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>> Narrator: ON THIS EPISODE OF
"MYTHBUSTERS"...
>> THE WIDOW-MAKER!
>> Narrator: COULD YOU BUILD A
JETPACK FROM PLANS ON THE
INTERNET?
>> I'M READY TO GO, MAN!
>> Narrator: ADAM AND JAMIE RISE
TO THE CHALLENGE OF THEIR
TOUGHEST-EVER MYTH.
>> I WANT LIFTOFF THIS TIME!
>> Narrator: AND THE BUILD TEAM
SUFFERS FOR SCIENCE IN THE MYTH
OF PYRAMID POWER.
>> BABY, GIVE US A KISS.
>> AAH!
>> Narrator: WHO ARE THE
MYTHBUSTERS?
>> AM I MISSING AN EYEBROW?
>> Narrator: ADAM SAVAGE...
>> I REJECT YOUR REALITY AND
SUBSTITUTE MY OWN.
>> Narrator: ...AND
JAMIE HYNEMAN.
>> QUACK, DAMN YOU.
>> I WOULDN'T SAY JAMIE'S AN
EVIL GENIUS.
>> Narrator: BETWEEN THEM, MORE
THAN 30 YEARS' SPECIAL-EFFECTS
EXPERIENCE.
>> WE'RE EITHER GONNA DIE OR
WE'RE GONNA FLY.
>> Narrator: THEY DON'T JUST
TELL THE MYTHS.
THEY PUT THEM TO THE TEST.
>> ADAM, WE'VE GOT A REALLY
GREAT STORY HERE.
THIS IS JUST THE KIND OF THING
THAT I LOVE.
THIS IS A REALLY DIFFICULT
TECHNICAL CHALLENGE.
IT'S AN ENGINEERING FEAT WE'VE
GOT TO PULL OFF HERE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE HAVE PURCHASED SOME PLANS OFF
THE WEB THAT ANYBODY COULD BUY
FOR UNDER 100 BUCKS, AND WE'RE
GONNA SEE IF WE CAN USE THOSE
PLANS TO BUILD, IN OUR SHOP, A
PERSONAL, FUNCTIONAL JETPACK.
>> AND, OF COURSE, WE ONLY HAVE,
WHAT, ABOUT 10,000 BUCKS AND A
MONTH?
>> WELL, IT WOULDN'T BE
"MYTHBUSTERS" WITHOUT THAT KIND
OF CRUNCH, WOULD IT?
>> Narrator: THE QUEST TO BUILD
A PERSONAL FLYING MACHINE IS AS
OLD AS AVIATION ITSELF.
>> MY STRONG CONVICTION -- THAT
BY UTILIZING THESE INNER,
UNIVERSAL FORCES, WE SHALL ALL
BE ABLE TO FLY LIKE THE BIRDS.
>> Narrator: THE MYTHBUSTERS ARE
WELL-QUALIFIED TO JOIN A
PROCESSION OF DAREDEVIL
INVENTORS HELL-BENT ON AVOIDING
TRAFFIC JAMS.
THE TRACK RECORD ISN'T EXACTLY
ENCOURAGING.
SO, IS THE IDEA OF A HOMEMADE
JETPACK JUST A DREAM?
>> SO, WHAT ARE WE GONNA BUILD
HERE EXACTLY?
WHAT DO THE PLANS SAY OUR
JETPACK LOOKS LIKE?
>> WELL, I DON'T SEE ANY JET
ENGINES ANYWHERE ON THIS THING.
WHAT I SEE IS A GAS ENGINE, GOES
IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR BACK, AND
A COUPLE OF PROPELLERS INSIDE
SOME DUCTS.
>> SO IT'S MORE OF A VERTICAL-
TAKEOFF-HELICOPTER-DUCTED-FAN-
HOUSING KIND OF THING.
>> YEAH.
IT'S SMALLER THAN A HELICOPTER.
IT'S SOMETHING YOU COULD CARRY
AROUND, BUT THAT'S THE GIST OF
IT.
>> BUT IT AIN'T NO JET?
>> NO JET.
>> Narrator: IT'S ACTUALLY A
BACKPACK POWERED BY A
60-HORSEPOWER ENGINE WHICH
DRIVES TWO DUCTED FANS.
THE COWLINGS CREATE LIFT AND
THRUST, AND, ACCORDING TO THE
DESIGNERS, SHOULD BE ABLE TO
CARRY A 200-POUND PILOT.
THE PLANS ARE LESS THAN
COMPREHENSIVE, SO IT'S A CASE OF
JOIN THE DOTS AND FILL IN THE
GAPS.
>> THAT'S THE FUNKY THING ABOUT
THESE PLANS.
DO WHATEVER THE HELL YOU WANT,
AND YOU'RE GONNA BE FLYING
AROUND LIKE CRAZY.
IT'S GREAT.
YOU'LL GO 50 MILES AN HOUR!
>> Narrator: WITH LIMITED TIME
AND BUDGET, ADAM AND JAMIE WILL
NEED ALL THE HELP THEY CAN GET.
SO THE MYTHBUSTERS' SUPPORT TEAM
SWINGS INTO GEAR.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE
ROTAX 503 ENGINE.
>> Narrator: JAMIE TALKS TO
AVIATION EXPERTS ABOUT THE
COMPONENTS SPECCED IN THE PLANS.
>> DO YOU KNOW OF ANYBODY THAT
HAS FOLLOWED THESE PLANS, THEN,
THAT HAS ACTUALLY FLOWN?
OH, YEAH, IT'D BE EXTREMELY
DANGEROUS.
>> Narrator: THEN HE CRUNCHES
SOME NUMBERS AND COMES UP WITH A
VERDICT.
>> I'M ACTUALLY ENCOURAGED THAT,
BASED ON THE CONSIDERABLE POKING
AROUND THAT I'VE DONE WITH ALL
OF THE MAJOR COMPONENTS, IT IS
THEORETICALLY POSSIBLE THAT THIS
COULD WORK.
>> CAN YOU SEE JAMIE LIKE THIS?
[ LAUGHS ]
[ IMITATES JET ENGINE ]
>> Narrator: TO THEIR KNOWLEDGE,
NOBODY HAS EVER FLOWN A JETPACK
LIKE THIS ONE, SO ADAM AND JAMIE
HIT THE ROAD TO FIND OUT ABOUT
SOME THAT HAVE GOT AIRBORNE.
THEY'RE MEETING NINO AMARENO, AN
EXPERT IN ROCKET PACKS.
>> [ LAUGHING ]
WOW.
IS THIS A JETPACK?
>> NO, THIS, ACTUALLY --
IT'S A ROCKET PACK.
THIS ACTUALLY USES ROCKET FUEL
AND ROCKET ENGINES.
THE ACTUAL ENGINE IS ON TOP, AND
THESE ARE THE NOZZLES, ONE ON
EACH SIDE.
>> IT SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY SIMPLE
UNIT AS FAR AS THAT GOES.
I'M SURE THERE'S MORE THAN MEETS
THE EYE HERE.
WHAT'S THE BIGGEST DIFFICULTY
ABOUT ACTUALLY MAKING THIS
PRACTICAL?
>> WELL, IT LOOKS SIMPLE AT
FIRST SIGHT, ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE
BEEN OVER 100 PEOPLE HAVE TRIED,
AND ALL OF THEM HAVE FAILED.
>> Narrator: THE FIRST ATTEMPTS
TO BUILD MODERN ROCKET PACKS
BEGAN IN THE 1950s AND MET WITH
ABOUT AS MUCH SUCCESS AS THE
EFFORTS EARLIER IN THE CENTURY.
BUT THE POSSIBILITY OF AIRBORNE
INFANTRY WAS ENOUGH TO ATTRACT
MILITARY DOLLARS.
THE BREAKTHROUGH CAME IN 1961
WITH A DEVICE DESIGNED BY
WENDELL MOORE OF
BELL AEROSYSTEMS.
AS THE OPERATING ENVELOPE WAS
EXTENDED, THE ROCKET PACK
REACHED ALTITUDES OF 60 FEET AND
SPEEDS OF UP TO 60 MILES PER
HOUR.
BUT IT WAS TOO NOISY, SO THE
MILITARY PULLED THE PLUG ON THE
PROJECT.
>> EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BE WORKING
AT SOME FEVERISH PITCH TO
DEVELOP A PERSONAL FLYING
DEVICE, YOU KNOW, THAT EVERYONE
COULD BE FLYING.
THIS IS SOME SORT OF UTOPIAN
DREAM.
WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?
>> WELL, ACTUALLY, THE MAIN
REASON WHY IT IS SOMETHING THAT
EVERYBODY WANTS TO BUILD IS
BECAUSE OF ALL THE FLYING
DEVICES THAT MAN HAS BUILT, THIS
IS THE ONLY ONE THAT THE
REGULAR JOE IN THE STREETS HAS
NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE YET.
>> WELL, I TELL YOU, I CAN
UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS SUCH A
SEDUCTIVE IDEA TO PEOPLE,
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE,
"OKAY, I'M READY TO GO TO WORK,
HONEY.
I'LL SEE YOU LATER."
