We have written a couple of times about the airplane repo business (see Risky business: Being an airplane repo man and Meet an airplane repo man) plus the Discovery Channel has even created a reality TV series called Airplane Repo where repo men chase multi-million dollar jets across America. However, just how real is the Discovery Channel’s Airplane Repo show?
That was the subject of a recent thread on the Airline Pilot Forum with a moderator under the pseudonym UAL T38 Phlyer pointing out:
And somehow, they always have time to mount belly-cameras—-more than one—-on these airplanes they are in a ‘hurry’ to takeoff with. On a Canadair, I assume they used more than duct-tape.
He or she then added:
I saw it the other night (surfing through it). They took a Cessna from a ranch in Texas. A ranch-hand gave chase to one of the guys on the ground. The guy who took the plane buzzed him repeatedly to drive him off.
Now, unless this was done with the full blessing of the FAA (under the auspices of an ‘air show’), only a dunce would allow video of such an event to actually be broadcast.
UAL T38 Phlyer concluded it was “staged, mindless spectacle for the uninformed” while rightside02 added:
Totally staged and a joke, I would guess about 14 percent of what you see is really true. The rest is drama for ratings, which I understand, the public wants drama.
Next new show, jersey shore cast gets the ppl and does the repos themselves !
Someone then posted a question to ask what happened to a reality show where they had a variety of people competing in flight training for some sort of prize, but then someone answered that the show only lasted about two episodes – no doubt because it could not compete with the Jersey Shore.
Finally, TheFly posted:
Just saw an episode where they “repod” a Beech Jet 400. There’s was a cut scene from inside the cockpit just as V1 is called, the attitude indicator is in a 60 degree bank and around a 15 degree nose down pitch. Engines probably weren’t event running.
Fake.
Taking all of the above comments into consideration, we would like to ask you our readers whether or not you have seen an episode of Airplane Repo. If so, what’s your verdict? Real, fake or just plain entertaining?!!!
There is no way it’s not staged. They just “repo’d” a Citation VII-supposedly the owner was stupid enough to let Kevin take pictures of it, then left the aircraft unattended while he met with someone from the “Airport Association” who he should recognize yet some stranger poses as them. Running away from the girl at the front desk with logbooks in hand, while they tow the aircraft out unopposed by her. I call bull on this
Unfortunately, you’re right…it’s totally staged. In fact, in the Citation-VII scene, where the Cowboy (Lacey) was assisted by a pony-tailed Co-pilot (Dennis), the truth of the matter is that the Citation-VII is actually the plane that Dennis is the Captain on, and that was his hangar (which is in Louisiana, and not in Mississippi, as said on the show.) Disappointing.
I hate to say it but as much as I love watching the planes, this insults my intelligence. Mike Rowe: “It’s either crash, or land her on a glacier” then they add stupid noises. Sad. This show is stupid
Saw the same episode and I thought the same thing fake The best thing about the show is when he’s interacting with his leopard
To me, the question is; when Kevin shags Heather, does she fake it? Or do they both?
Heather booty and the possibility of Kevin tapping that is the only thing worth watching because the show is horrible
I hear there going to repo a 757, TRUMP
for those of you who think Airplane repo is fake, read this:
Cage wastes no time dispelling the conspiracy theories which he claims are nothing more than myths. “First of all, look me up and you will see that I do this for a living,” he says bluntly. “Secondly, it’s a TV show. We film things how they happen, but obviously people don’t want their faces shown. We just cannot show you everything live – it’s not legal, for a start – so certain things have had to be shot again.”
“One thing I often hear people question is how we have the time to fit the airplanes with GoPro cameras,” adds Cage. “You can’t just turn up at an airport and expect to fly away. It’s a 10 or 15 minute process to check the aircraft and while we’re doing that the production team fits the cameras on the aircraft – it takes 45 to 60 seconds.”
What do you people think now? This is coming from Ken Cage and Kevin lacy. This information can be found on http://corporatejetinvestor.com/articles/airplane-repos-ken-cage-denies-show-fake-fights-second-season-247/
I have actually repossessed an airplane and from a country outside the USA. NONE of what goes on in the show has anything to do with the real world. I know, they claim they did it in one of their episodes. This show is 100% for people that have NO clue about aviation. All the responses on this pointing out how fake it are spot on. It takes a couple of hours to find a plane, and then you go to the FBO, show your credentials and take custody of the airplane. You want some #$%???? TRY to stop someone from legally taking custody of the plane. You will have the FBI on top of you in 10 minutes. If you tell the FBI they tried to change the registration number they will be on top of you in 2 minutes. This show is an insult to aviation professionals, and even people that know nothing about aviation suspect it from the corny dialog and cameras recording conversations as if they were not there. Go ahead, make money and be on TV, that is the new American dream… but don’t even try to sell it as real.
you have 100% accuracy, the show where the hydraulic line is broken, they talk to a wan to be an aircraft technitian to fix the line…lol…he does the fix by wrapping the line with duct tape, if i would be a D.M.I., on the spot the certificate would had been pull with no chance of try to have a second chance, so please somebody tell the producer of the program there are people with iq”s more than 10…..
There is a disclaimer at the beginning about how some of the scenes are reproduced. I would say 99% of the scenes are reproduced and with a lot of artistic license at that.
Excellent summation Sir,
The unfortunate reality as you have said is that this show plays into the hands and senses of NON aviators. When less than 1% of the population of the US are certificated pilots, Discovery is playing the averages of entertaining the other 99% and relying on the old adage of “never ruin a good story with the truth.” As we have seen, the term
reality show is about as far from accurate as you can get and this program I’m sorry to say is no different.
Having a good amount of general aviation exposure and a bit of charter commercial aviation experience, the scenarios portrayed on the show are disappointing to aviators I have spoken with. I suppose my views are somewhat biased but I have a strong sense of loyalty to something I dearly love to do. We do our best to keep flying real, professional and pure and folks who don’t know any better think this show is the way things happen.
It just isn’t so…………..
For those that are professional aviators, this program portrays a reckless, sometimes hazardous “dramatic license” which, in my opinion sheds a negative impression to the audience on the procedures and protocols that keep the public, the airways and airports safe.
In short………… Entertaining?? Yes, if you’re not a pilot.
Accurate?? Not even close
Without rambling any further, those are my two cents for what it’s worth.
Fly safe,
I’m no aviation expert, just common sense told me the show can’t be real:
1. Why steal it, why not just go the airport operator or owner with paperwork and a Sheriff?
2. How come cameraman signs up to fly in these highly “dangerous” stunts?
3. How come airport staff and technicians agree to be filmed and ask no questions?
4. Log books always there for the taking.
5. How come security is always lax at these airports post 9/11?
6. Hanger locks are always easy to pick, no alarm.
7. They always get away with seconds to spare, Hollywood style.
8. No one has ever been shot by an angry owner.
So yeah, once I realized it was fake I no longer enjoyed the show.
I once saw an episode from some other show (don’t know what it was the only time I’ve ever seen it) and the guy said pretty much the same thing. You tape the repo paperwork to the plane, take copies to the FBO and you’re ready to take the plane.
I had to laugh at those two jackasses trying to repo a 3 million dollar plane. They did everything wrong you could possibly do. They make really recovery agents look terrible. Low brow actors.
Too funny… you think it is real??? I have seen “pilot” friend of mine doing a repo on a plane he flies for a living on the show. In my experience, I have had 10 repos and 9 we uneventful owner turn-ins and the last one was a FAA ferry permit on a plane that had been sitting for years. They are quite uneventful and not reality show worthy.
Wow, and all of you complaining on the internet is gonna change things lmao. Smh
I love the show, but I saw something that was not real to me fake or not.
Kennedy was on a driving trip with his wife and got a call from the bank on a Cessna sea plane.
Kennedy swims out to the boat in scuba gear, no problem so far.
And I understand mounting cameras.
But how did you manage to get cameras on the deptors boat,and mount the camera where we can see them from the front racing out to get Kennedy from taking off.
After seeing that I lost interest in the show.
I understand how difficult that can be, but no way can you make me believe you talked the dead beat into going along with this, let alone showing his face on tv.
If you can explain how cameras got on the bad guys boat, and explain why I see camera shots that cannot possibly be from one camera man.
Which means to me it’s all set up from the beginning.
I have no doubt you are a real repo man, however the show is not.
Another episode is where Kennedy and his wife repo a jet from a guy that went gambling.
Question how did the cameraman get a camera above tha blackjack table and in the rooms in Reno.
Did the casino agree with using cameras or did they sell you some footage from there camera system.
As I said it’s the cameras views that’s telling the truth about the show.
