Nightmare at 20,000 feet
September 26, 2007 10:20 AM   Subscribe

Whether it's the Shatner or Lithgow version of the story, it's not something you would want to try and re-enact in real life.

Well, may be if you are this lady. Or this guy.
posted by fearfulsymmetry (26 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
The story is already changing....
posted by cardboard at 10:30 AM on September 26, 2007


On the wing? Very skeptical. In the wheelwell? OK.
posted by DU at 10:33 AM on September 26, 2007


I hear a strange sound (not unlike radio static).
posted by tellurian at 10:34 AM on September 26, 2007


Do you think he practiced for this or did he just....WING IT?
posted by ColdChef at 10:35 AM on September 26, 2007 [1 favorite]


When I ran away from home, I went to the library cause that was the last place anyone would check.
posted by doctorschlock at 10:38 AM on September 26, 2007


I would really like someone knowledgeable to explain how this is even possible. Where is there a handhold on a 737 wing sufficient to allow someone to hang on at 300+ mph? The wing walker guy in the other video likely isn't going half that speed...

Or was it more likely that this person was inside the wheel well and somehow managed to avoid being crushed when the landing gear was retracted?
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 10:46 AM on September 26, 2007


That's totally not possible--he'd be blown of the wing and would probably suffer oxygen death as well.
posted by Ironmouth at 10:46 AM on September 26, 2007




The prayer must have been really good.
posted by hal9k at 10:48 AM on September 26, 2007 [1 favorite]


Wow. I can see your swastika from here.
posted by hal9k at 10:51 AM on September 26, 2007 [2 favorites]


That's fucked up cardboard. What do you want from your first post fearfulsymmetry, amputation comedy gold or amputation reality?
posted by tellurian at 10:57 AM on September 26, 2007


I fear that the fact that he survived is going to give certain airlines all kinds of ideas about how they could sell even more seats per flight.

"What's your preference, sir? Aisle, window, wheel well or wing? Great view and lots of fresh air on the wing... no drinks unfortunately but you'll get an extra blanket. And please remember: try not to open your mouth while facing forward!"


Yikes!
posted by Hairy Lobster at 11:05 AM on September 26, 2007


He has hands like a gecko.
posted by Henry C. Mabuse at 11:14 AM on September 26, 2007 [1 favorite]


To play Devil's Advocate for one minute, there are a couple places where one can grab onto on the top of a jetliner wing. There are sometimes flanges that you can hook safety lines into so you don't fall off the wing when you're working on it.

That being said, I don't think anyone would be able to hang on to one of those at speed. Just look at all those zany news reporters that try to stand up in the middle of hurricanes.
posted by backseatpilot at 11:20 AM on September 26, 2007


There was a very funny moment in the first 3rd Rock From The Sun episode to feature Shatner as the Big Giant Head. They pick him up from the airport and he explains that on his flight in, "there was a thing! On! The wing!" Lithgow gasps and exclaims "You saw it too?!"
posted by EarBucket at 11:50 AM on September 26, 2007 [1 favorite]


He has had hands like a gecko. Fixed that for you.
posted by cjorgensen at 11:58 AM on September 26, 2007


Why does that Twilight Zone guy remind me of Steve Martin?
posted by Reggie Digest at 12:01 PM on September 26, 2007


There was a very funny moment in the first 3rd Rock From The Sun episode to feature Shatner as the Big Giant Head. They pick him up from the airport and he explains that on his flight in, "there was a thing! On! The wing!" Lithgow gasps and exclaims "You saw it too?!"

Funny indeed.
posted by googly at 12:49 PM on September 26, 2007


Hey, I was reading about Gremlins just the other day! Wierd timing.
posted by hot soup girl at 12:52 PM on September 26, 2007


googly
it's a little odd that you misquote the lines when posting the link to the actual video.
posted by matt_od at 1:07 PM on September 26, 2007


Thanks folks. That Tzone was one of the enduring nightmares of my childhood. Right after watching it (sitting next to the kitchen door), I pulled back the curtain as was my habit to look outside. My brother meanwhile, had snuck out the front and was right at the window making a face when I peaked out.

I think my scream brought cops from 6 counties.
posted by nax at 1:16 PM on September 26, 2007


I didn't know about this particular show, but after reading the plot description, I knew I'd seen something like it before.
posted by ninjew at 1:46 PM on September 26, 2007


Well, matt_od, actually it was earbucket that misquoted it, and I quoted him/her to give the appropriate credit for stimulating me to find the source.

Anyway, just to be pedantic:

Johnston: "So, how was your trip sir?"

Shatner: "Horrifying, at first. I looked out the window and I saw something on the wing of the plane!"

Lithgow: "The same thing happened to me!"

Shatner: "Anyway, to calm me down they gave me something called....alcohol."
posted by googly at 3:41 PM on September 26, 2007


Watching the video (the one with both Shatner and Lithgrow parralled), I was really impressed with Shatner's protrayel - even sped up and without dialogue, his character's breakdown through to hysteria was so clear and palpable. I don't know if it was because of the editting, but Lithgrow's protrayel didn't quite stack up - his character moved too quickly into panic. A lot of people don't understand that Shatner (in his early performances) comes from another era and style of acting - but man, he was good.
posted by jb at 4:43 AM on September 27, 2007


Richard Matheson - bestest Twilight Zone writer evah.

I wonder if people payed attention to the writing credits back then - if it was a Serling episode you could break out n out the pillows as it'll be about a fast living city type that gets a chance to go back in time to his sleepy small town childhood and learn an Important Lesson In Lfe, if it was Matheson you might see a guys head get ripped off or a proper monster or something.
posted by Artw at 7:40 AM on September 27, 2007


There's a bit of a sad story surrounding Charles Beaumont, the third writer on the show. In his mid 30s with the show at it's peak he started having trouble writing, eventually resorting to using ghostwriters to finish his scripts, and then eventually died of Alzheimers.
posted by Artw at 8:03 AM on September 27, 2007


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