YOU KNOW?
WHOOSH!
>> Narrator: WHEN JAMIE GROWS
UP, HE WANTS TO BE A ROCKET MAN.
>> I'VE NEVER SEEN JAMIE SO
HAPPY IN MY LIFE.
>> Narrator: FIRED UP BY THE
ROCKET PACK, ADAM AND JAMIE HIT
THE SCRAPYARDS TO SEARCH OUT RAW
MATERIALS FOR THEIR OWN FLYING
MACHINE.
>> LOOK AT THESE!
OH, MY GOD, THIS IS GREAT!
THIS IS THE AVERAGE AMERICAN'S
6-MONTH SUPPLY OF SODA POP.
>> Narrator: THE TOWERS OF
TWISTED METAL LOOSEN SOME OF
ADAM'S SCREWS.
>> [ British accent ] RIGHT,
WELL, I MEAN, THIS PIECE BEHIND
ME, I CALL IT THE APHIS II.
AND, I MEAN, IT'S REALLY ABOUT
HOW CONFUSING, YOU KNOW, SOCIETY
IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL A
JUMBLE, ISN'T IT?
>> Narrator: IN THE WORLD OF
SCRAP, ADAM AND JAMIE ARE
PINUPS, AND THEY'RE MOBBED BY
FELLOW ENTHUSIASTS.
>> SO, WHAT ARE WE BUILDING?
>> WE'RE BUILDING A JETPACK --
PERSONAL JETPACK.
>> RIGHT.
>> WE'RE EITHER GONNA DIE OR
WE'RE GONNA FLY.
>> LET'S HOPE YOU FLY.
>> Narrator: THEY'RE LOOKING FOR
ALUMINUM.
THE PLANS RECOMMEND IT AS LIGHT,
TOUGH, AND PERFECT FOR AIRCRAFT.
>> [ Normal voice ] JUST MACHINE
A WHOLE WING OUT OF THAT.
>> IT'S FUNNY WHAT GETS US
EXCITED, ISN'T IT?
I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER SEEN A
SOLID CHUNK OF ALUMINUM THAT
BIG.
>> IT'S THE SECOND BIGGEST PIECE
OF ALUMINUM I'VE EVER SEEN.
>> IT JUST, LIKE, GETS ME ALL
WORKED UP JUST LOOKING AT IT.
>> Narrator: AFTER THE
OBLIGATORY DROOLING, THE GUYS
GET DOWN TO THE JOB AT HAND AND
COME AWAY HAPPY SHOPPERS.
>> YOU CAN'T TAKE JAMIE AND I TO
A PLACE LIKE THIS AND HAVE US
JUST LEAVE WITH WHAT WE CAME
FOR.
THIS BIG PLATE OF 1/16-INCH
ALUMINUM IS GOING TO BE MOST OF
THE STRUCTURE ON THE BACKPACK.
THIS ANGLE IRON'S GOING TO BE
SOME OF THE CROSS-STRUCTURE
ALONG WITH THE ARMS FOR ACTUALLY
STEERING AND CONTROLLING.
IT'S ALL REALLY FANTASTICALLY
USEFUL STUFF, AND I LOVE WORKING
WITH ALUMINUM.
I'M DELIRIOUS FROM THE SUN.
[ LAUGHS ]
I LOVE ALUMINUM.
ALUMINUM, I LOVE YOU.
>> Narrator: MYTH NUMBER TWO
COMES FROM ANCIENT EGYPT AND
INVOLVES A MAGICAL MATHEMATICAL
FORMULA.
ACCORDING TO SOME, THE PYRAMIDS
INCORPORATE A SACRED GEOMETRY
WHICH HELPED TO PRESERVE THE
MUMMIFIED REMAINS OF THE
PHARAOHS.
FURTHERMORE, THEY CLAIM THAT HIS
MYSTICAL MATH CAN WORK MODERN
MIRACLES, LIKE KEEP FRUIT FRESH
OR RAZOR BLADES SHARP.
APPARENTLY THEY CAN EVEN
REINVIGORATE AN OVERWORKED
MYTHBUSTER.
>> YOU KNOW, NORMALLY WE TRY AND
STAY AWAY FROM SOME OF THE
OOGIE-BOOGIE MYTHS, BUT IT'S
TIME TO GO ATTACK PYRAMID POWER.
IT IS REPUTED TO DO EVERYTHING
FROM KEEP YOUR RAZORS SHARP TO
KEEPING YOUR MILK AND FRUIT
FRESH.
AND I THINK YOU TWO ARE THE
PERFECT PEOPLE TO TAKE THIS TEST
AND SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH IT.
>> AS A TRUE SCIENTIST, YOU DO
HAVE TO WALK IN WITH AN OPEN
MIND, WITHOUT ANY PRECONCEIVED
NOTIONS, AND PUT IT TO A VERY
RIGOROUS TESTING.
>> YOU GUYS ARE GONNA HAVE TO
BUILD A WHOLE BUNCH OF PYRAMIDS
IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA GO BACK TO
SLEEP.
>> NIGHTY-NIGHT.
>> Narrator: SO, CAN THE BUILD
TEAM CRACK THIS COSMIC CODE?
>> WHERE IS THAT FORMULA?
>> Narrator: FIRST THEY MUST
ERECT THEIR OWN PYRAMIDS BY
FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS OF
NEW-AGE MYTH-MONGERS.
>> THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
>> Narrator: IT'S ALL AS CLEAR
AS MUD, SO THEY DECIDE TO SEEK
ENLIGHTENMENT FROM SOMEONE WHO
WALKS THE WALK, TRUE BELIEVER
JERRY TOMLINSON.
>> OKAY, JERRY, SO YOU'RE OUR
SELF-PROCLAIMED PYRAMID FREAK.
WE GOT LOTS OF QUESTIONS.
>> SO, YOU'RE TOTALLY CONVINCED
THAT THERE IS POWER WITH THESE
PYRAMIDS?
>> OH, YEAH.
A GUY IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA PATENTED
THE CHEOPS RAZOR-BLADE
SHARPENER.
AND HE PUT RAZOR BLADES UNDER
IT, AND THEY WOULD DULL RAZOR
BLADES, AND THEY WOULD BE
SHARPER, YOU KNOW?
AND I TRIED IT ONCE.
I DID IT, LEFT IT THERE FOR
ABOUT A WEEK, AND PUT IN IT.
SEEMED TO BE SHARPER.
>> Narrator: NOT THAT
CONVINCING, EH, TORY?
>> DO YOU THINK THAT THE
MATERIALS THAT THE PYRAMID ARE
MADE FROM HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THE
EXPERIMENT?
>> WELL, I -- WELL, COPPER IS
A REAL...COOL METAL.
BUT I SUPPOSE -- YEAH, MAYBE.
BUT, OH, NO, EXCUSE ME.
NO, NO, NO, NO, I'VE BEEN TOLD
THAT THAT'S NOT TRUE, BECAUSE
YOU CAN DO IT -- JUST THE SHAPE
IS -- MAYBE WHAT YOU USE HAS
SOME EFFECT, BUT I THINK IT'S --
PRIMARILY, IT'S THE SHAPE.
>> Narrator: THE BUILD TEAM
LEAVES JERRY A LITTLE OLDER, BUT
NONE THE WISER.
>> LOOK, YOU GUYS.
WE JUST GOT OUR MAIL-ORDER
PYRAMID.
>> OOH.
IS THIS THE ONE THAT'S SUPPOSED
TO SHARPEN RAZOR BLADES?
>> THIS IS THE ONE.
>> WAIT A MINUTE.
>> I THINK WE'VE BEEN HAD.
>> HOW MUCH DID WE PAY FOR THIS?
>> 38 BUCKS.
I THINK WE'RE THE SUCKERS.
>> Narrator: BACK AT THE SHOP,
THERE'S BEEN A DELIVERY, BUT IF
IT DOES KEEP FRUIT FRESH AND
RAZORS SHARP, 38 BUCKS IS MONEY
WELL SPENT.
WHILE APPARENTLY THE MATERIAL
DOESN'T AFFECT THE PYRAMID'S
POWER, THE DIMENSIONS DO.
FOR MAXIMUM POTENCY, THE MODEL
MUST BE AN EXACT SCALE OF
EGYPT'S GOLDEN PYRAMID, AND THIS
ONE, WELL, LOOKS A LITTLE WONKY.
>> I MEAN, HERE'S OUR PYRAMID.
DO YOU FEEL ANY POWER?
COME HERE.
>> DON'T POINT IT AT ME.
DON'T AIM IT AT ME.
>> COME HERE.
LET'S PUT IT OVER YOUR HEAD.
DO YOU FEEL LIGHTHEADED?
>> I'M READING YOUR THOUGHTS
RIGHT NOW.
>> Narrator: AND TORY'S THINKING
THAT PYRAMID POWER COULD BE A
LONG WAY OFF.
PERSONAL JETPACKS ARE
EVERYBODY'S DREAM, BUT IS IT
UTOPIA OR COULD JOE SOAP REALLY
BUILD ONE IN HIS GARAGE?
THE MYTHBUSTERS ARE GOING TO
FIND OUT.