I have seen cameras views that to me cannot be placed unless the bad guys
allow it.
Therefore to me it’s scripted.
As for you, no doubt you are the real deal.
RobertC
I just need to know how this is done.
If they reposes from an airfield dont they need permission to take off to avoid any thing flying in
As fake as jlo’s ass the the most anoying when denny reposes a airplane and the radio doesnt work but they magically look for walky on the back and therw was one smh!
Not to be an ass, but I always carry my portable radio rather I am flying or not. It is in no-way unusual to have a portable radio in an airplane.
The one question I’ve always wondered about is if you have all the paperwork authorizing you to repo the plane, why do you not go to the local police and/or airport police, Identify yourself, show them the paperwork and they will escort you to the plane to insure that you are not stopped Or harassed by the current owner or airport personnel.
That is the first question that came to mind and I still wonder why
The reason they do not go to the Police is because not paying your bills is not against the law. It’s a lowlife thing to do, just like not paying your credit cards, But being a lowlife is not a arrest able/criminal offense.
You never reposed an airplane from the Mississippi Gulf Coast area. I can’t say where this was supposed to take place.
I can say it was not here in Mississippi.
Of course he’s gonna say that. If he was gonna be honest he never would have started the show. I submit this question; is repossession illegal? No its not. So why are they always hiding from cops and security guards? What is illegal is cutting a lock on an airport fence, as i saw them do. Not to mention the faa doesn’t allow a flight without a flight plan so there’s no accidental midair collisions but these guys seem to not need that. I watched a couple episodes and that was wasted time ill never get back. Its a show for stupid ppl. Its rite on line with lizard lick towing, and we all know that was fake.
General aviation, VFR doesn’t need a flight plan.
Wow!
you can fly without a flight plan… do you even pilot, bro?
Fake Fake Fake
It’s totally fake and staged. It’s funny that on one episode the plane lost all electrical power and he was flying in the dark. Then when he lands, on the dark runway, he magically has landing lights lighting up the runway. You are a fool if you think this is real.
Love it fake or not very entertaining
They really are repossessing planes but spice things up for dramatic effect. Nobody wants to watch a boring simple grab and go that probably happens most of the time.
I don’t care if it is real or fake. It is a silly show. They are taking a plane that someone owes money for, Who care’s. It is a silly show.
I think it’s real Kevin Lacey is a pretty cool guy and saw the rest of them. I don’t think they would stick to next song like that and ask for GoPro‘s. They’re magnetically stuck to the airplane there takes seconds to put on it I wish the show was still on, it’s a good show. I think the pilot that whoever he was P 38 whatever is just wishing he was changing or chasing airplanes like Kevin Rose I don’t know maybe I’m wrong good show either way.
Next, I suppose you’ll be tellin’ me Pro Wrestling is fake!
I don’t understand why they have to steal the repo when the owner is in default to the financer?
It’s simple. Not paying your bills weather it be a Plane, boat, credit card or mortgage is not a criminal offense. It’s a lowlife thing to do but not against the law.
Shawn
People keep saying not paying your bills is not against the law so repo man can’t go to the police for help.
False.
These are two different things. The sheriff cannot force your debtor to pay but they can help you recover your asset. With a court order, they must help you evict deadbeat tenant or repossess foreclosed homes. Same for airplanes. You just need to follow the legal process.
I’ve had to repo a vehicle that someone stopped paying me for. I tried to help the guy out by letting him make payments since he couldn’t afford to pay me outright. I went to the police station and asked if they would go with me to avoid any problems. They did and I got it back without a problem.
Funny part is, I didn’t know about it until someone told me later but he put more into fixing it up than he still owed me. So I got a motorcycle back that was in better condition than when I sold it.
The funny thing is, the plane that Dennis helped repo is actually owned by Dennis. Correct, he lives in Louisiana.
Also on that scene where he is recording the aircraft with his iPhone, its a point in the shot where he is wearing a gopro on his chest. You can see it in the reflection of the varnished cabinet. Also earlier in the interview scene, you can see the gopro protruding out of his suit. What makes this a give away is that the narrator said he was going in with a pin-camera (which is very small and hard to see, used for spying) but instead it’s this big gopro camera. You will think that the guy he was getting interviewed by will be tipped off about that camera on his chest. I deem this show totally FAKE.
Also in the same episode, when the receptionist is chasing him saying “may I help you sir?” there is a third person with a camera filming her as she runs. I thought he went in alone.
What about the episode taking a prisoner on a repossessed plane??? Who’s insurance covers that not to mention they only have the face greed out so you don’t see him laughing. What pays more repo a plane or a vail jumper and I doubt the guy was a international fugitive with a million dollar bail.
I’m 67 years old and I can’t stand stupid and thats what this show is hoping that people are so stupid as it is so phony its sad. Would be very good show otherwise and I’m hoping that its dropped . Glen
No freakin way the show is real, I owned a Cherokee 180 for 10 years and I know how a FBO works AND the FAA. I also helped a friend repo cars around the LA area in the 70’s.
As far as airports go, you need to blend in, the only place that biker guy will blend is a biker bar.
The sky diving caper, total BS, he’d be in jail for a prank like that!
Seriously??? next thing you are going to tell me is that Santa and the Easter Bunny don’t exist,
9/11 was real, MH370 didn’t land on Diego Garcia.
This show is as real as your Government makes you believe it is…. hey look a man on the moon….. lmao, Oh And Gary? I will lend you some cash for a new car, if you promise to be an extra on my new Show, Diego Garcia – The New Bermuda Triangle. Discovery Channel is planning to fly to The Military Base and liberate MH 370, stay tuned if you Loved Airplane Repo, You Will Love…. Free MH370.
NASA did in fact go to the moon. Keep your unfounded slander to yourself.
Andrew u say keep your unfounded slander to yourself.so answer me one question.how come we havent been back since i think it was 1970 was the last saposid mission
nopromo, why go back to a place that has nothing to offer? Its like going back to an ex girlfriends house after shes been happily married for 10 years, pointless.
Wow nopromo, just wow. I guess I can’t be surprised at your stupidity since you’re supporting the statement of a truther, but gimme a break. Can’t stand you people who deny that we went to the moon; going to the moon isn’t even a big deal. It’s right next door, you can send humans there with chemical rockets comfortably without even having a refueling point along the way for crissakes. We didn’t go back because there weren’t any resources there that were conveniently exploitable without a massive infrastructure in place, not to mention much in the way of resources that you can’t get 1000x cheaper on earth (I mean, there’s the fusion fuels but we don’t have fusion plants yet and they’re pretty sparse there anyway).
Seriously…. just…. wow. You’re as bad as the people who believe cell-phones come from alien technology because they’re too dumb to understand the microchip and the manufacturing processes used which, all in all, aren’t that freaking impressive. If we had alien technology we would have made more than a couple of major innovations in the past century (instead of just constantly improving on those few, like the integrated circuit, or more or less abandoning them like nuclear power) and if we were so incompetent with rocketry that we couldn’t even get to the moon then we wouldn’t have a whole constellation of commercial satellites floating above our heads.
+1 Space Cadet !
Not to mention Cost and lost technology to do so !
We were told not to ever come back. (by the occupants)
He was being facetious. Read it again. He also said 9/11 was fake. Its sarcasim at its best.lol
NASA did go to the moon. The reason why we haven’t been back, is because of money. It takes a lot of money to go to the moon. Building the rocked, and fueling it costs millions of dollars.
Just in case you guys don’t realize we’ve been to the moon plenty of times, 12 people in total have walked on the moon. So we did go back again, and again, and again, and again. There was a total of 9 missions to the moon . I hate stupid ugly and people who think we did not go to the moon and that was staged are definitely the stupidest people around
Wow your ignorance is remarkable. Not shocked to find dunderheads under an article on the dumbest “reality” show on tv.
Kevin is a total fool, even his character sucks. If did any of his bs he’d be in jail. You can’t steal jet fuel, it’s a felony. This dumbass probably kicks dogs and beats women……
Then there’s the hillbilly, if this fool could spell hillbilly, he may have shown a little brains. Those two fools, don’t know the names, should be on the swamp show with the other morons.
Kevin, this is direct to you. Buy your own plane before you start demeaning the original purchasers about nonpayment. The plane is not yours either, schmuck.
I’d love to kick you in the shin. Asshole
Love this comment! So true.
I was stationed at Diego Garcia and I can tell you from 1st had experience that theres no hgr there big enough to hide a B-777. Not to mention all the US Navy personnel that would see that Plane as soon as it was in the landing pattern let alone on the tarmac. And what about the 200 civilian workers there that would ask a million questions? The island is owned by the Britts and I’m positive they’d have a few issues with a B777 sitting there.
