Watch paraglider fly under overpass in Volvo Trucks stunt

Published Dec. 9, 2016 1:27 p.m. ET

Samuel Reiman

Show, don’t tell.

We’re not sure if that’s written anywhere back at Volvo Trucks’ headquarters, but we wouldn’t be surprised if it was.

Volvo Trucks is no stranger to sharing some impressive stunts on its YouTube page, and its latest viral video is no exception.

Called “The Flying Passenger,” the stunt features a Volvo FH truck, fitted with the I-Shift Dual Clutch gearbox, towing a paraglider up a mountain pass in the Dinaric Alps in Croatia.

The stunt was performed on closed roads, with the purpose being to demonstrate Volvo Trucks’ unique powertrain, particularly its seamless gear shifting and, subsequently, the lower fuel consumption.

“Meeting deadlines and keeping fuel consumption low, even when driving uphill and on winding roads, are key elements to success for many of our customers,” said Claes Nilsson, President of Volvo Trucks. “This test is the perfect way to challenge our recently updated powertrain. ‘The Flying Passenger’ illustrates in a very concrete and visual way what Volvo Trucks’ performance and drivability is all about.”

In order for paraglider Guillaume Galvani to safely make it up the mountain and under the overpass, driver Louise Marriott had to not only travel fast enough to get Galvani up in the air, but also maintain that cruising speed. Volvo Trucks notes that its gearbox helps ensure that the engine does not lose torque during gear shifts.

“Driving on high gears and securing seamless gear shifting is an important factor for fuel efficiency,” adds Staffan Wendeberg, Product Manager FH and Long Haul at Volvo Trucks. “The I-Shift Dual Clutch enables smooth driving whilst staying in high gears and low revs.”

While it all sounds good, I’m still not in a hurry to step in Galvani’s shoes.