THEY'RE ON THE TRAIL OF AN
ULTRALIGHT ENGINE AT
CALIFORNIA POWER SYSTEMS.
>> WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU GUYS?
>> LOOKING FOR A ROTEX 503,
DUAL-CARB.
WE UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE ONE IN
STOCK.
>> YEP.
>> CAN WE HAVE A LOOK AT IT?
>> SURE.
I CAN BRING ONE OUT HERE.
>> Narrator: THIS IS THE ONE
SPECCED IN THE PLANS, BUT MIKE
SUGGESTS A LIGHTER AND MORE
POWERFUL ALTERNATIVE -- THE
WATER-COOLED ROTEX 583.
>> I CAN'T SEE HOW THIS POSSIBLY
COULDN'T PUSH YOU OFF THE
GROUND.
IT HAS THAT MUCH POWER.
>> THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.
>> THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR.
>> Narrator: IT'S NOT THE EXACT
ENGINE SPECIFIED IN THE PLANS,
BUT IT'S CLOSE ENOUGH.
>> ANY REASONABLE PERSON WITH
THE DOUGH WOULD GO FOR THE
ROTEX 583.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST A LOT MORE
POWER FOR JUST ABOUT THE SAME
WEIGHT, ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT
LESS.
AND EVERY POUND COUNTS HERE.
IN THE TRUNK OF THIS CAR IS OUR
CHANCE FOR IMMORTALITY.
>> THAT THING HAS ABOUT AS MUCH
HORSEPOWER AS THIS VAN DOES.
IT'S GONNA BE LIKE STRAPPING AN
AUTOMOBILE ENGINE ON YOUR BACK.
>> LET'S GET BACK TO THE SHOP.
>> LET'S MAKE THIS SUCKER.
>> Narrator: BACK AT M5, THE
BUILD BEGINS.
AND RIGHT FROM THE GET-GO,
JAMIE'S FIRED UP.
>> THIS IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF
PROJECT THAT REALLY MOTIVATES ME
PERSONALLY.
SO I'M GONNA BE LOSING SOME
SLEEP OVER THIS ONE.
STARTING TO LOOK LIKE AN
AIRCRAFT PART.
>> ALL RIGHT, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN.
HERE WE GO.
>> Narrator: WHILE JAMIE WORKS
ON THE MAIN STRUCTURE OF THE
BACKPACK, ADAM STARTS ON THE
COWLINGS.
WITHOUT THEM, THE THRUST
GENERATED BY THE PROPELLERS IS
DISPERSED.
WHEN THE COWLINGS ARE ADDED, THE
THRUST IS CONCENTRATED.
THEY ALSO CREATE SUCTION AROUND
THE TOP EDGE, CAUSING LIFT LIKE
AN AIRPLANE'S WING.
BUT THE DUCTS ONLY WORK IF THE
CLEARANCE BETWEEN PROPELLER TIPS
AND COWLING IS LESS THAN 1/16 OF
AN INCH.
ACCORDING TO THE PLANS, THE
DUCTED FANS SHOULD PROVIDE
500 POUNDS OF THRUST, MORE THAN
ENOUGH TO GET JAMIE AIRBORNE.
ADAM CAREFULLY CUTS THIN LAYERS
OF ROOFING FOAM, WHICH STACK
TOGETHER IGLOO FASHION TO FORM
THE BASIC BODY OF THE COWLING.
>> THIS APPEALS TO BOTH JAMIE
AND I IN A VERY SORT OF DEEP,
DEEP CORE LEVEL OF INTEREST FOR
US.
IT'S EXACTLY THE KIND OF THING
THAT -- ONCE WE DID THE
RESEARCH, WE FOUND OUT THAT NO
ONE'S ACTUALLY REALLY FLOWN ONE
OF THESE THINGS THAT WE CAN
FIND.
IT WOULD BE AMAZING IF WE
ACTUALLY WERE ABLE TO BUILD ONE
TO FLY.
>> Narrator: THE COWLING DESIGN
SEEMS SOLID ENOUGH, BUT JAMIE'S
FINDING THAT THE PLANS FOR THE
MAIN BODY OF THE BACKPACK HAVE
AS MANY HOLES AS THE AVERAGE TEA
BAG.
>> THERE'S STUFF -- THE BASIC
THING THAT'S GOING ON HERE IS
MAYBE NOT THAT WACKY.
BUT WHEN I GET INTO THE DETAILS,
IT'S, LIKE, IDIOTIC.
>> Narrator: THEY CALL FOR THE
90-POUND ENGINE TO BE BOLTED
STRAIGHT ONTO A WAFER-THIN
ALUMINUM SHEET.
>> AND THIS THING'S JUST SOCKED
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS
1/16-INCH SHEET.
AND THE ENGINE'S ON THERE.
>> A 62-HORSEPOWER ENGINE.
>> MOUNTED ON 1/16-INCH
ALUMINUM.
I'M NOT GONNA GET NEAR IT WITH
IT OPERATING.
I MEAN, I'M NOT GONNA -- THERE'S
NO WAY IN HELL I'M GONNA GET IN
THIS THING.
I MEAN --
>> IT'S TERRIFYING.
>> Narrator: THE GUYS HAVE GOT
MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT THE PLANS,
WHICH ARE A COCKTAIL OF THE
GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DOWNRIGHT
UGLY.
>> IT'S, LIKE...FRUSTRATING AND
ALMOST DISGUSTING HOW POOR THESE
PLANS ARE, AND YET, THE STUFF
THAT HE'S KIND OF COMING UP WITH
ISN'T ALL THAT BAD.
>> WHILE AT FIRST GLANCE THEY
SEEM EASILY LIKE THE WORK OF A
CRAZY PERSON, IT ALL SEEMS, I
MEAN, SORT OF CRAZILY PLAUSIBLE
THAT IT COULD FLY, BUT AGAIN,
THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS.
>> Narrator: IN THE INTERESTS OF
SAFETY, JAMIE ADDS A PLATE TO
STRENGTHEN THE ENGINE MOUNTS.
THEN HE BLOCKS OUT THE BASIC
STRUCTURE OF THE BACKPACK.
>> LOOKS LIKE IT OUGHT TO MAKE
SENSE.
>> Narrator: THE PROPELLERS
ARRIVE, SPECIALLY MADE BY A
HOVERCRAFT MANUFACTURER.
>> HARD TO IMAGINE [LAUGHS]
THESE TWO PICKING YOU UP OFF THE
GROUND, HUH?
GONNA BE LIKE...
[ CHUCKLES ]
I THINK THAT'S ABOUT WHAT IT IS.
>> YEAH.
>> OKAY, WELL, ONWARD AND
UPWARD.
>> Narrator: DESPITE THEIR
MISGIVINGS, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY
A CASE OF PIGS MIGHT FLY.
>> BASED ON THE INITIAL
NUMBER-CRUNCHING THAT I'VE DONE,
THIS THING COULD ACTUALLY FLY,
AND, YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT WE
HAVEN'T ACTUALLY SEEN ANYBODY
FLYING WITH IT IS SORT OF LIKE,
"WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?
ARE WE GONNA, LIKE, BE THE FIRST
ONES?"
>> Narrator: THE BUILD TEAM IS
TESTING THE MYTH THAT PYRAMIDS
HAVE STRANGE POWERS OF
PRESERVATION.
THEY'LL BUILD FOUR SCALE MODELS
IN WHICH THEY'LL PLACE SOME
MILK, HALF AN APPLE, HALF A
RAZOR, AND HALF A FLOWER.
THE OTHER HALVES, THE CONTROLS,
WILL SIT OUTSIDE THE PYRAMIDS.
ACCORDING TO THE MYTH, THEIR
MODELS MUST HAVE PYRAMID-PERFECT
DIMENSIONS TO ENSURE ANY COSMIC
POWER IS CRANKED UP TO THE MAX.
>> HEY, TORY, IT IS GONNA BE A
GOLDEN PYRAMID.
>> Narrator: AND APPARENTLY FOR
THE SHARPEST RAZORS AND FRESHEST
FRUIT, THE PYRAMIDS MUST ALIGN
WITH MAGNETIC NORTH.
THE BUILD TEAM REALLY IS DOING
ALL THEY CAN TO TEST THIS LOOPY
LEGEND.
>> SHOULD WE CUT THESE FLOWERS
OFF, PUT ONE IN AND ONE OUT?
>> ACTUALLY, WE'RE GONNA TAKE
ONE OF THE FLOWERS, AND WE'RE
GONNA SLICE IT IN HALF.
>> Narrator: KARI SLICES A ROSE
WITH A RAZOR, WHILE TORY GOES
OVERBOARD ON AN APPLE WITH A
CHOP SAW.
IT'S A CLEAN CUT...
>> PERFECT!
>> Narrator: ...WITH A DIRTY
BLADE.
HARDLY A LABORATORY DISSECTION.
KARI ALSO SETS UP THE MILK FOR
THE PRESERVATION TEST BEFORE
MOVING ON TO SOMETHING SHARPER.
