BEIJING, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) — In 1997, stunt driver Ke Shouliang, known as the “Asian Flying Man,” drove his car over the Yellow River, creating a miracle in the history of extreme sports. Now, 17 years later in 2014, Xie Yujun, hailed as the “New Asian Flying Man” — who bears a striking resemblance to the late entertainer Ke Shouliang — will drive over the Heihe section of the Heilongjiang River under extreme cold conditions of minus 40 degrees.
The flying event, themed “Flying Over the Ice River to Ignite Dreams,” is jointly organized by the Tourism Bureau of Heihe City in Heilongjiang Province and Jiangsu Lopal Petrochemical Co., Ltd. On the afternoon of the 20th, stunt driver Xie Yujun said at a press conference in Beijing, “I hope to create new history.”
According to Zhang Baohong, executive deputy director of the Heihe City Tourism Bureau, the car stunt performance is scheduled to take place at noon on January 12, 2014, on the Heilongjiang section in Heihe, with the site just 750 meters away from the Russian side. On that day, citizens from both China and Russia on either side of the Heilongjiang River will be able to watch this spectacular stunt performance for free.
The Heilongjiang River spans China, Russia, and Mongolia, with a total length of 4,370 kilometers (measured from the source at the Hailar River), and a drainage area of 1.843 million square kilometers, ranking as the tenth largest river in the world.
The flying location is situated in the Heilongjiang River section on Daheihe Island in Heihe City. Affected by high-altitude cold air and surface high pressure, the area experiences continuous snowy and icy weather along with strong winds and temperature drops every year after December. The expected temperature on the day of the flight will range between -30°C and -40°C. Considering wind factors on the river surface, the perceived temperature on-site may be about 10 degrees lower.
Such an extremely cold environment will pose an unprecedented challenge to both the vehicle’s performance and the driver’s physical strength and driving skills. Therefore, this flight will set a world record for successfully driving over a river in extreme cold weather.
Whether the flight can succeed under such extreme cold depends crucially on the proper functioning of the vehicle. Shi Junfeng, general manager of Jiangsu Lopal Petrochemical Co., Ltd., explained that they have specially developed a series of dedicated lubricant products called “Lopal Supreme” for this event, including various types of engine oil, transmission oil, antifreeze, brake fluid, power steering system lubricant, windshield cleaner, anti-fog agent, and tire protectant suitable for severe cold conditions. These products provide technical assurance for the smooth execution of the flight.
At noon on January 12, Xie Yujun will launch a breathtaking leap from a U-shaped takeoff ramp that is 300 meters long and 5–10 meters high, completing this stunt performance. (End)