Truth
There is proof we landed on the moon. Any time any day you want it. Just buy a really strong laser and shine it at one of the retro-reflectors left there.
I prefer Dangerous Flights for an airplane show. Real and no fake fight scenes.
hi there ,yes there were moon landings but further more you can see the landing arias with the LEM bases on the NASA archives web sites you will see tracks
of rovers and astronauts tracks .Those pics have been probably shot from the
Huble telescope or some powerfull terrestrial telescope.
Has of this plane repo’s fake or not it has done its time and have to go but as usual dicovery will drag this serie for ever like those stupid fishing boats and truck drivers boring programs
Sounds like someone is jealous because you are a nobody
This show is so fake when the repo people go to take an aircraft and they have but minutes to get away before they are spotted and chased but the camera grew
has all the time to mount those cameras on the aircraft all over FAKE!!!
Interesting that it’s always a close call, right? They barely get the plane rolling when you hear halfhearted cries of “get off my plane” in the background.
You need to read Michael Shermer’s WHY PEOPLE BELIEVE WEIRD THINGS, especially since you’re into conspiracy theory.
I completely agree with you. this show is real! For instance the time Mike Kennedy swam through dangerous waters to get to a sea plane that is docked at a holiday island and reposes it and as any Plane owner would chases after him to try and stop him! You cannot possibly say that that is fake and staged! take operation Repo for instance, that show is a piece of shit!! Airplane Repo is actually real and i have watched pretty much every episode and it never acurd to me that it could be fake!!
Hello! I am an aviator going on 41yrs now. I know most of your show is BS. I think you have a lot of Bs in you. I think the show is an insult to pilot’s in general. I really think you raised the topic of the moon deal just to stir up some sh-t with people. I don’t think you really believe we did not land on the moon. I also think you don’t care what anyone thinks as long as your getting your buck your rush. That being said it is a free country and a very good one at that. I’ve been in some sh-t places on this planet. There’s none better than here. (With one or two exceptions of course, if you have tons of money) if your making money at something you like to do then more power to you. I don’t believe anyone is being forced to watch that stupid show, are they? Enjoy your ride while you have it. But be honest about it. MPTY Fiddle!
I love the show and my brother worked in tv and movies..of course things are changed maybe amoted up a bit..it is tv..but the guys are great..love them all.
FAKE, no way can u pull that crap off as smoothly as they portray it
FAKE………….
I would be sad if Mike Rowe was involved in a show that lacked integrity.
Mike Row does voice work for a paycheck, I wouldnt consider him “involved” with the show.
Mike Rowe is not the narrator.
Mike Rowe is the narrator. Discovery owns his soul and he narrates almost all of their shows.
I’m just watching the episode where Mike is trying to land a Piper Arrow in total blackout. The narrator says “The failing battery has tripped the circuit breakers” and my very first thought is “why don’t you just check the breaker panel to see if one is popped and try resetting it?”. Ten to one that wasn’t the whole explanation. When he lands it’s clear from the footage that a landing light is in use so it’s not total blackness. I realize this is entertainment and I do enjoy it but sometimes it leaves me shaking my head
Actually had this episode on the DVR and re-watched it with extra scrutiny. Mike says they’ll be home in 40 minutes, it shows the panel, he is just under 1000 ft msl and climbing around 200 ft/min. He talks about how it is pitch black with no horizon, flips a switch with his right hand and the master warning goes on, it goes to an outside shot and boom it’s black inside. As he’s is asking for help to get light inside, it clearly shows a lit up city off his left wing. Once again, the narrater says 5000 feet over the ocean and it cuts to the panel, he is now holding at 1000 feet.
Its TV !!!
People are thrill seekers
and yes some scenes are replayed, but the business is for real
I like the show !
Living in the Netherlands which is so crowded that
GA is virtual impossible
On the episode Mike clearly switches something off immediately before the warning. I suspect it is the master switch, but I would have to see the specific aircraft panel. Even if the repo did occur, I suspect that this was a staged event after the fact. The word dramatisation is clearly indicated in the credits. I just watch for the aeroplanes. Not sure if it is the same episode, but Heather is desperately trying to start a C172 with the mixture fully out. No fuel = no start. Might want to add some fuel there. I accept it is a dramatisation, I enjoy it for the aeroplanes. It is better than watching many of the other stupide “reality” shows that are around
Just watched the latest show crop duster and water plane. Just so happened a boat was there to film them taking off??!!…
I thought it was pretty good for the film crew to be on the same lake that they landed in. Also they took off from an airport in the albatross yet when they have trouble with the engine why would they put it on the water when I’m sure it would have been easier to land it and work on it on asphalt. I did like the blood on the one guys face.
Plus they corey guy they supposedly repo it with actually owns the airplane and the FBO
In “Flying Blind” there were 2 cameras mounted to the bikers (bad guys) motorcycles when they were on there way back to the hangar. In the same episode when they’re supposed to be 90 miles from the coast when the power goes out you can see city lights out the window.
I like how they just happen to have cameras on the cars of people they are about to reposes something from. Discovery Channel has no pride do they??
Just land that water plane on asphalt, I’m sure that wouldn’t just crash it. Thiiink man.
Cody, since you’re clearly having trouble following his point – the Albatross is amphibious, so yes, land that water plane, aka seaplane ;), on asphalt. Thiiiink Man!!!
Pure bullshit, hard to watch without saying WTF, the show where they took two batteries out of cars to jump a plane while running around in a cart full of batteries and they always just get away or have cops looking like total dumb asses, but they doesn’t take much for some of them
It is so fake it is not even funny. Worse than South Beach Tow. Awful.
I know for a fact it is fake. Cory bentzen in the davis county / albatross episode owns the fbo they repo’ed the plane from also it is still there at KODG . I worked at that FBO and know several people involved and it’s fake fake fake.
KODG is not an IACO ident. for any airport so if you are going to claim to be an insider with an inside knowledge please at least use some shred of truth first
Not that I disagree with the fact that the show is fake, but so are you.
So what’s an IACO ident? Never heard of one…ah irony. At least spell it right if you’re gonna bring it up.
KOGD, Ogden-Hinckley Airport, is located in Davis County, UT. So, he simply transposed the identifier. You probably have never done anything like that, have you?
KOGD is actually in Weber County not Davis which when I saw the episode I knew it immediately. The lake they landed in is Bear Lake on the border of Utah and Idaho with an airport (Bear Lake County IU7) just north of there. The lake is actually very deep except on the shelf near the beach.
I’ll have to drive by KOGD tomorrow to see if the Albatross is still there or not. I’ll be disappointed if it is.
I agree that some if not all the stuff is fake, but it is entertaining. Bear Grylls faked his show but it was still fun to watch.
Do you check your facts really fast? Ever heard of ICAO?
KODG is the IACO for Ogden -Hinckley. Ogden Utah
No question it’s fake, the acting is not good. However, is it possible that these are reenactments (with some added drama) of real life events these guys have experienced over their many years in the repo business? In other words, based on real events? That’s the best I can hope for!
Yes it is re-enactments. They say in credots that they do that. Also say names of debtors and locations are changed too. All ppl screaming “fake” b/c certain pilots in the show actually own the planes need to read that b/c I believe I saw it say once that even planes are sometimes changed.
I know it’s staged, but on the other hand- I’d rather look at cool planes and yachts as opposed to storage lockers- I say it’s fun to watch and it sounds like all of you are watching it too ??
Just look at IMDB : there you can see they are all actors. This is not the only “reality” show they have been in.
Good catch. It seems that the lead guys are not involved in other shows, but there is an “FBI agent” who is an actor named Mike Gassaway.
To be fair, Discovery does show a written disclaimer at the end of (or maybe at the beginning) of each show that due to the stress and sensitive nature of what these repo men do, and to protect identities… many of the scenes are re-creations.
Reminds me of the “faces of death” series of videos. remember how real that was
Of course…..an enormous amount of the show is ” staged” and faked.
But it is a great show. Mike Kennedy looks old enough to have flown in WW I
The small print at the end of the show states that events have been dramatised based on the accounts I would therefore say none of what you actually see on TV is actually a reality but something that is a re-creation of events that might of happened in a similar fashion
They could probably put an absolute together Based on the testimony of the person concerned and then recreate everything around it.
Also when did you see them ever filing a flight plan asking tower for clearance to take off , having their buttat chased across the airfield only to be told, hold short we have a plane landing.
In most cases I would guess that it comes down to serving paperwork at the airfield owners be escalated to a higher seven paper on the owner it’s half an argument and the pain been allowed to take off and somebody being restrained by security
Otherwise the show would be a blueprint of a terrorist how To steal an aeroplane
agree, too much going right here, looks and sounds fake, especially all the success, why nor show up with the sheriff if you have a repo from the bank? like repo when you don’t pay the rent or when you have a court order for anything?
