Ep 23. Concrete Glider

In season four, episode 23 of Mythbusters, titled "Concrete Glider," hosts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman explore the feasibility of building a flying machine entirely out of concrete. The episode starts with the hosts examining the properties of concrete and its ability to hold up against different types of stresses. They then enlist the help of a team of engineers to design and construct a wing that can generate sufficient lift for the concrete glider.

The construction process is not without its difficulties. The team experiments with various types of concrete mixtures to find the perfect balance between strength and weight. Meanwhile, Jamie and Adam experiment with different shapes and configurations for the wings to find the most efficient design. When they finally settle on a design, they test the wing in a wind tunnel to determine its lift and drag coefficients.

Once the wing is complete, it's time to assemble the concrete glider. The hosts and their team work tirelessly to attach the wing to the body of the glider, which is made entirely out of concrete. The final result is an unwieldy-looking contraption that hardly seems capable of flight.

In the first test flight, Jamie, who has never flown before, takes the controls of the glider. The glider manages to get off the ground, but only for a few seconds before crashing back down to earth. The team inspects the plane and determines that the issue is with the angle of attack of the wing. They make some adjustments and try again.

The glider manages to stay in the air for a longer period of time on the second test flight, but it's still not enough. The engineering team calculates that the plane needs more lift to stay airborne, so they come up with a plan to add flaps to the wing to increase its surface area. They also decide to add an engine to the glider to give it the extra boost it needs to get off the ground.

After the modifications, they take the glider for a final test flight. This time, it manages to stay in the air for a sustained period of time, reaching an altitude of over 10 feet. The hosts and their team are ecstatic with the results, proving that a concrete glider is indeed possible.

Overall, "Concrete Glider" is an exciting episode of Mythbusters that showcases the hosts' ingenuity and determination in the face of a seemingly impossible challenge. Through trial and error, they ultimately succeed in building a flying machine out of an unconventional material. The episode also highlights the importance of teamwork and collaboration in achieving great things.