Don’t try this at home
The crew of the movie Speed actually did jump a bus 109 feet—just not onto California’s 105 freeway with passengers on board. A special ramp was built, and the bus started accelerating a mile back. Going 65 mph, the bus wheels reached a height of 20 feet from the ground, higher than the camera crew expected, which explains why the top of the bus goes out of the frame in the movie’s shot. (They opted against a Take 2.) And, if you’re short a driver, know that Sandra Bullock actually learned to drive a bus for her role—and easily passed the driving course.
Jet bus
Indianapolis’s Paul Stender shares the motto, “Jets are hot, drugs are not,” by practicing what he preaches. Many heard of his 2014 creation—a school bus fitted with a Phantom fighter jet engine to create the “world’s fastest bus” capable of reaching 367 mph as it shoots 80-foot flames. Unfortunately, the engine takes up so much room, there’s space left for only three passengers. If this isn’t impressive enough, consider he’s built 30 fiery creations including a jet-fired beer truck and a port-o-john.
Giddy-Up!
The original school bus was fired very differently. Today’s yellow bus was first introduced to society in 1662 as a horse-drawn vehicle in Paris, and it operated for about 15 years before shutting down due to costs. In 1812, a horse-drawn bus made its second appearance. The children’s favorite seat was on the roof.