I agree it’s not fake. They just ran an episode showing the crew trying to quickly mount cameras. To the Jack above who thought they used duck tape they use suction cup go pros and clamp style they can attach around the plane. Kevin had to take several off that were put in the incorrect and unsafe spots. Took him seconds to rip them off and toss them asside. I’m sure they well coordinate and mount them while he is getting log books, etc… plenty of time to spend 60-90 seconds mounting 2-3 cameras. Obviously to answer another they would emphasize the drama repos. My guess is many go very easy without a hitch and the show just makes it look like it’s barely a capture.
It is hardly as Fake as the Democrat attacks on Trump…………………………for sure
How can I go into a car dealer to report car and it just so happens we get in the car with the dealer and Ava are ready got a camera in the backseat
100% staged. Once they post the repossession papers on the plane, they simply make arrangements with the debtors that they’re going to take the plane with or without their consent. So they obviously pay them $5000, $10,000 or more to act like they’re driving away to get a Slurpee at 7-Eleven, and then return looking angry.
Fake as hell but if you love airplanes it’s pretty entertaining
If it were real there are a few camera men that needed picked up from VERY remote areas. Lots of shots from the ground watching the planes take off. Several belly cams of the wrong plane being flown and if the didnt have time to wait in taking the plane someone had lots of great suction equipment to mount the cameras. As a long time commercial pilot and instructor. I just laugh because thats what its for.
I’m watching the show right now, all reruns. I knew it had to be fake. But it is entertaining.
I enjoy the show. Obviously most parts are dramatizations but having let vehicle repo men in condo gates late at night to watch the fun ensue, I sympathize with the lender. As for filming the real deal, it wouldn’t be fully appropriate to reveal the down and dirty part of the business on tape for all to watch. B&E, trespassing and other areas of this business might not play well for an industry uneducated audience.
I am some one who has done many repo jobs. Most states require that you notify the police and verify the accuracy of the repo paper work. Some states require that you have an officer present. My family owned a marina for years and I have been involved in the repo of some boats in other countries. Those could be tricky as you’re not a citizen and the laws differ from those of the U.S. But all the B/S on these “reality” shows, just proves the gullibility of the public. FAKE
Obviously fake. Watch for all those camera men running around, breaking doors/locks, stealing fuel, etc They’d be arrested. How come “Security” is always 10 seconds too late? No clearance for takeoff. See all the camera angles….would have to have at least three camera men running around, not to mention stationary cameras mounted on buildings etc. Why never any Near Misses on runways? Watch the take offs…. cameras all over the runway. Total Bull
There’s many pilots out there including myself. this program is just another entertainment show for actual idiots who like to see some people almost die. And what’s even much worse is the producers and directors trying to show this. I certainly hope this is just temporary the past few five years. I’ll wait till the Discovery is back where it was 10 years ago or so. I love shark week!! as always do. but the megladon shit took that away also. down hill discovery, the history, the learning ch. and a few others.
So true!!! Everything is fake and dramatized. Like bearing sea gold etc. I’m a professional diver and it’s all bs. Same with wicked tuna. They put sounds and drama that’s not true and not a big deal. I too wish discovery was like it was before megladon etc etc.
I hate shark week and don’t even tune in to discovery for that week
What is the purpose of it? Why all the bruhaha about it? Sharks are sharks, I can learn all I care to about them in……….. Oh I’d say about an hour!
The phoniest show I have ever seen! I have been in aviation for over 40 years and actually assisted in a few REAL repos. This show is total BS if these “repo men” really did the crap they profess they would be in a federal penitentiary or shot dead! It is a Federal offense to to break into (and not necessary) to break into an airport. All that is needed to repossess an airplane is a writ of replevin from a court. Present it to the FBO and they will actually tow the plane out for you. In the rare event that it could be a problem for any reason, you go to the local sheriff’s department and deputy will accompany you and even “serve” the writ for you. The show is a sham, Discovery Channel should be ashamed of themselves for promoting such garbage! The violation of FAR’s (Federal Air Regulations) alone would get these “pilots’ licenses revoked. What bullchit!
Thank you jack, your comments are perfect!
Absolutely! This show is the wild, wild west of personal aircraft, no way, they would be arrested and thrown in jail, license revoked. Also, with all of the security cameras everywhere, no way possible! Slapstick and stupid but it is fun to see the planes.
I call total BS. There’s no way the legal owner of an aircraft has to skulk around to get it back. I used to repo cars and trucks for banks and never had to “steal” one (most folks drove the car to the bank and handed me the keys because they agreed with me that they couldn’t keep it if they couldn’t pay for it).
Airport personnel that obstructed the legal owner would actually be in breach of the law.
I don’t see the need for stealth or speed or drama, except to build a show. After fine work on Deadliest Catch, this fluff should be beneath ace narrator Mike Rowe.
When the show first started, season one episodes one through three or four, it was built around a guy who actually owned an airplane repo company and they actually did the repos the way you described. I’m assuming the ratings were poor, it was a little boring, and they decided to take the show in a different direction.
That was Nick Popovich from Valparaiso, Indiana. He’s the real deal in the business. The a$$ clowns they have on now are pathetic!
The show was obviously created by total numbnuts. I don’t fly, but I’ve caught more than a few suspicious scenes. I also question the need for stealth and subterfuge if a repo-man has paperwork from the court/lender stating that the aircraft belongs to him (via the court/lender). Not to mention the fact that flying is a risky business, why then would a pilot fly an aircraft which has only had a cursory “inspection”?
What a shame! I was prepared to really enjoy this show. The story about the jet in FLA where the repo men run to his house to catch the owner would have been hysterical if it hadn’t been so sad.
Yes, pure schlock!
I would say that 90% of that show is scripted (FAKE). How would they get all the external cameras mounted on the repos? Also, what about the camera man left on the ground “shooting” the repo’d plane taking off. Its a fun show to watch but, I would like more reality shows and less FAKE stuff.
and who pick all the cars that they leave when they repo the plane?.
After seeing what these guys are doing I am having a tough time with this repo deal.
If you told me you would pay me $300,000 to retreive a plane, I would have a hard time & most people would turning that kind of money down.
But, I don’t have alot of sympothy for someone with enough money to buy a 3 million dollar toy. But, as far as a regular repo man jacking cars and work stuff from people. Those repo men should be burnt alive for doing that to average people. They think their cute, most of them are to chick to publicly portray what they do in a open manner. They hide lie a bunch snakes. They won’t put a decal on their truck that says ” ACME Repo” there to chicken to walk up to a man face to face 1 on 1 and tell a working man they are taking their car. There pussies in the highest form. They aren’t thinking about reailty. If they look back to 2008 its the fucking criminals that run the banks that created the collapse of our finincial system causing everyone to lose there job, then after they robbed all of America of its weath in one fail swoop, the banks then come in behind that 6 months later and start doing massive repos of everything. Then they hold all these assets and bribe the goverment politicians to pay them for all those assets. Then they turn arund and sell the stuff for another big profit.
I would like to see all the people that justify taking other peoples property drug out in the middle of the road, pour gas on them and set on fire. They are the absolute lowest form of life on earth. They don’t think what they have done to that persons life, the people around them, that had nothing to do with that car, but they depend on that car owner for their means in life.
Repo men ride around hiding in unmarked tow trucks, and they are nothing but thiefs, there stealing as per the banks own contract on that loan.
Wow Gary,
You seem too angry to have an objective point of view. You are asking to be ignored both on this thread and throughout other portions of your life.
I’d say “have a nice day”, but I’m not sure that is possible for you!
Dam you Gary.. your response made me read through his illiterate rambling. For those who havnt.. dont look back just keep on scrolling down…
Lol. U made me cry laughing.
Wow man, your rant makes me think you’ve had run-ins with repo-men at some point. Do you wear a tinfoil helmet? Why do your type always think the entire world is in cahoots to screw you and keep you from ever being successful?
When you buy something, you either have the money or you don’t. If you don’t, you either don’t purchase the item or you get some sort of financial help like a loan or lease. When you obtain those extra finances you sign a contract. You are not under pressure to sign it. You are free to have someone else read it before signing, so you clearly understand you are required to pay back what you borrowed, plus interest, at designated intervals and amounts. This isn’t a secret. It’s written loud and clear so YOU understand your obligations once you accept the finances. Even children understand what it means to “borrow”. Do you not realize you no longer own what you bought when you fail to meet the obligations of the contract you signed?
