MythBusters Season 8 Episode 18 Episode 18

In Episode 18 of MythBusters season 8, the team tackles a number of myths related to aviation and parachutes.

The first myth involves the idea that if you shoot a bullet straight down from an airplane, the bullet will fall back down and hit the plane. The team sets up a test to see if this is possible, using a specially designed bullet that will fall straight down instead of tumbling through the air. They also construct a model airplane with a ballistic gel dummy inside to simulate a real plane and test the myth at various altitudes.

The second myth involves the classic movie scene where someone jumps out of a moving airplane with nothing but a canopy and a backpack parachute. The team wants to test whether it's possible to actually jump out of a plane and survive using only a backpack parachute. To do so, they set up a plane on a runway and use a crane to hoist a test dummy in the backpack parachute to the appropriate height before dropping it.

The third myth involves the idea that if a plane starts to spin uncontrollably, the only way to save it is to jump out with a parachute. The team sets up a plane on a skydiving simulator and spins it out of control to see what would happen if someone were to jump out in such a situation.

Throughout the episode, the MythBusters use their signature approach of meticulous testing and experimentation to either confirm or debunk each myth. They also provide explanations of the science involved in each scenario and discuss the real-life implications of the myths they test. Overall, Episode 18 of MythBusters season 8 is an exciting and informative installment that takes viewers inside the world of aviation and parachuting.