Humans have long been envious of the flying squirrel.
Skydivers and base jumping enthusiasts have even developed flying suits that mimic the squirrel’s peculiarly square shape. These “wing suits” work to slow the jumpers’ descents and allow them to maneuver through the air – just like flying squirrels. The Smithsonian even tested flying squirrels – built from tiny pieces of steel and fiberglass – in a wind tunnel and found that these mammals can glide up to an astounding 30 miles per hour.