People like you always think they are the victim. How pissed off would you be at your employer if you were paid every two weeks and he/she suddenly decided not to pay you after two weeks of work? I’m guessing extremely pissed. What actually caused the financial crisis in the US is subprime mortgages to people who really couldn’t afford to pay back. When the market and dollar went bust, no one could pay the banks and they loaned out ridiculously large sums money to high-risk lenders for little interest. That is illegal here in Canada. Banks here DO NOT want to have to repo any assets from lenders. It costs money and when they resell it, it’s often very cheap and rarely covers the loan. They gamble that the vast majority of people will have no problems paying them back and the interest collected from those people (and insurance) help cover what isn’t collected from no-payees. In Canada, banks are careful who they lend money to, it’s never subprime and they try to make it as low risk as possible. It’s why we only stumbled for a second before going about business as usual when everything went south, well…. Down South.
So it’s simple. If you don’t think you can make payments on something, particularly a toy (like a plane, sports car, cottage, snowmobile, boat, RV, etc.), if you were to run into financial trouble, it’s simple: DO NOT BUY IT! Yes, some people need to risk a loan to fix their house, a basic car, start-up a company, purchase much needed equipment, school, etc.. However, it’s not the banks fault should you run on hard times. You’re still obligated to pay and if you can’t, forfeit your assets.
How fast do you think there would be a crisis if banks started say, “Ah, don’t worry about paying us. We’ll survive giving out large sums of money and making nothing in return”. That’s what screwed them. It’s the materialistic “Live Large” mentality of the US that ruined the financial system. If the government didn’t bail out the banks, the US would be in a very, very, bad position to have their leading major companies bought up by foreigners. Is that better? Every large American Corporation owned by a foreign company? Ya, thought not.
The lessons simple. Have the cash in hand, then go buy your toy and don’t get a loan if you’ll have trouble paying it back should you loose your job, etc.
Foreigners would then own the banks? Lol who do you think owns the fed? “Undisclosed” foreign banks. Wake up.
Right On,,,,,,
Yes, I’d say that guy has more problems than watching a fake TV show. Ha Ha
Well said.
If you don’t pay your mortgage you lose your house. Don’t pay your vehicle payments after being given numerous opportunities to pay then you lose your ride. Why talk to them face to face? Letters and phone calls didn’t do any good wtf would talking face to face do?
what a maroon
Says the guy who can’t spell.
I guess you have never watched the three stooges. That’s their line. It’s designed to show the stooge side of mispronouncing moron. Funny you jump on someone for using the term in a way that turns out to be correct. Who’s the “maroon” now?
Naw mate, that’s moran.
Ummm… Pay your car note, Gary. You do that, you don’t have to worry about repo men. If you don’t pay for something, you have no right to own it. It’s really that simple.
Are you serious?! The economic collapse was due to criminals that were running the banks?! You feel bad for people who get their supposed property repoed?! Hey buddy IF THEY CAN’T PAY FOR IT THEN IT IS NOT THEIRS!! And you say you feel no sympathy for people who can afford a 3 million dollar toy. You feel no sympathy for them because you are a sad, jealous, fool.
Would you please just let the financials go. The crisis was caused not due to the borrowers not being able to repay(the banks and insurance firms such as AIG were very aware of them being risky borrowers) but instead the fall in asset prices (specifically mortgages). The loans were asset backed and thats how banks were expecting to prevent losses. So lets just ditch the whole conspiracy BS please and try instead to realise that borrowers werent the bad guy during the crisis and the dumb new kids on the block were actually most investment banks present at the time who invested in CDOs if you know whT those are 😉
I agree that the lending institutions were way out of whack, but it’s pathetic that so many people couldn’t total up their bills, and understand that they could not afford those houses once the ‘teaser rate’ ran out. The whole mess should never have started, because people shouldn’t have bought into subprime mortgages to start with.
There is plenty of blame to go around on both sides.
Absolutely correct.
What an ass you sound like. I would assume you know by now that when they don’t pay it all trickles down to the rest of us. rich or poor. I rather not pay for someone else’s livelihood while their making a living without paying their expense to operate..what a quack you are.
Oh,
Did I say I hope all repo men and Bankers burn in Hell. There the reason America has turned into a sewer. The bigger the criminal the less the time for the bigger crime.
Bankers, Lawyers, & RepoMen are the three professions that if they were all dead today. The country would be just fine without them and return to its glory
You’re retarded.
agreed……
Yep.
^^^^^Gary—you are an uneducated idiot. Please—if you are going to rant…at least learn to spell.
Dumbest post on the internet.
Again, wow Gary –
America has not “turned into a sewer”, and there is no need for America to “return to its glory”. Why do you think we have a such a long line of people wanting to move here?
I wonder if you have ever visited other parts of the world? If you had, you’d see we have it pretty good here in America. Get some pride in yourself and where you call home!
Try to have a nice day.
Gary:
You’ve had your stuff repo’d before haven’t you? That’s the only logical explanation for your retarded remarks. Pay your bills and maybe you wouldn’t have so much built up aggression 🙂
Gary, the reason why the country is not in it’s most glorious times is because idiots like you. You have absolute zero common sense it’s unbelievable.
Can we all just be nice to each other
Just saw an episode that completely jumped the shark. Now I realize they have to dress things up and make them more exciting, this was utter brainlessness.
Apparently 2 repo men were going after a $3 million jet (just saw the end, don’t know what kind). The owner, by stealing the log books out of their car (?), fooled them into going to his house to steal them back, however, while their BOTH at the guy’s house, he pulls a fast one and steals the plane back, flying it away. Hard enough to believe two cement heads like that could run a successful business.
Anyway, at the end of the show they are shown at another airport with information that the debtor and his plane are about to land, so what do they do, go out to runway with 2 security trucks, lights flashing, to “surprise” them. MY first thought is “Hey, this guy is going to see the freaking flashing lights and fly away!”, and sure enough, he does a touch-and-go and flies away, leaving the repo men in shock.
Sorry, but nobody is that stupid.
Just watched this guy reach his hand around a secured gate to open it from the inside then jimmy the hangar door with a credit card….. HAHA….. That’s the only 5 min of this BS show I will watch, clearly entertainment for fools
Did no one watch the credits? There was message clearly stating that some of the scenes were reenactments, created in an effort to protect the identity of the people involved. Uh huh, I’m sure that’s the reason. 9_9
so a repo guy trudges through alaska wilderness to repo a plane. He then mounts two
cameras on the plane and takes off leaving two cameramen behind, waiting for the chopper to pick them up.
Another show has the repo man disable an airport gate post 911. No federal charges?
You climb over an airport fence, break into a lock box and no camera spots you?
The show has a half ass disclaimer at the end of the show that goes by so fast it’s hard to read.
Yea, I just watched an episode where they snatched a plane from a hanger at an airport not far from L.A. You’d have to be a damn fool not to believe that, in this day & age after 911, fighter jets would be not scrambled to help this plane land real quick! And somehow the tower clears them for takeoff while security is chasing them? Sure!
One episode they had cargo in the back. One shot of them taking off showed the cargo not even reaching the top of the plane and in the next shot it was. This show is deffinetly fake.
personally i could be fake but it sure is entertaining as hell
“entertaining as hell”
You’re having a larf. Get out more.
Good show… if watched without sound.
Next season: the Amish Mafia – Moonshiners to start repo’ing haunted heavies out of South American gold mines. And, it’s all true — except for “some” dramatizations to protect the Amish/moonshiners/zombies/whatever. (You heard it hear first).
I paid for an upgraded Dish package just to get Discovery/Discovery Science. What was I thinking? In a few more months, when my contract is up, that will be the end of that.
I noticed when they broke in to the hanger, they already had go pro cameras mounted on the jet, and when the owner left he was gone for only one minute, so how did they get the jet from one hanger to another in less than a minute? This show is fake and staged.
Citation VII episode was hilarious. I used to fly that airplane –– N7AB. Still looks good!
A friend just texted me to watch this “amazing airplane repo show on Discovery Channel”.
Having aviation and tv production experience, it took about 30 seconds to realize this show is 100% staged. It’s sad that the Discovery Channel has to follow the footsteps of TruTV with a fake “reality” show.
Mark Twain said it best, “If you don’t read the newspaper, you’re uninformed. If you read the newspaper, you’re mis-informed.”
I’d say that’s true with 99% of all media today.
COMPLETELY STAGED!
Ok, I’ve watched them all and gotten some comic relief from some of the ridiculous comments of the actors…or uh repo men. I love watching airplanes and hope that some people like the program enough to get into aviation for a different thrill, flying. It is sad that they have to stoop to make aviation seem so scary. Did I mention the comic relief portion? Honestly it is funny.