>> I AM DULLING THIS RAZOR SO I
CAN STICK IT INTO THE PYRAMID
AND SHARPEN IT.
>> Narrator: THE TEAM PLACES ONE
HALF OF EACH ITEM INSIDE THE
PYRAMIDS 1/3 OF THE WAY UP.
THAT'S THE LOCATION OF THE
KING'S BURIAL CHAMBER IN THE
REAL THING AND SUPPOSEDLY THE
LOCUS OF MAXIMUM POWER.
NOW LET THE ROTTING COMMENCE.
BUT FIRST ANOTHER SLIGHTLY MORE
INVOLVED EXPERIMENT.
>> WELL, WE'RE GONNA GET TORY
ALL SHAVED UP WITH A RAZOR
DESIGNATED FOR EACH SIDE OF HIS
FACE, AND WE'RE GONNA STICK ONE
OF THESE INSIDE THE PYRAMID TO
SEE IF POSSIBLY IT GETS SHARPER
OR GIVES HIM A CLEANER SHAVE ON
A DAILY BASIS.
>> Narrator: SO, FOR THE NEXT
TWO WEEKS, TORY'S GOING TO BE
SHAVING FOR SCIENCE.
>> ALL RIGHT, SO I'VE SHAVEN
ABOUT THE SAME ON EACH SIDE.
THEY'RE ABOUT THE SAME DULLNESS.
SO WE'RE GONNA STICK THIS ONE IN
THE PYRAMID, THIS ONE OUTSIDE OF
THE PYRAMID, SEE IF THIS ONE
GETS ANY SHARPER.
>> Narrator: LIKE EVERYTHING
ELSE, THEY'RE ALIGNED TO
MAGNETIC NORTH AND BOOSTED IN
HEIGHT.
NOW THE WAITING BEGINS.
>> FOR THE SAKE OF SCIENCE, KEEP
AN OPEN MIND.
>> MM-HMM.
>> Narrator: IT'S ONE WEEK INTO
THE JETPACK ASSEMBLY.
>> THEN YOU CRASH?
>> YEAH, I'LL SHOW YOU.
>> LET'S CRASH INTO THAT CLIFF.
>> NO, NO, NO.
WE'RE GONNA GO FOR THE BALLOON.
>> [ LAUGHING ]
>> Narrator: ADAM AND JAMIE ARE
PAYING A VISIT TO THE HILLER
AVIATION MUSEUM TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT PERSONAL FLYING MACHINES.
AND WHO BETTER TO GUIDE THEM
AROUND THAN A MAN NAMED AFTER A
COMPASS?
>> MY NAME IS NORTH EAST WEST --
N-O-R-T-H E-A-S-T W-E-S-T --
AND I'M DIRECTOR AT THE GALLERY
AT THE HILLER AVIATION MUSEUM.
>> Narrator: SO, LIKE, WHAT
HAPPENED TO SOUTH?
THIS IS THE GRANDDADDY OF
JETPACKS, THE HILLER PLATFORM,
NAMED AFTER ITS INVENTOR,
STANLEY HILLER, AND FUNDED BY
THE OFFICE OF NAVAL RESEARCH.
>> IS THIS ONE OF THE EARLIEST
DUCTED-FAN DESIGNS?
>> THIS IS THE EARLIEST DUCTED
FAN.
THIS IS THE FIRST DUCTED FAN
THAT EVER LIFTED A MAN.
>> REALLY?
>> YES.
>> Narrator: THE HILLER PLATFORM
WAS MORE MAGIC CARPET THAN
JETPACK, WITH THE PILOT STANDING
ABOVE A SINGLE LARGE DUCTED FAN.
THE INAUGURAL FLIGHT TOOK PLACE
IN STRICT SECRECY IN
JANUARY 1955.
BUT WHEN THE MILITARY WENT
PUBLIC LATER THAT YEAR, THE
WHOLE WORLD WANTED ONE.
>> I'D LOVE ONE OF THESE AT
HOME.
[ LAUGHS ]
>> WELL, THE DEVELOPMENT COSTS
ON THIS BACK IN THE EARLY '50s
WAS STILL ABOUT A HALF A MILLION
DOLLARS.
SO IT'S ANOTHER REASON WE DON'T
ALL HAVE ONE SITTING AT HOME.
I THINK SAFETY, MORE THAN
ANYTHING.
>> AND WE'RE GONNA BUILD ONE FOR
A COUPLE GRAND.
>> YEAH. [ LAUGHS ]
>> Narrator: EVEN THOUGH THE
PLATFORM FLEW, THE MILITARY SAW
IT AS UNSAFE, AND ABANDONED THE
PROJECT.
ONLY SEVEN VEHICLES WERE EVER
BUILT, BUT THE PRINCIPLE OF
DUCTED-FAN-POWERED FLIGHT WAS
OFF THE GROUND.
THIS SOLOTREK DEVICE, DEVELOPED
IN THE 1990s, LOOKS ALMOST
FAMILIAR.
>> JAMIE, WE DON'T NEED TO BUILD
ONE OF THESE.
WE ALREADY FOUND ONE.
>> Narrator: LIKE THEIR
WORK-IN-PROGRESS, THE SOLOTREK
IS POWERED BY A PAIR OF DUCTED
FANS DRIVEN BY A GAS ENGINE.
>> IT'S AMAZING TO SEE IT HERE
BECAUSE, I MEAN, YOU CAN JUST
SEE THE HAND-BUILT ASPECT OF IT,
YOU KNOW.
ONCE YOU START TO REALLY SEE THE
PARTS UP CLOSE, IT'S REALLY
APPARENT THAT HUMANS BUILT IT.
I LOVE THAT ASPECT.
>> Narrator: THIS PROTOTYPE
NEVER FLEW, BUT WITH MILITARY
BACKING, ITS OFFSPRING WERE MORE
SUCCESSFUL.
>> [ IMITATING ROCKET ENGINE ]
>> Narrator: A HOLLYWOOD VERSION
OF THE SOLOTREK DEVICE FLEW INTO
ACTION IN THE MOVIE
"AGENT CODY BANKS," BUT IT ONLY
SOARED WITH THE HELP OF SPECIAL
EFFECTS.
IN REALITY, THIS SORT OF
PERFORMANCE IS A LONG WAY OFF.
THIS IS THE REAL THING ON ITS
MAIDEN FLIGHT IN NOVEMBER 2003.
IT TOOK 7 YEARS AND $10 MILLION
JUST TO GET THIS FAR.
SO WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE THE
HOME BUILDER?
>> NORTH, HAVE YOU HEARD THE
MYTH OR IDEA THAT YOU COULD
ACTUALLY BUY PLANS, REALLY
SIMPLE PLANS, ACTUALLY, FOR
SOMETHING QUITE LIKE THE
SOLOTREK HERE AND BUILD IT
YOURSELF?
>> I HAVE A WHOLE DRAWER FULL OF
THEM.
>> REALLY?
>> YES. [ LAUGHS ]
>> WELL, DO YOU KNOW OF ANYBODY
THAT'S ACTUALLY FOLLOWED THROUGH
AND BUILT THE THINGS?
>> NOT WITH A VEHICLE LIKE THIS.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE
THIS TYPE OF LIFTING VEHICLE
EXCEPT FOR THE SOLOTREK.
>> Narrator: ADAM AND JAMIE
LEAVE THE MUSEUM WITH MIXED
EMOTIONS.
THEY'VE LEARNED THAT DUCTED-FAN
DEVICES CAN FLY, BUT ONLY JUST.
THE PROJECT HANGS IN THE
BALANCE.
>> [ IMITATING JETPACK ]
>> Narrator: THE MYTHBUSTERS
HAVE JUST THREE WEEKS LEFT TO
BUILD A JETPACK FROM PLANS
PURCHASED OFF THE INTERNET, BUT
THE MORE TIME PASSES, THE LESS
CONFIDENT THEY ARE ABOUT GETTING
AIRBORNE.
>> I'D SAY 15% CHANCE OF SOMEONE
LEVITATING IN ANY WAY, WHICH IS
ACTUALLY PRETTY HIGH, BUT AGAIN,
THE MATH IS ALL THERE.
IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'M GONNA LOWER THAT.
I'D SAY 5% CHANCE THAT SOMEONE
FLIES, 80% CHANCE THAT THIS
THING MAKES A HELL OF A RACKET,
AND 15% CHANCE THAT THERE'S SOME
HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE DISASTER WITH
IT.
>> Narrator: MEANWHILE,
CHRISTMAS HAS COME EARLY FOR
JAMIE.
>> WELL, THIS IS A GREAT, LITTLE
ENGINE, BUT WE HAD A FAN OFFER
US ANOTHER ENGINE THAT'S A
LITTLE LIGHTER, AND YET IT HAS
THE SAME POWER.
I'M ALL ABOUT HAVING A LIGHTER
ENGINE, AND SO WE'RE GONNA
RETURN THIS.
>> Narrator: JAMIE'S ALSO
DECIDED THAT HE NEEDS TO MAKE A
MAJOR CHANGE TO THE PLANS.
