, older, and weaker foilers, not just micro boards. A 6'x 20" flat bottom might be nice
Got you covered. 3 prones followed by 2 wing boards to start with and more down the track. largest prone is around 40L but you will find you drop a board size or two becuase you dont need it for paddeling anymore. I went from a 4'6 to a 4'2 with jet and I am considering making a 3'10 to test ;-)
What about SUP? Would be hard to bend down and touch the front of the board when you want to catch a wave.
Donno bout being that far out on a 4"2. Long paddle if you run out of battery or malfunction? How bullet proof is the whole system with all the sensors ect.
Select to expand quotehilly said..
What about SUP? Would be hard to bend down and touch the front of the board when you want to catch a wave.
Yes same as winging. Got it covered ;-). With the exception we are not launching with a SUP to start with but we will be with wing boards.
Select to expand quoteSpark said..
Donno bout being that far out on a 4"2. Long paddle if you run out of battery or malfunction? How bullet proof is the whole system with all the sensors ect.
Ha yes. Like everything we endeavour to make the system super reliable but you should always be able to get back to the shore under you own steam if anything goes wrong. Have done it once already with an early proto. Yes I slept well that night!
Can one thrust module be used on multiple boards, or is it too integrated for that? For example, could I buy a wing board and a prone board and move the jet from one to the other, or would both boards need to be boosted? I would imagine that would save a lot of cost for someone with multiple boards.
Can one thrust module be used on multiple boards, or is it too integrated for that? For example, could I buy a wing board and a prone board and move the jet from one to the other, or would both boards need to be boosted? I would imagine that would save a lot of cost for someone with multiple boards.