I watched a couple of episodes last night only because it had planes in it. I expected it to be phoney and it sure was. All of you have already pointed out many things that were just wrong and I’ll add another one.
When I was flying, my Cherokee had keys. One for the door and a different one for the ignition. If she wasn’t in my hanger the aircraft was locked. If I needed to go inside to pay for fuel service somewhere the door was locked. The door lock cylinder was loose and I’m sure it could have been easily picked. And I do remember hearing if you had a half dozen different Piper keys you had keys to every Piper ever built. I know not all aircraft have door and ignition keys. But, I watched 2 episodes and never heard the word key mentioned.
About a “real” as any other show I suppose. The aviation portion is completely faked, and the legalities of the repos are as bad. I’ve only watched a few episodes and as a pilot I can’t stomach any more.
As so many of you have noted it is bull. As a documentary producer, airshow guy, and pilot, its beyond me that anyone would; 1. watch this crap, 2. believe it is anything but a complete fabrication. First off, airports are secure… how the hell are these people getting in and operating without being noticed. Driving on an airport generally requires mgr permission, and an AVOpermit. Buzzing people was raised in this thread, 1. FAA would consider that an airshow, requiring a permit, 2. without a surface permit, the pilot is clearly in violation of FARs. 3. why the hell would you take the risk at low level to buzz someone? At night!!! 4. in multiple scenes the camera operator is clearly exposed while the repo goofs are hiding out. Wouldn’t the guy with the giant camera give it away? It like this; Reality TV has come as far as it can come without a guaranteed car chase (or boat chase in the florida airboat vs float plane show.) The only way to do that is to script it. Done. It not a reality show. it is an Unreality show… This program gives pilots a bad name. Jumping in a plane without a throrough walk around sets a bad example and is just downright dangerous. If you are pilot…don’t do what these guys do. If you are an AC owner looking for a ferry pilot or commercial pilot don’t hire these guys…. they have sold out their aviation careers for a flash of flame.
I wanna know how the majority of the planes have GAS in them, and when they DON’T, nobody notices when they steal the fuel trucks from somewhere. I also noticed in one of last nights episodes….(Chek fighter jet) that at one moment the pilot and repo guy were wearing flight suits and as they fly away they have NO flight suits. wtf??? That being said, I only found this show two weeks ago and noticed immediately it’s suspicious and can’t be true, but I can’t quit watching it!!!! BTW….my grandpa was president of the Sioux Falls , SD aviation club at one point and had a Cesna. Let me at the helm once in awhile….so I kinda recognize the improbability of the show. Again…can’t stop watching!
Maybe a few international airports are secure, but must airports aren’t. Most don’t have fences or security. Airplane locks and ignitions are like the locks on a particle board desk. Sure this show is a fake, a repo guy would fly in, park beside the plane he was taking, unlock it, do a preflight and fly away. No fuss no mess. If there is an FBO or security that cares, lock a 16 foot log chain to the prop and start calling in law enforcement to prove ownership. Fly it out at your leisure.
Discovery channel must have ties to our current government. Lets dummy up america some more. Fake plane shows, fake shark shows, red necks looking dumb and the list goes on and on. Don’t watch this crap
How about when they repo the Beaver, didn’t they take snowmobiles in before reverting to snowshoes? I guess they make so much $$ on the repo that they can afford to leave the snow machines behind. Also in that episode, as the pilots take off from the glacier they made the emergency landing on, presumably with the camera man in tow, you can catch a glimpse of two figures standing downslope from the plane as it takes off. Are these more cameramen or are they day hikers from a Disney cruise? If the repo men had been unable to “fix” the Beaver on that remote, unnamed glacier, perhaps these hikers could have offered them food and shelter aboard said cruise ship
They could have been flown out in the helicopter that was up filming their takeoff from the glacier…
And the narrator said their only choice was to fix the plane or freeze there that night…
(pretty footage of Alaska on that episode though)
🙂
Guys, I agree with almost all of your points, except for Gary, he’s special.
Anyways, it’s hangAr, not hangEr. You park Aircraft in hangArs and Everything else is just a hangEr.
My .02. Carry on.
You are so right Helo TI, Gary is special. God bless the USA for taking care of the Gary’s of this country. Hang in there Gary, I hear they are going to increase SSI 2% in 2015. That should equate to the cost of about 10 quarts of malt liquor.
Yea, obviously staged, but everyone should understand this is television. The object is to make money, not present truth (especially in programs not presented as news, which is also sometimes faked).
Anyway, I’m pretty sure Discovery Channel presents this as entertainment, and not a complete reflection of reality (see disclaimer referenced elsewhere on this thread). If you don’t enjoy the show, simply don’t watch it!
Remember, “reality TV” is not the same as “reality”. Everyone knows this.
Please note it is possible to be entertained by a TV show, while still understanding how fake the show is, even with those shows that are marketed as “reality TV”.
No one thinks “reality TV” is the same as “reality”, right?
The show is real, man. IT’S REAL!!!!!!!!!!!
haha funny, the show is real? Everything on television is fake and scripted, mindless drones we have all become, I feel like i’m in the Matrix.
I agree. Don’t they say on t.v. ” if it’s on tv it has to be the truth” end of discussion.
Cletus, honey…..they repo planes wearing different clothes during the “quick” repo’s. I love the show anyway. Especially the crocidile guy. I call him the Super Cute McGuyver!
Ya’ll Need To Understand… What I Do Is Best For Business, If You Want To See The Real “Airplane Repo” Come to Collin County, Texas And See For Yourself.
Best Regards, Kevin Lacey [Professional Air Repoman]
Ok Mr. Lacey if you are who you say you are & yall really record in “collin county” what towns surround where the grass airstrip that yall use? Im not cslling you a liar, i hope ur telling tge truth but the chances of you being Kevin Lacey
I was rooting for the debtors when I saw the muscle bound guy hacking thru the brush with a bowie knife.
Watching an episode right now. They’re repo-ing a plane in Idaho. They’ve got at least two camera operators, a chase car, a chase plane, and multiple cameras mounted on and in the plane being repo-ed. Then suddenly (and captured by a well placed camera), after having checked the tie downs on a small load of light boxes (that they did not open) prior to takeoff, the tie downs inexplicable release and the boxes tumble to the back of the cabin, creating a convenient in-flight situation. All this while deciding whether the turbine powered plane can actually make it over the mountain range they want to cross. They then make an ’emergency landing’ at a nearby airstrip. Of course, somehow the landing is captured by a camera on the ground.
The show is not only fake. It’s dumb.
Interesting show! I’m from the UK and being stationed in Toronto for a work stint, I ended up watching a back to back run of the show on Discovery Canada. I found it a total joke but very entertaining! It’s clearly a spoof, which is why I found this thread as I wanted to see what other people thought. The thing that got me is that the programme purports to be a ‘fly on the wall’ documentary. I would say the whole thing is completely staged but the fun in watching is finding the ‘oh come on!’ points! As I mentioned though I think it’s great entertainment.
“fly in my soup” is more like it
I am not sure if I would call it fake. Staged yes but I would like to believe it is loosely based on actual repos. I doubt they would be able to tape a live repo since someone would notice all the extra camera men running around. That plus I just watched the episode mentioned by Jim. If I watched it right then the repo guys truck was still parked in front of the office. I find the show entertaining but I am not an idiot so I know it is staged. Now you want to talk about a really dump repo show then watch operation repo on OLN. Worst show ever…..
You want to watch an actual reality show unscripted then head down to your local court house. Most cases are boring but every now and again there is that special kind of moron that makes the trip worthwhile.
I agree. What DO they do with all the vehicles and camera men left behind?
Was also watching due my love of a/c, but became obviously disillusioned rapidly. However, after reading some of these funny posts I will watch with renewed enthusiasm watching for massive flaws which in hind sight maybe there for entertainment purposes. I am beginning to think the whole show is done with tongue firmly in cheek. Mike the commentator, is back in my good books.
I love airplane repo because of all the suspense. But I suspect it is staged because of the reasons already stated. One episode had the repoed plane forced to land on a snowy mountain top because of engine problems. Once they finally got the engine working, the camera showed them taking off , and they only had “one chance” to get it right. The camera man must have had his own plane because the video showed them taking off from the ground. That’s when I realized it had to be staged.
News flash. All reality shows are scripted, period.
I love this…
I’m part of a flight simulator community, and I am a developer. I have only ever flown a plane twice. I posted a rant about the show over there and people started attacking me, telling me it’s realistic and crap. Quite funny. I don’t see a point in watching this kind of crap.