>> HAVING BEEN TO THE HILLER
AVIATION MUSEUM, THERE'S ONE
CONSISTENT THEME THAT KEEPS
COMING UP, AND THAT IS THAT
THESE DEVICES HAVE STABILITY
PROBLEMS.
IN SHORT OF DOING SOMETHING
REALLY COMPLICATED AND
EXPENSIVE, AN IDEA THAT I HAD
WAS TO MOVE THE ENGINE DOWN LOW.
>> Narrator: BY LOWERING THE
ENGINE AND ELONGATING THE
BACKPACK, JAMIE HOPES TO GAIN
EXTRA STABILITY IF HE CAN GET
AIRBORNE.
HE CAN'T AFFORD A
GYROSTABILIZER, BUT FOCUSING THE
WEIGHT LOWER DOWN IS THE
NEXT-BEST THING.
DESPITE THE NEW ENGINE, THE NEW
DESIGN MEANS A HEAVIER MACHINE,
BUT JAMIE DOESN'T SEEM
CONCERNED.
>> IT'S GONNA BE FUN.
>> Narrator: DAY 10, AND ADAM
CHECKS HIS COWLINGS, WHICH HE'S
LEFT TO SET OVERNIGHT.
>> THERE WE GO -- ONE COWLING.
I'M QUITE PLEASED WITH IT.
THIS THING'S GONNA BE MOUNTED --
ONE HERE AND ONE HERE.
[ LAUGHS ]
I'M READY TO GO, MAN!
>> Narrator: HE'S BUILT A
TURNTABLE SO HE CAN LATHE THE
FOAM COWLINGS INTO A DUCTED FAN
SHAPE WITH MAXIMUM PRECISION.
>> SO, IT ACTUALLY SEEMS TO WORK
OKAY.
IT LEADS ME TO UNDERSTAND THAT
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO
FINISH THIS.
>> Narrator: SEVERAL HOURS
LATER, ADAM'S FEELING DOWN --
YOU KNOW, BLUE.
>> THIS IS AWFUL.
THE HARD PART ABOUT DOING TWO IS
THAT ONCE YOU FINISH ONE, YOU'RE
ONLY HALFWAY THERE.
>> Narrator: EACH COWLING TAKES
ADAM EIGHT HOURS OF SOLID
SANDING AND SHAPING.
THE CLOCK IS TICKING, BUT ON
BALANCE, HE'S PLEASED.
>> ALL TOLD, ANY AVERAGE JOE
COULD DO THIS IN THEIR SHOP FOR
ABOUT, LIKE, YOU KNOW, 75 BUCKS
WORTH OF MATERIAL.
AND THAT'S KIND OF THE MYTH
WE'RE TESTING HERE, YOU KNOW.
CAN YOUR AVERAGE JOE DO THIS?
>> Narrator: JAMIE'S BEEN MAKING
GOOD PROGRESS ON HIS BACKPACK
EXTENSION.
HE'S LOWERED THE ENGINE AND
FITTED THE ELONGATED DRIVE
SHAFT.
>> PERFECT.
>> Narrator: RIGHT ON CUE, THE
JETPACK'S DRIVE SYSTEM ARRIVES.
>> WHAT WE HAVE HERE ARE THE
PULLEYS THAT WILL BE MOUNTED
ONTO EACH PROPELLER.
THIS WOULD BE A DRIVE BELT, AND
EACH PROPELLER HAS ONE OF THESE
THAT GOES FROM ITS HUB TO THE
CENTRAL HUB ON THE ENGINE.
AND THIS WOULD BE THE CENTRAL
HUB.
>> Narrator: WHILE JAMIE
INSTALLS THE POWER
TRANSMISSION...
>> EARLY GO-GO DANCING TRAINING.
>> Narrator: ...ADAM IS PSYCHING
HIMSELF UP FOR THE NEXT STAGE OF
COWLING CONSTRUCTION --
VACUUM BAGGING.
>> I'M ACTUALLY A BIT NERVOUS.
>> Narrator: IT'S AN
AERONAUTICAL FIBERGLASSING
TECHNIQUE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE
MAXIMUM STRENGTH WITH MINIMUM
WEIGHT.
FIRST A LAYER OF KEVLAR.
IT'S THE MATERIAL USED IN
BULLETPROOF VESTS.
>> IT WON'T ADD MUCH WEIGHT, BUT
IT'LL ADD A LOT OF STRENGTH IN
CASE OF A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE.
>> Narrator: HE COVERS THE
ENTIRE FOAM COWLING WITH STRIPS
OF CARBON FIBER WHICH HE COATS
IN RESIN.
>> EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT,
EXCELLENT.
I'M VERY PLEASED.
>> Narrator: THEN A LAYER OF
PEEL PLY.
>> MY BACK IS KILLING ME,
THOUGH.
IT'S LIKE A REAL WORKOUT --
MOVING AROUND, BENDING OVER,
TURNING AROUND, DOING THIS.
>> Narrator: FINALLY, ABSORBENT
CLOTH TO SOAK UP THE EXCESS
RESIN.
>> GOD, I HOPE THIS WORKS.
>> Narrator: THE BAG IS PLACED
AROUND THE COWLING, AND ADAM
CONNECTS THE VACUUM PUMP.
THE PRESSURE SQUEEZES THE RESIN
INTO ANY AIR POCKETS, PROVIDING,
POUND-FOR-POUND, THE STRONGEST
POSSIBLE FINISH.
AND FINALLY, THE PIèCE DE
RéSISTANCE, AN IMPROMPTU OVEN
IN THE FORM OF AN ELECTRIC
BLANKET.
>> AND THAT'S HOW YOU DO IT!
[ LAUGHS ]
>> Narrator: ADAM LEAVES THE
COWLING TO BAKE OVERNIGHT AND
HEADS BACK TO THE BACKPACK WHERE
JAMIE'S READY FOR A BALANCE
TEST.
>> I THINK WE'RE READY TO SEE
HOW IT HANGS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> CAN THESE BE CINCHED UP
TIGHTER?
>> I'M UNCOMFORTABLE WITH ALL
THIS CONTACT WITH YOUR GROIN.
CONTACT.
>> Narrator: LOWERING THE ENGINE
SEEMS TO HAVE PAID OFF.
>> IT ACTUALLY KIND OF CAME OUT
LIKE I'D HOPED.
THE ENGINE IS BALANCING OFF THE
BODY WEIGHT IN THE FRONT AND THE
WAY THAT IT'S ALL KIND OF
CONFIGURED WHICH IS, HONESTLY,
NOT TOO FAR DIFFERENT THAN WHAT
THE ORIGINAL PLANS WERE.
>> ALL RIGHT, ARE YOU GUYS READY
FOR A BREAK?
LET'S GO.
>> CATCH YOU LATER, JAMIE.
>> BYE, JAMIE.
SEE YOU AROUND.
>> Narrator: ADAM SPLITS TO
UNWRAP HIS COWLINGS, AND HE
SEEMS, WELL, PLEASED.
>> THAT OUTSIDE EDGE LOOKS
PRETTY GOOD.
OH, OH.
I'M REALLY PLEASED ABOUT THIS.
YOU KNOW WHAT, JAMIE?
I'M KIND OF PLEASED.
>> Narrator: YEP, HE'S PLEASED.
>> I AM PSYCHED.
>> Narrator: A FINAL LAYER OF
EPOXY GIVES A PLEASING FINISH.
>> I'M PRETTY BLOODY PLEASED
WITH HOW SMOOTH IT IS.
I SLEPT IN THEM LAST NIGHT.
SO I MIGHT LOOK A LITTLE
PLEASED.
>> Narrator: THERE'S JUST 10
DAYS LEFT, BUT WHEN THE FIRST
COWLING GOES ON, SO DOES THE
LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
HOLD ON, I WANT TO STAND BACK
AND LOOK AT THIS.
***.
>> [ CHUCKLING ]
"HONEY, I'M HOME."
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
RRRR.
>> Narrator: JUST IN TIME FOR
SOME IMPORTANT VISITORS --
INSPECTORS FROM THE FEDERAL
AVIATION AUTHORITY -- THE FAA.
>> THANKS FOR COMING DOWN, GUYS.
>> Narrator: THEY'RE HERE ON
OFFICIAL DUTY -- TO CLASSIFY THE
JETPACK.
UNOFFICIALLY, THEY'RE JUST PLAIN
CURIOUS.
>> SO, WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?
HOW AIRWORTHY DOES IT LOOK TO
YOU?
>> [ Chuckling ] IT'S LIKE NO
AIRCRAFT I'VE EVER SEEN.
>> WOULD YOU GUYS FLY IT?
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> YOU KNOW, ALTHOUGH WE HAVEN'T
BEEN ABLE TO GET THEM ON THE
PHONE, DO YOU HAVE A MESSAGE FOR
THE GUYS WHO SELL THESE PLANS?
>> I'M JUST CONCERNED FOR YOUR
SAFETY.
REALLY, IF YOU WERE GONNA
ACTUALLY FLY THIS AROUND, JUST
BECAUSE IT'S JUST SO UNPROVEN.
>> Narrator: THAT'S THE BAD
NEWS.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE
JETPACK GETS AN ULTRALIGHT
CLASSIFICATION, WHICH MEANS A
GREEN LIGHT FOR AN UNREGULATED
TEST FLIGHT.
