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EAST STUNTINGTON — When you think of something gracefully cutting through the sky, you might think of an eagle, the Blue Angels or maybe even Superman.
Now, if we made a list of things that would make the least graceful appearance while traveling through the air, a snowmobile would certainly be near the top. After all, a machine weighing several hundred pounds, with features that exclude wings and a fuselage, is practically designed for flying failure.
If you’ve seen the Disney live-action classic “Snowball Express,” you know exactly what I mean.
Enter the Stunt Freaks Team. This group of trained and professional stuntpeople got together in Riksgränsen, Sweden, to turn a snowmobile into a flying machine using a paragliding parachute. They attach the chute with a hinky-looking getup, then stuntman Antti Pendikainen unceremoniously drives the blessed thing straight off a cliff.
Although I was a little surprised that it worked (I mean, they posted it on YouTube, so it wasn’t going to be a complete disaster), I was even more surprised that the flying contraption looked graceful and peaceful. In fact, the ride was so smooth that Pendikainen was cheeky enough to have a snack and a lounging rest midflight.
But don’t take my word for it: watch the 4.5-minute video to see the surprisingly majestic display, but please don’t try this at home.