I would probably watch the heck out of it if it was filmed like an action movie, it would make a great story, think about the possibilities!
ya totally agree, and the kicker is they have Mike Rowe narrating the whole thing to try and pass it off as real. I loved your comment, very good point.
PLEASE everyone stop bashing Mike Rowe. He is AWESOME and his new new show on CNN called “Somebody’s Gotta Do it” is really really GOOD. Let’s not forget his work on Deadliest Catch.
Mike Rowe’s best work was when he was a salesman on QVC. All his other work sucks.
Talking about all the fake I assume that you are not talking about the first two episodes, two episodes that aired followed by about a year hiatus before all this fake crap. Repo team shows up at the airport, contacts sheriffs office, presents paperwork to the airport manager, attaches notice to the aircraft (which I assume is removed before flight, pesky reg about attaching stuff, or does that apply to just flight surfaces and engine lead) full inspection before flight with full cooperation of the airport authorities. Fees that are legally due to the airport are paid and the repo team leaves with the plane. I suspect mechanics and companies that are owed for doing maintenance and/or “upgrades” have to pursue the debtor through the courts.
Did some idiot see something on TV and decide that he can do repo? Is that why he was standing in the flats out near the taxiways in clear view of a runway with lights flashing for everyone on approach to see? I was shocked that the aircraft did a touch and go because I did not expect the aircraft to even touch. The aircraft has to identify itself to any controlled airport it’s going to land at, it needs fuel and any pilot who wishes to keep his/her license is not going to fly it without proper maintenance so locating it while in Nortn America should not be too difficult. I don’t really watch the show any more, but there is not much on.
Discovery needs to be more upfront about the crap and not hide behind a dislaimer flashed on the screen.
The TV show “Mayday” seems to be an excellent quality show. They try to show the actual parts and I wish they were a bit clearer on that because I feel that sometimes they are presenting a mockup of the part as the part in question.
Just watched an episode where they were trying to repo a farrari and the guy happens to go to a place where there is valet parking, how convienient, also even more convienient the valet leaves the box with all the car keys in it unsecured and unlocked. Come on! this is so fake, I have used valet parking before they just don’t leave keys for a car that’s worth over a 100k unsecured like that. I think the whole show is fake.
Guys, regardles all the crap in that show you have mentioned before, the most evident and not noticed is that, nobody can just take off without any clearence and flight plan in the most air trafficated country in the world which is US.
I don’t know any pilot who would ever risk his career and life to do so.
antun……I agree. Had same thoughts on the first episode I ever saw, Ya gotta have clearance to take off for heavens sake and WHERE do they land?
I can’t believe it’s real… In these days? I think you’re shot down by fighterjets within 10 minutes!!!
Shot down unless Dick Cheney wants you to get through!
I’m sick of fake reality shows, and this is just another. I’m not a pilot, but common sense tells me that no one gets to walk into a hangar full of multi-million dollar aircraft with a film crew, switch on all the lights, have access to all the tools and maneuvering vehicles, then gets to hop on board and take off without permission from ATC. They’ve made it look like they’re repo’ing cars. Where’s the security? Where’s the alarm system in the hangar? Even on last night’s episode where one of the repo men was arrested, his crew get to film him taking a nap in a jail cell. All so totally fake and contrived entirely for television ratings. Cynical, misleading and offensive as a result.
How fake can it be? Can’t wait for the episode where they will repo an A380!
Watching this now
One fella sneaking into an airport at night to rob a plane, sneaking along with the lights of 2 video cameras pinpointing him, some joke!
I think that its fake…because They’re straling million dollar jets way to easy.alarm bells ringen! Most parts of the show must be fake.
You have to understand, many reality shows are fake. But Airplane Repo is good entertainment, which is really all it is intended to be. You get to see some beautiful aircraft fly and that is good enough for me.
True…that’s why I can’t quit watching! I can’t quit watching the Dugger’s on TLC and I know that is a ruse too! NO FAMILY is that perfect…..cripes…I know a family with 10 kids….and it’s total chaos. I love seeing the PLANES. on repo though…I truly do.
Season 2 of the show definitely has dramatizations. Yes, season 2. There was a season 1 that was only 3 episodes and featured a guy who isn’t on Season 2. Season 1 didn’t see fake or staged at all. It was actually a little boring sometimes, which is probably why they changed up the show so much. I follow the guys from Season 2 on Twitter and they are always happy to let people believe season 2 is actually season 1. They need to bring back the guy from season 1 though.
Hey Adam, you’ll be happy to know Nick Popovich {season 1] will be back in season 3. He’s going to specialize in repoing unicorns, and I promise you this, it will NOT be boring.
is that the Popovich guy?
The airplane repo is clearly fake, but here in Australia, everyone thinks its 100% legit show. I mean, everyday we hear of shootings, and mass murders in america, so watching a show full of violent idiots is completely believable
Oi, thats funny katie and a little sad Ausie’s think that. Hey katie, did you ever get dingo’s to stop eating your babies? Throw another shrimp on the barbie and have another Fosters, because I’m pretty sure you dont know Christmas from Bourke Street. Oooroo katie, have a good one
I hate to say it but if you tuned in and watched one ad there the winners
I think a much better version of this show would be a reality show based on the filming of THIS reality show.
Filming Airplane Repo. That might be watchable.
I watched an episode where they repo’d a 1940/50-esque yellow bare-bones plane, and “ran out of gas” mid flight. Although they made an ’emergency landing’ with the engine running, the prop was stopped as they rolled to a halt in a field. Fortunately his friend who was flying chase landed next to him and saved the day. (Right. He had no issue about landing his plane in a field instead of finding the nearest airport and bringing him fuel, whatever…)
But the 2 things that caught my attention – an experienced pilot would ‘steal’ a plane without checking fuel beforehand?
Is it that easy to hand-start a plane that had just ‘run out of fuel’? Really – first crank. Nice.
Sharp eye there John, good lookin out. The show is an insult! I just came up with a great reality show. “Crib Repo-Thats Justice Baby!!” Dont pay your Lord and Taylor bill they sneak in at night and repo all the baby stuff without waking the baby. It’ll be bigger than “Watch Me Eat a Worm” airing on the Food Network
Total FAKE. My 17 year old daughter’s best friend’s dad was on the Aug 22nd show. He was the charter pilot in Mohave Desert. They were taking his bosses plane and implied it was confiscated by the government because of drug dealings. Well it was his plane, it wasn’t confiscated and the the scene was shot at the local airport and the gun shop owner and employees were the “police” or “FBI” that were confiscating the plane. My daughter even helped clean the hanger before the shoot. I always questioned why the police didn’t know about the repo ahead of time. Normally they are the first to be contacted. Also, you see them sneaking around but how do you hide the camera crew??? TAKE IT OFF THE AIR!!! Will never watch that show again.
It’s called ENTERTAINMENT!!
THis is an easy question to answer, you don’t have to be a pilot or be well versed in these kind of shows to know that a large percent of the show from episode 4 and beyond is staged under the guise of protecting the bank, repo man and private property. We all know that is TV BS. The first 3 episodes featuring the single company that repossessed planes I can tell were 99% reality. That was obviously not appealing to the majority of americans. So instead of having a good show that shows real repossessions, we now have this hunk of crap that I’m sure has some reality to it. But it seems that every airport shoot is covered by multiple angels even with police in tow to capture the airplane thieves, wait I mean repo men. That appear to enjoy being arrested every time they repo a plane.
I live on a rural airport that was used in the show as a base of operations for one episode’s filming. Watched the crew for two days mid-summer 2014 set up and stage repo of jump school aircraft. A/C was actually owned by nearby jump school, and was loaned to the producers of the show for filming. From what I was able to observe, this is a low cost, high profit operation. For field work they borrow planes, use public space for filming, small crew, 2-3 rental minivans, low expenses. Most of the finished product is assembled from stock shots,and flying footage, spliced together in the cutting room with voice-over telling the tale. It’s a shame that the beauty of flying is getting the same media treatment as an informercial from Gary Trudeau. BTW there is some justice in the world of aviation…when the A/R team first flew into the airstrip, they had three landing attempts busted by errant ultralights buzzing around oblivious to the film crews. Noirmally I get P/O’d at the antics of the U/L’s but that day I was cheering them on.
Was that Cushing field????
I like how they land on the cross runway and say it was two miles away……
And use skydive Chicagos own 208 to repo the twin otters..
Even the repos aren’t real on airplane repo
Bill – The airport in question had LOTS of dead benz’s, a big green road grader, and a burned out motor home.
First how is it that they always have the keys? Or do airplanes not need keys to turn them on? Or do banks somehow have universal keys just in case?