>> THE VERDICT WAS GREAT.
THIS LOOPHOLE OCCURS WHERE, IF
IT'S UNDER A CERTAIN WEIGHT, YOU
CAN STRAP WHATEVER YOU WANT TO
YOUR BACK AND FLY IT AS LONG AS
YOU FLY IT OUT OF THEIR AIRSPACE
THAT THEY CARE ABOUT AND AS LONG
AS YOU DON'T HURT ANY OTHER
PEOPLE.
>> Narrator: THE FINAL WEEK OF
CONSTRUCTION IS A MAD RUSH TO
FINISH ON TIME.
>> WHAT A RACKET!
[ WHIRRING ]
>> Narrator: THE COWLINGS ARE
SECURED IN PLACE.
AND DIRECTIONAL VANES ARE
ATTACHED.
JAMIE MAKES ANOTHER CHANGE TO
THE PLANS BY ADDING
REINFORCEMENT STRUTS TO SUPPORT
THE DUCTED FANS.
FINALLY, HE INSTALLS THE
ARMRESTS, JOYSTICKS, AND
THROTTLE CONTROL.
AS THE CLOCK RUNS DOWN, THE
STRESS LEVELS GO UP.
>> THIS IS THE EXPRESSION I'M
GONNA KEEP ON MAKING DURING
THIS -- UGH -- THAT -- UGH.
>> Narrator: EXACTLY FOUR WEEKS
AFTER THEY STARTED THE BUILD,
THEY ROLL OUT THE JETPACK TO THE
TEST SITE -- AT THE FRONT OF THE
SHOP.
>> DAMN, THIS IS A SEXY MACHINE!
>> Narrator: IT'S BEEN A MONTH
OF MOVING MOUNTAINS.
HAVE THE MYTHBUSTERS PULLED OFF
A MIRACLE OF AMATEUR
AERONAUTICS, OR IS THIS JETPACK
A DEAD DUCK?
>> WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON SO MANY
PARTS OF THIS FOR A COMBINED
TOTAL OF FOUR WEEKS NOW.
IT'S THE LONGEST BUILD WE'VE
EVER DONE ON "MYTHBUSTERS."
AND I'M REALLY, REALLY PSYCHED
TO SEE IT GO.
I'M A LITTLE SCARED, BUT MOSTLY
I'M COMPLETELY PSYCHED.
I MEAN, EVEN IF THIS THING'S A
MISERABLE FAILURE, I'M TICKLED
PINK.
>> [ YAWNS ]
>> [ YAWNS ]
>> Narrator: THE BUILD TEAM ARE
TESTING WHETHER PYRAMIDS HAVE
MYSTICAL POWERS.
CAN THEY REALLY KEEP FRUIT FRESH
AND RAZORS SHARP?
WHILE THEY WAIT FOR THINGS TO
ROT, OR NOT, TORY'S OFF TO THE
BARBER'S.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> [ Laughing ] OH, THIS IS NOT
COOL.
>> DO YOU THINK IT'S ME OR THE
RAZOR?
>> HMM, I DON'T KNOW.
>> [ LAUGHS ] OKAY.
I THINK WE'RE DONE ON THAT SIDE.
>> Narrator: PYRAMID SIDE DONE,
BUT THE TORTURE CONTINUES WITH
THE CONTROL.
SO, WAS THERE A DIFFERENCE?
>> THE LEFT SIDE DEFINITELY FELT
DULLER THAN THE RIGHT SIDE.
I'M JUST GLAD THIS WHOLE
EXPERIENCE IS OVER.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> Narrator: THE LEFT SIDE WAS
DULLER?
WELL, MAYBE THERE IS SOMETHING
TO PYRAMID POWER, AFTER ALL.
LET'S CHECK UP ON THE REST.
>> SOMETHING ABOUT ROTTING MILK
AND ROTTING APPLE THAT JUST
GROSSES ME OUT.
>> Narrator: THE MILK'S TURNING
TO CHEESE, BUT THAT'S NOT ALL
THAT'S HAPPENING.
>> THE APPLE IN THIS ONE IS
ACTUALLY ROTTING AT A SLOWER
RATE THAN THAT ONE.
>> I KNOW.
FEEL THE POWER, MAN.
>> I DON'T KNOW.
I'M SO BUMMED.
THIS OOGIE-BOOGIE STUFF IS
ACTUALLY WORKING.
>> Narrator: LIKE IT OR NOT, THE
APPLES ARE ROTTING AT DIFFERENT
RATES.
IS THIS PYRAMID POWER AT WORK,
OR HAS THE APPLE EXPERIMENT GONE
A PEAR-SHAPED?
TIME TO CONSULT AN EGYPTOLOGIST.
>> WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE
POWER OF THE PYRAMID?
>> WELL, THE MYTH IS THAT THE
SHAPE ITSELF WAS PART OF THE
PROCESS OF PRESERVING THE BODY
OF THE KING.
AND BY EXTENSION, I SUPPOSE
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT
IT PRESERVES JUST ABOUT ANYTHING
PLACED INSIDE OF IT.
AS FAR AS IN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN
THINKING, THERE'S NO EVIDENCE
THAT THEY THOUGHT ABOUT THAT AT
ALL.
>> Narrator: COULD THE MUMMY'S
CURSE SPELL THE END FOR PYRAMID
POWER?
DR. MANNING RECKONS THAT IT'S
MUMMIFICATION THAT PRESERVED THE
BODIES OF EGYPTIAN KINGS, NOT
THE SHAPE AT ALL.
SO, HOW'S THE APPLE GETTING ON?
>> WELL, IT'S BEEN 15 DAYS.
>> THIS ONE IS DEFINITELY
ROTTING AT A SLOWER RATE THAN
THIS ONE.
>> Narrator: THE PYRAMID APPLE
DEFIES LOGIC.
IT'S KEPT ITS COLOR, ITS SHAPE,
AND IT'S MOLD-FREE.
>> THE FLOWERS SEEM TO BE DOING
THE SAME THING.
THEY'RE BOTH DRIED OUT.
THERE'S NO REAL DIFFERENCE.
I DON'T SEE ANY DIFFERENCE.
>> Narrator: AND HOW ABOUT THE
MILK?
>> [ Chuckling ] OH, MY GOD!
THERE'S, LIKE, LITTLE CRITTERS.
[ LAUGHS ]
THERE'S LITTLE CRITTERS CRAWLING
AROUND IN THERE.
UGH.
>> IS THERE ANY IN THOSE?
>> YEAH, THEY'RE LITTLE MAGGOTS.
>> Narrator: MILK MAGGOTS ARE
MOTHER NATURE'S USE-BY DATE, BUT
RAZOR BLADES CAN BE TESTED WITH
TECHNOLOGY.
>> WE'VE BROUGHT OUR RAZOR
BLADES HERE TO THE CALIFORNIA
ACADEMY OF SCIENCES TO SEE IF WE
CAN PUT THEM UNDER THE
ELECTRON MICROSCOPE, SEE IF THE
PYRAMID HAS HAD ANY EFFECT ON
THEM.
HI, SCOTT.
>> HI.
>> KARI.
I'M WITH THE MYTHBUSTERS.
>> GLAD TO MEET YOU.
>> Narrator: SCOTT'S A GURU OF
THE ELECTRON MICROSCOPE.
FIRST, THE CONTROL RAZOR AT
2,500 TIMES MAGNIFICATION.
>> IT'S JUST HARD TO BELIEVE
THAT THIS LITTLE FOREST RIGHT
HERE IS THE EDGE OF RAZOR BLADE.
>> Narrator: THE ROUGHNESS MEANS
THE RAZOR'S EDGE IS BLUNT.
SO WHAT ABOUT THE PYRAMID RAZOR?
>> THEY LOOK PRETTY MUCH
IDENTICAL TO ME.
>> Narrator: SIDE BY SIDE,
PHOTOS SHOW HOW SIMILAR THEY
ARE.
AT THREE MAGNIFICATIONS, THEY'RE
ALMOST IDENTICAL.
AND THEY'RE BOTH DIFFERENT FROM
A BRAND-NEW BLADE.
SO PYRAMID-POWER SHARPENING
SEEMS PRETTY INEFFECTUAL.
WOULD TORY AGREE?
>> ALL RIGHT, SO THIS IS
DAY 16 -- THE LAST DAY OF OUR
EXPERIMENT.
>> YOU READY?
>> I'M READY.
>> Narrator: FIRST UP, THE
CONTROL RAZOR.
>> OW.
THIS IS NOT VERY SHARP AT ALL.
>> IT'S ACTUALLY KIND OF HARD TO
WATCH.
>> Narrator: IT'S AS BLUNT AS A
BOWL OF PUDDING.
>> YOU WANT TO GO FOR THE
PYRAMID?
>> YEAH. HOPEFULLY, THAT WILL BE
SHARP.
>> [ CHUCKLES ]
I HOPE, FOR YOUR SAKE, PYRAMID
POWER WORKS.
>> WHY?
