However, according to the former Coventry student, his own body strength was
only capable of providing five per cent of the necessary power so to make up
the shortfall he fitted extra motors to the wing suit.
When he landed after the 60-second flight, he said: “At one moment you see the
ground moving away, and then suddenly you’re free, a really intense feeling
of freedom. The true feeling of flying. A ******* magical moment. The best
feeling I have felt in my life.”
However, the video has prompted a wealth of online speculation as to whether
the flight test is indeed genuine.
One eagle-eyed viewer has pointed to the sudden appearance of sunglasses on
the person adjusting Mr Smeets’ camera before take off as proof that the
success of the wing suit may owe more to clever editing techniques than
mechanical engineering.
But, another online viewer makes the point, “I don’t know anyone who
would put those costs into a youtube video just for the hell of it.”
Others seem happy to accept the video as a clever piece of fakery and a
wonderful piece of entertainment.
Genuine or not, the short video is certainly popular and has now been watched
nearly 800,000 times in a little over a day.
Do you think this ‘birdman’ can really fly?
Related posts:
Views: 0