This is the name of the next Mythbusters series starting around December 12th. Either Jamie or Adam will sit behind the controls of a 747 and, without any prior training, try to land it (the series will also feature a 747 trying to take off on a conveyor belt that is moving at the same speed the 747 would be going forwards to prove that it wouldn't take off).

. . . are they seriously kidding? They must have to do this in a simulator, and this had better not be one of those lame projects where a real captain is occupying the adjacent seat adjusting throttles, flaps, gear, giving tips, etc. The fact is, nobody, without prior flight training (we're talking never behind the controls of a plane before/never having gone through ground school) could ever land a 747, and even with flight training, let's see them do it in a gusting 20-kt x-wind.

What do you professional pilots out there think? Do you view this as a personally demeaning episode? Do you think that Jamie or Adam could actually land a 747?

Just show me how to start it and I can fly anything

ok now the real answer. No they will not be able to land it without prior training. I am about 3 weeks into training and I just now know what all the switches lights and buttons do in my airplane. They may be able to steer it to the ground and pull the throttles to descend but my guess is they fall short of the runway or overshoot it by a few miles. Once they hit the runway (if the plane hasnt fallen apart yet) they may be able to figure out reverse thrust and brakes but I doubt they get it stopped.

A 172...probably would do alright after a pretty bad bounced landing and possibly veering off the runway.

They don't understand aerodynamics's in terms of Thrust, lift, weight, and drag, yeah they are smart, but when it comes to flying, its the artful application of a scientific process they are going to be way toooo behind on the power, and by the time they try and spool those engines up, they will be getting the shaker.......

I think they'll cop out and let the plane do an autoland.
If they don't, though, I think it might put a dent in the number of people who think all we do is press buttons.

I wonder what the "rules" are because they will not even know how to configure the airplane for autoland. I think the only things they will figure out on their own are the gear handle, power levers and possibly flaps.

when is this episode on..I want to watch

I find taxing the 747 is harder than flying the bloody thing.


After riding in the jumpseat of a EMB-170, I now understand why some of the public things we are nothing more than button pushers. Auto pilot was above 1000' AGL and did damn near everything. Then again I tend to hand fly up to 18 and outta 10 and my bird is an ole 200 with nuthin but steam guage.

If everything is properly configured and coaching is done on the way down, I think they can land it.

i bet thats exactly what they do and then say "see anyone can do it"

It will take off but the wheel speed will be 2X normal. Where did you get the idea it won't take off?

Here we go again.

'Cause there ain't any air moving over the wing.......

I see a whole bunch o' tires going boom, they are only rated at 228 kts