I THOUGHT YOU ENJOYED SEEING ME
IN PAIN.
>> OF COURSE NOT.
HOW'S THAT FEEL?
>> THIS IS, LIKE, NO BETTER THAN
THE OTHER ONE.
IT'S JUST AS DULL.
IT'S LIKE PULLING HAIRS OUT OF
MY FACE.
>> OHHH!
>> [ CHUCKLES ]
>> OW! UGH! UGH.
UGHH.
IT SUCKS.
THIS THING IS NOT SHARP AT ALL.
I NEED A REAL RAZOR.
>> Narrator: TORY EXITS FOR
MEDICAL HELP.
>> AW, MAN, I'M SURE GLAD THAT
THIS MYTH IS OVER.
>> ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?
>> DOES IT LOOK LIKE I'M ALL
RIGHT?
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS
PART OF THE MYTH IS TOTALLY
BUSTED.
>> I THINK YOUR FACE IS BUSTED.
>> Narrator: BUT HIS MOJO IS
STILL WORKING.
>> BABY, GIVE US A KISS.
>> AAH! [ LAUGHS ]
>> YOU DON'T FIND ME HOT LIKE
THIS?
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
>> YOU LOOK LIKE HELL.
>> Narrator: THE MYTHBUSTERS'
QUEST TO BUILD A FLYING JETPACK
HAS TAKEN THEM TO DAVIS,
CALIFORNIA, HOME OF THE
MOLLER SKYCAR...
>> OH, MAN, I WANT -- I HAVE TO
HAVE ONE OF THESE.
LOOK, IT COULD FIT MY KIDS IN
HERE, TOO.
>> Narrator: ...WHERE
DR. PAUL MOLLER HAS SPENT HALF A
CENTURY AND $200 MILLION TRYING
TO DEVELOP A FLYING CAR.
ACCORDING TO MOLLER, THIS IS THE
FUTURE.
>> IS THIS SOMETHING THAT I'D BE
ABLE TO PURCHASE EVENTUALLY AND,
LIKE, FLY IT IN SAN FRANCISCO
TO MY JOB?
>> WELL, I BELIEVE, AS
DR. DANIEL GOLDIN, THE EX-HEAD
OF NASA, THAT THIS VEHICLE WILL
BE IN THE HANDS OF 25% OF THE
POPULATION WITHIN 10 YEARS.
HE WENT ON FURTHER AND HE SAID
IT BE WITHIN 90% OF THE
POPULATION WITHIN 25 YEARS.
>> Narrator: IF HE'S RIGHT,
IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE
WE'RE FLYING TO WORK LIKE
GEORGE JETSON.
FOR DECADES, INVENTORS HAVE BEEN
PROMISING AIR VEHICLES, BUT THE
HARD FACT IS, THEY'RE STILL
SCIENCE FICTION.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK -- THIS IS
ALL A HOAX OR WHAT?
>> [ LAUGHS ]
WELL, I THINK THIS IS COOL.
WE NEED THESE THINGS.
UNLESS WE WANT TO PAVE THE WHOLE
PLANET AND PUT ROADS EVERYWHERE,
IT'S, LIKE, THE HIGHWAYS ARE
GETTING TOO FULL.
WHAT ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO DO?
>> Narrator: BUILD YOUR OWN
JETPACK, OF COURSE.
IN JUST ONE MONTH, ADAM AND
JAMIE HAVE BUILT THEIR OWN FROM
PLANS PURCHASED ON THE INTERNET.
NOW THE MOMENT OF TRUTH HAS
ARRIVED.
>> I'D GIVE THIS DEVICE ABOUT A
25% CHANCE OF ACTUALLY WORKING
REASONABLY WELL.
THE OTHER 75% CHANCE, I WOULD
SAY, IS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE.
AND THERE IS 100% CHANCE THAT I
AM NOT GOING TO BE FLYING AROUND
UNTETHERED ON THIS THING.
>> Narrator: THE JETPACK REMAINS
POTENTIALLY DEADLY, SO, UH,
BUSTER STEPS UP TO THE PLATE.
MEANWHILE, ADAM'S HAVING AN
ATTACK OF THE CLEAR LIGHT OF
DAYS.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT ILLUSIONS
JAMIE MIGHT BE UNDER.
I'VE BEEN PRETTY CLEAR ALL ALONG
THAT THIS THING HAS A VERY, VERY
TINY CHANCE OF ACTUALLY
FUNCTIONING.
I GIVE IT 10% THAT IT ACTUALLY
IS -- 10% IF I'M BEING REALLY
GENEROUS -- LET'S SAY, 2% THAT
IT'S A VIABLE FLYING MACHINE.
>> Narrator: SO THE CLEVER MONEY
IS ON GRAVITY.
WITH CATASTROPHIC FAILURE ALWAYS
AN OPTION ON "MYTHBUSTERS," THE
GUYS TAKE THE USUAL PRECAUTIONS.
>> NOW IT'S TIME TO SEE IF
BUSTER CAN ACTUALLY, UH, RISE UP
IN THIS THING.
THIS IS THE FIRST OFFICIAL
FLYING TEST OF THE, UH, OF THE
WIDOW-MAKER.
ALL RIGHT, START IT UP WHEN
YOU'RE READY, JAMIE.
>> OKAY, GO AHEAD.
>> Narrator: BUSTER'S WIFE
SHOULD BE CHECKING HIS LIFE
INSURANCE RIGHT ABOUT NOW.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
>> IT'S GONNA SPIN UP PROBABLY
TO ABOUT 4,500 RPM, AND JAMIE'S
JUST CHECKING THE SYSTEM OUT TO
SEE IF ANYTHING IS ABNORMALLY
HOT.
>> Narrator: EVERYTHING LOOKS
COOL, SO JAMIE OPENS THE
THROTTLE.
IT'S ALL SYSTEMS GO.
COUNTDOWN BEGINS.
THE WIDOW-MAKER DANCES ON THE
LAUNCHPAD -- A TANTALIZING SIGN
OF LIFT.
BUT TAKEOFF IS ABORTED.
JAMIE THINKS THE FUEL MIXTURE
MAY BE TOO RICH.
>> I'M GETTING, UH, MY EYES ARE
REALLY STINGING, AND WE WEREN'T
REACHING FULL RPM.
I THINK THERE'S A THROTTLE -- A
HIGH-SPEED THROTTLE NEEDLE ON
IT THAT NEEDS AN ADJUSTMENT.
>> Narrator: THE ENGINE IS NOT
REACHING ITS POWER BAND, SO THEY
DO SOME FINE-TUNING, ADJUST THE
THROTTLE CABLE, AND PRIME THE
CARBURETORS FOR ANOTHER SHOT AT
IMMORTALITY.
THE POWER OF ANCIENT EGYPT --
THE BUILD TEAM HAVE BEEN TRYING
TO HARNESS THE MYSTICAL FORCE OF
THE PYRAMIDS AND HAVE UNEARTHED
A BIT OF A SURPRISE.
>> ALL RIGHT, GUYS, YOU'VE BEEN
TESTING FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS
NOW.
I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT HOW SOME
OF THESE TESTS DID.
THE MILK?
>> [ LAUGHS ] BUSTED.
>> LET'S SEE. THE RAZOR BLADE?
>> THAT WAS BUSTED.
>> AND THE FLOWER?
>> BUSTED.
YOU COULDN'T TELL ANY
DIFFERENCE.
>> THE APPLE?
>> WELL...THERE WAS A LITTLE
DIFFERENCE.
>> REALLY?
>> IT SEEMED THAT THE ONE INSIDE
THE PYRAMID ROTTED AT A MUCH
SLOWER RATE.
>> Narrator: THERE'S NO GETTING
AWAY FROM IT.
THE PYRAMID APPLE ISN'T EXACTLY
CRISP AND JUICY, BUT IT'S NOT AS
SHRIVELED AS THE CONTROL.
BUT THERE MAY BE A NON-MYSTICAL
EXPLANATION.
TORY FORGOT TO STERILIZE THE
BLADE OF THE CHOP SAW WHEN HE
SPLIT THE APPLE, AND MAY HAVE
GIVEN THE TWO HALVES DIFFERENT
MICROBIAL LOADS.
SO THERE'S GOT TO BE ONE LAST
TEST.
THIS TIME WITH WHOLE APPLES TO
AVOID CONTAMINATION.
THEY'RE POLISHED WITH BLEACH,
THEN PUT UNDER A U.V. LIGHT.
A WMD FOR MICROBES.
AND IN A FIT OF GEOMETRICAL
ENTHUSIASM, THEY DECIDE TO TEST
CUBE POWER, TOO.
>> IF THERE'S ANYTHING TO
PYRAMID POWER, THIS SHOULD BE
THE SETUP.
WE'LL FIND OUT.
>> Narrator: WITH EVERYTHING
POINTING NORTH, THE APPLES ARE
LEFT TO SIT FOR FOUR MONTHS.
TIME TO PUT THIS PYRAMID PUZZLE
TO BED.
>> OKAY, THAT'S PYRAMID.
THIS IS THE CONTROL.
THAT'S NOTHING.
AND THIS IS CUBE.
WOW.
