Ep 30. 22,000 Foot Fall

In "Mythbusters" season 4 episode 30, titled "22,000 Foot Fall," the team sets out to tackle one of the most terrifying myths of all time: whether or not someone can survive a fall from an airplane without a parachute. The team opens with a shocking statistic: on average, only one out of every three people who fall from that height will die on impact. While the vast majority of the survivors were left permanently injured, some people have been known to walk away with nothing more than a broken bone or two.

To test the myth, the team uses a variety of methods to simulate a 22,000-foot fall. They bring in a crash test dummy and drop it from various heights onto different surfaces, including water, sand, and a pile of cardboard boxes. They also enlist the help of skydiving experts and stuntmen to give them a more realistic perspective on what it might feel like to fall from such a great height.

Throughout the episode, the team explores various factors that might contribute to a person's ability to survive a fall, including air resistance, the density of the target surface, and the position of the body during impact. They also examine various survival stories, including one from a World War II pilot who fell 18,000 feet when his plane was destroyed in mid-air and lived to tell the tale.

As always, the Mythbusters aren't satisfied with simply proving or busting the myth. They also take the opportunity to explore other interesting questions related to the topic, such as whether or not a person falling from such a height would have time to recognize what was happening, and whether or not the adrenaline rush would make them feel invincible.

Overall, "22,000 Foot Fall" packs a punch with its high-stakes premise and gripping simulations. The episode is sure to leave viewers on the edge of their seats as they watch the team push the limits of what is possible and uncover the truth behind this terrifying myth.