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Episode 100: MacGyver Special

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EPISODE TITLE: MacGyver Special

ORIGINAL AIR DATE: 02/20/2008

SYNOPSIS: This reverential episode of MythBusters pays tribute to the man who made something really useful from out of almost anything-MacGyver!
Myths Features in This Episode

Myth #1: Sodium Jail Break
Can MacGyver's sodium capsule bomb really blow a hole in a wall?

Myth #2: Bamboo Ultralight
Can an Ultralight built from bamboo, garbage bags, and a 10 Hp engine really fly

Myth #3: MacGyver Challenge
Can Adam and Jamie escape Tori and Grant's evil lair using MacGyver tricks?
Fan Feedback

Highlights of This Episode:

  • The Bamboo Ultralight took almost 4 days (instead of 4 hours) to build, and while it did almost get airborne, proved to be incapable of sustaining self propelled flight. 'Twas a pretty cool crash tho'.
  • I had no doubt the Bamboo Ultralight was going to fail due that the engine is just not powerful enough to provide the thrust needed to get airborne. Having grew up with a mason for father, I know those cement mixer engines well, and they're just too slow to provide a propeller prop plane the needed thrust. So even though I knew it wouldn't work given the plane look so roughshaft, I also knew the engine was not powerful enough.
  • The Bamboo plane would not have worked anyway due to how thin the bamboo was so a few extra layers should have been used.

Best Quotes by the MythBusters:

  • Jamie - "Okay you guys are gonna build a wall. We're gonna blow it up. But, do a good job anyway."
  • Jamie - "That doesn't look like macGyver with a mustache."
Adam - "Nah, it looks a little like you."
Jamie - "Okay."
  • Adam - "This is for love money and science."
  • Jamie - "The great thing about working with him (the bomb squad tech) is, when we say we wanna blow something up, he asks, 'How big?'"




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Keyword tags: adam savage byron kari byron kari mythbusters chapman scottie Discovery Channel discovery channel myth busters discovery.com mythbuster grant imahara jamie hyneman myth busters mythbuster myths urban legends urban myths
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Threads

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Started By Thread Subject Replies Last Post
HJRodrigo MacGyver wall explosion 8 Aug 18 2008, 6:26 PM EDT by DarthJawa
Thread started: Feb 26 2008, 12:43 AM EST  Watch
I was bother by the lack of testing and aviation research before the test flight of the ultralight, but I was even more bothered by the lack of consideration of the condition/type of wall in the explosion test. In order to disprove the results of an experiment the same experimental enviroment/conditions must be replicated first.
1. The wall in the MacGyver ep. was not a cinder block wall (was far thinner and possibly stucco)
2. The wall was already cracked and damaged
3. The explosive was inserted at the walls weak point (Think of jewellers breaking diamonds)

P.S. I am pretty certian MacGyver could have easly picked his way thru the wall, but opted for the faster explosion method. This would not have been an option if the wall was a brand new thick cinder block wall.
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grommetmaster All MacGyver myths true! 17 Mar 28 2008, 8:11 AM EDT by marajade
grommetmaster
Thread started: Feb 4 2008, 6:32 PM EST  Watch
When I told a friend of mine about the upcoming MacGyver special, he informed me that the great Don Herbert, better known as Mr. Wizard, was a consultant on the show. My friend said that Mr. Wizard not only came up with the "tricks" on the show, but if there was something that he couldn't do himself, it wouldn't get used on the show. If this is true, then every MacGyver trick should be confirmed as they have all been done before. Has anyone else heard of Mr. Wizard being a consultant on the show? If so, it kind of puts a damper on the MacGyver special.
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