IT'S OBVIOUS THAT CUBE POWER IS
REALLY BAD FOR YOU.
>> Narrator: BUT WHAT ABOUT THE
OTHER TWO?
>> I'M JUST GONNA TAKE SOME
REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLES.
PYRAMID, REGULAR.
I'M LOOKING AT THE ONE OF THE
PYRAMID, I'M LOOKING AT THE ONE
OUT IN OPEN AIR, AND I DON'T SEE
ANY APPRECIABLE DIFFERENCE.
>> I'D AGREE.
>> SO, I THINK THAT'S MYTH
BUSTED.
>> CAN WE CALL THIS MYTH BUSTED,
PLEASE?
AND CAN WE NOT DO ANY MORE OF
THESE OOGIE-BOOGIE MYTHS?
>> Narrator: BACK AT THE
LAUNCHPAD, ADAM AND JAMIE HAVE
RE-TUNED THE JETPACK'S ENGINE,
AND IT'S TIME FOR A SECOND BITE
AT THE LEVITATION CHERRY.
>> HERE GOES.
I WANT LIFTOFF THIS TIME!
>> Narrator: ROUND TWO.
THIS TIME, THE ENGINE HITS THE
BUTTER ZONE.
JAMIE'S WHISKERS ARE TWITCHING.
THE TACHOMETER REACHES
5,600 RPM.
GRAVITY'S GOT A FIGHT ON ITS
HANDS.
THE JETPACK LEAVES THE GROUND.
IT'S ALMOST FLYING.
BUT GRAVITY WINS OUT.
CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR.
>> IT'S GETTING TO THE
BORDERLINE.
>> I KNOW. I CAN TELL.
IT'S RIGHT THERE.
WE GOT 5,600 RPM ON THAT LAST
ONE.
WE ARE AT THE POWER BEND.
WE ARE AT THE MAXIMUM OUTPUT OF
THIS ENGINE.
WE HAVE TOO MUCH WEIGHT.
AS FAR AS THE OVERALL DESIGN,
EVERYTHING IS FUNCTIONING AS IT
SHOULD...EXCEPT THE ENTIRE
MACHINE.
THE ENGINE IS PERFORMING
BEAUTIFULLY.
IT'S ALL FUNCTIONING.
AT THIS POINT, WE'RE JUST TOO
HEAVY.
>> Narrator: ACCORDING TO JAMIE,
WEIGHT IS NOT THE MAIN ISSUE,
IT'S THRUST.
>> WE WERE GIVEN TO UNDERSTAND
WE WOULD GET 500 POUNDS OF
THRUST.
THIS THING DOES NOT WEIGH
500 POUNDS.
WHY IS IT NOT GETTING OFF THE
GROUND?
THERE'S SOME KIND OF A THING.
THE ONLY PLACE THAT I CAN POINT
TO IS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE
EFFICIENCY OF THE DUCTS.
>> Narrator: THEY ATTEMPT TO
MAXIMIZE THRUST BY ADDING A
LAYER OF BALSA BETWEEN THE
PROPELLER TIPS AND THE COWLINGS.
THE SMALLER THE GAP, THE LARGER
THE THRUST.
>> DID YOU SEE THAT?
IS THAT SEXY OR WHAT?
>> Narrator: A THREAD TEST
CONFIRMS THAT THE AIR FLOW INTO
THE DUCTS IS SMOOTH AND UNIFORM,
SO THEY SHOULD BE GETTING THE
CORRECT THRUST AND LIFT.
>> IT'S PERFECT.
>> Narrator: BUT EVEN WITH THE
MODIFICATIONS, THE GUYS DECIDE
TO LOWER THE BAR...
>> KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO
YOURSELF.
>> Narrator: ...AND REMOVE
BUSTER FROM THE HOT SEAT.
>> OKAY.
>> TAKE THAT!
>> Narrator: IT'S A RETREAT, BUT
JAMIE'S PHILOSOPHICAL.
>> THIS IS AN AMBITIOUS PROJECT,
AFTER ALL.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I KEEP
SAYING, "SOMEBODY OUT THERE IS
SPENDING TENS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS AND DECADES OF WORK
DEVELOPING A DEVICE LIKE THIS.
>> Narrator: WITH BUSTER OUT OF
THE PICTURE, THE JETPACK IS 190
POUNDS LIGHTER.
IT'S NOW OR NEVER.
>> ALL RIGHT, ARE YOU READY?
>> I THINK WE'RE READY.
OKAY, GO AHEAD.
>> TEST IT ON THREE.
>> Narrator: CHOCKS AWEIGH!
BUT WILL IT BE LIFTOFF?
IT'S TRYING...BUT IT AIN'T
FLYING.
THE GAME'S FINALLY UP.
>> IT'S NOT EVEN PROVIDING ALL
THAT MUCH LIFT ON ITS OWN.
IF IT WAS CORRECTLY BALANCED, IT
WOULD BE FLYING WITHOUT ANYTHING
ON IT, BUT NOT WITH A WHOLE LOT
OF ACCESS.
>> Narrator: IN OTHER WORDS,
WITHOUT A PILOT.
EVEN SO, JAMIE CAN'T RESIST
HAVING A GO IN THE WIDOW-MAKER.
MRS. HYNEMAN, YOU SHOULD LOOK
AWAY NOW.
>> I HAVE THE SNEAKING FEELING
THIS IS GONNA -- NOT EXACTLY
TICKLE A CERTAIN UNMENTIONABLE
REGION.
IT'S GONNA BE VIBRATING LIKE
CRAZY DOWN THERE.
WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WRITING
OUT THERE?
>> PILOT TO BOMBARDIER, PILOT TO
BOMBARDIER, DO YOU READ? OVER.
ARE YOU GOOD?
>> UH, YEAH.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> IT FEELS LIKE I'M SITTING ON
TOP OF A DRAG RACER!
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE IT, TOO!
>> Narrator: LOOKS LIKE JAMIE'S
GOING TO BE DRIVING TO WORK FOR
A WHILE YET.
>> HOW DID THAT FEEL, MAN?
>> WELL, THE MAIN THING THAT IT
FEELS LIKE IS THAT I'M IN SOME
KIND OF A MIXER OR SOMETHING.
YOUR WHOLE BODY IS JUST AT A
REALLY HIGH-FREQUENCY VIBRATION
HERE.
JUST THAT ALONE IS ENOUGH TO
MAKE ME NOT WANT TO FLY AROUND
IN THIS.
I MEAN, IT REALLY IS RIDICULOUS.
>> SEEING JAMIE IN THE MACHINE
IS JUST AMAZING.
HE REALLY DOES -- WITH THE
MOUSTACHE -- END UP LOOKING LIKE
ONE OF THE TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY
GUYS WITH THE HUGE FLYING
MACHINE THAT GOES UP THE RAMP
AND OFF THE CLIFF.
>> Narrator: AND UNFORTUNATELY,
HE'S MET WITH ABOUT AS MUCH
SUCCESS AS THOSE MAGNIFICENT MEN
IN THEIR FLYING MACHINES.
[ OLD-TIME PIANO MUSIC PLAYS ]
>> WE'RE BOTH EXHAUSTED OF THIS
PROJECT, I BELIEVE.
I'M PERSONALLY EXHAUSTED OF THIS
PROJECT.
>> WE'VE DONE ALL-DUE DILIGENCE
ON MAKING THIS THING WORK BASED
ON THE INFORMATION WE'VE HAD,
BUT IT'S NOWHERE IN THE
BALLPARK, AND I DON'T GET IT.
MYSTIFIED.
>> SO HOW DID WE DO?
>> WELL, WE DIDN'T GET OFF THE
GROUND, SO I GUESS WE FAILED, AS
MUCH AS I HATE TO ADMIT IT.
>> BUT WE SUCCEEDED, I THINK, IN
BUSTING A MYTH.
>> YEAH, THERE'S NO WAY THAT THE
AVERAGE JOE COULD TAKE THOSE
PLANS AND GET OFF THE GROUND
WITH THEM.
THEY WERE INCREDIBLY SPARSE,
THERE WASN'T ENOUGH DATA, THERE
WEREN'T ENOUGH DETAILS.
>> THEY WERE DRAWN ON COCKTAIL
NAPKINS.
>> YEAH, IT WAS RIDICULOUS.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK?
DO YOU THINK AT SOME POINT IN
THE FUTURE, WE WILL BE FLYING
PERSONAL JETPACKS TO WORK?
>> I DON'T THINK SO.
THERE'S ONE REALLY IMPORTANT
THING TO KEEP IN MIND ABOUT THIS
TYPE OF DEVICE, AND THAT IS THAT
YOU HAVE NO BACKUP.
IF YOU HAVE A FAILURE, YOU'RE
GOING DOWN LIKE A STONE.
YOU'RE GONNA DIE, AND FOR THAT
REASON, I DON'T THINK THAT
YOU'RE GONNA BE RIDING AROUND
IN A PERSONAL JETPACK ANY TIME
IN THE NEAR FUTURE AT ALL.
>> SO MYTH TOTALLY BUSTED.
>> YEAH, TOTALLY BUSTED.