The episode that told me it was fake was the one where a pilot flies a helicopter for the very first time. At first they show him struggling to fly it. Then after only a few minutes he seems totally competent with flying it. Is it really that easy for fixed winged pilots to transition to a whirly-bird?
Fixed wing flying and helicopter flying are completely different. Licenses are different, ratings are different,training is different. If you can fly an airplane and have never trained in a heli… It would be an accident waiting to happen…not to mention impossible to figure out what does what. Show is fake, we all know it. Nobody in their right mind would threaten someone with a go pro camera or large discovery world camera on someone’s shoulder , pointing at them. Being a pilot myself, I’m insulted at how stupid discovery must think viewers are to believe that bs. By the way..if this show was real( which its not)..the FAA would be all over those guys! Not to mention they; trespass, break and enter,violate FAA regulations, etc… ALL ON CAMERA. Any other normal pilot or even person would be in jail or lose their license.
Amen MJ !!!! Created drama….thats all. But we have to admit that the Copter really DID appear in danger. Musta had a Hollywood stunt pilot to pull it off?
Proof the show is fake: S3,E4, the girl hiding behind the tree when the security guard was “washing his truck”, when she ran into the hangar, you could see the plastic covering her mic kit tucked into the back of her shorts.
This was completely staged, or else she was psychic and knew she was gonna get sprayed with water.
Same B/S with the guy firing a rifle at the plane taking off…this show belongs on tru-tv.
I’m not to shire about it. I meen the airplanes look reel and it woodnt be on TV if it was totaly fake that would be false advertise right. And the episode where they shoot at the waterplane and have to gas her up from the open baral of gas was pretty scarey I think. I’ve flowed a few times and the flyen parts seem pretty real looking out the windows and stuff.
It has to be fake. They go in darkness to hide thefact they are about to repo an aircraft but theyhave a camera crew with lights on so they can film it. Thus there goes the cover of darkness!
IT IS FAKE! They go in under darkness so as not to be seen and yet the camera crew has lights onso they can film. R u telling me that those lights are invisible so as not to be seen by security, owners or airport personnel?
HAS TO BE FAKE!
Ummmmm Mike?……YOU FORGOT REMOVE THE PITOT TUBE COVER!!!!!
Look, we all know this show is completely fake. I work at an airport and I can’t so much as fart without proper badging. And for these guys to have complete freedom to roam around the AOA seriously boggles my mind! That being said, harmless and mindless entertainment is all this is. That and my love of airplanes tells me to ‘let go and enjoy’! Just enjoy it, people, for what it is…harmless.
I enjoyed watching this show a bit, but I had to call BS at the guy sent to repo a helicopter. He jumps in, starts it, and begins rotating and crabbing about wildly while saying “great…the first time I take a chopper ride, and I’m piloting it. It’s like learning how to fly all over again.”
I’m pretty sure it’s very illegal for someone to pilot an aircraft with which they have no experience or rating, and for which they are not licensed.
WHAT, not real?
The shows is laughingly staged and insultingly fake.
I owned a Cherokee 180 for 10 years, I know how a FBO and the FAA work.
In the episode where he repoed a twin from a sky diving business and had all the jumpers and pilot out looking for him (a missing jumper) he’d would be in jail for that “prank”!
The producers of these kind of shows have their heads up their you know what’s….
I am a pilot (C-SEL/MEL IA CFII/MEI) and loved the show at first. I realize much of the content has to be re-enacted and dramatized or it would be boring as hell, but as the show progressed the technical accuracy and, hence, credibility has declined to the point that it has become unwatchable. I especially love the repo flights into heavy IMC. NO pilot is going into heavy IMC in a plane he never flew before. Then after building the drama about how difficult the landing is going to be due to the horrific weather, they miraculously break out around 2,000′ AGL with a million miles visibility. Like I said, I can tolerate some technical accuracy sacrifice for entertainment purposes but the show has become a comedy.
As a rule I will watch anything related to aviation, but as so many others have pointed out, this is just so phoney it insults the intelligence. Just another step in Discovery Channel’s descent (plummet?) into trash television.
Did you see the episode where the guy got in a fight with the owner of the plane who here used to fly for. The repo guy suddenly has “blood” on his face and shirt. No video of any punches thrown. Pan to the shot of him flying the plane and not a single scratch on his face.
Definitely fake!
Good point! Just like they show up wearing different cameras and different clothes.
Fake as fuck. All of it. Only the. Commercials are real.
Reading through the comments I have 2 points to make: First, should the show be fake, what does it matter? The whole point of television is to entertain the viewer. If you’re going to complain about the lack of reality in these kind of shows you might as well challenge the possibility of a talking sponge who lives in a pineapple flipping burgers & serving them to other talking sea life. Second, if you do not like the show then simply do not watch it. Your hate & disdain is not needed & those who do enjoy it do not want to read over & over again how fake & terrible the show they like is. It’s not a big deal whether it’s fake or not. It’s for entertainment purposes so leave it at that.
all my previous comments aside….I really DO watch the show. Drama and intense.
PLUS the McGuyer guy really keeps me on the show, Seems everyone wants it gone but I will miss it when it goes.
http://www.salon.com/2009/06/06/lear_jet_repo_man/
Yes, they pick the most dramatic repos to air. It seems to me that many of these are deadbeats who have been hiding their planes at private fields where security is tight. You have to get to the plane to mark it repo’d, and the managers of these fields aren’t going to let you without calling the owner. Easier to sneak in and get to the plane first, then deal with any fall out by presenting the paperwork. And I’m positive they reflim things for effect later, otherwise they wouldn’t get the angles they have in many cases. Lots of guys running around with big cameras isn’t very stealthy, so you reshoot that stuff later.
60% of all repo’s are easy, done openly, have the airports blessing, and half of those have the owner involved freely giving up the plane. The other 30%… those are the ones Discovery airs.
Oh, and keys: airplanes don’t have keys. The assumption is airport security is enough to keep them safe.
The Cessna 172 I’m learning on certainly has keys. Ignition and doors.
Man, is this discussion packed with know-it-all blowhards, cranks and oddballs! The show admits that some scenes are re-enacted. Who cares? It’s ENTERTAINMENT. You dour self-styled “experts” are real boors.
I’m interested in the planes. I’m not interested in the retarded fictitious “drama” they create that insults my intelligence.
I just wanted an episode where they were chased by a combine in a corn field. I wanted to claw my eyes out.
Too bad its a B.S show…..Its funny the keys are in everything…..Think I will watch honey booboo…..B.S.
OK, the show is totally fake and mostly a bad sitcom. But as commercial pilot I enjoy seeing the different types of aircraft. I just enjoy it for the entertainment and stupidity.
I think the footage we see is usually never the actual repossession but a remake of an uneventful job with lots of drama added in. Getting into and moving around an airport is easy if you look like you belong and that you know what you are doing. The easiest way in almost every case is to just fly another plane into the airport and bingo you really do belong there. Why always have to break into or sneak past security or the FBO in order to gain access? The biggest issue for me is that there is always a confrontation when they nab a plane. Most of the times I go preflight I’m the only person on the line and that is during the day. At night I am definitely the only person doing anything in the area.
Show faker then Jerry Springer!
It’s absolutly fake. I’m watching it right now. They claim to be in the Bahamas but they are in Key West Florida.
Next your going to tell me that the old tv show “Sky King” was scripted.
Cool to find this website/blog. Both sides of you all have valid points and I agree both ways. I like the “stars” of this show and LOVE the planes. One guy said it best though and that is I would love to see a show about the MAKING of this show.
I was watching last night and Heather Sterzick was hiding behind a tree at night to avoid the debiter. Who, seemingly without warning started washing his pickup truck in the dead of night. She was caught of guard and apparently soaked while she hid. Clearly this was supposed to be a suprise to her.
However, in a following scene Heather can be seen getting into a plane soaking wet BUT with her mike equipment completely covered in plastic as if it was being protected from water.
Why would the mic and battery pack be covered unless they knew she was going to be getting wet?
This is only one small observation that leeds me to believe that this show is heavily staged if not completely fake.
Okay, this is the most disappointed I have been since I learned pro wrestling was fake. Seriously, as a recreational pilot of single engine planes and gliders, I still get a kick out of the show. It strains credulity, however, when eac episode seems to have the drama of the owner just seconds away from catching the repo men. Sort of like on Undercover Boss, nobody ever seems to wonder why the new guy has his own camera crew. It is entertainment and I get to see some cool planes.
This show disappoints me more and more every time i watch it…
Sure I understand that things will be staged to make “drama” but honestly, it’s like the producers are trying to make the show bad.
Everything always has to be “with your life on the line” to the last second. The last episode I saw when one of the repo guys “repo’d” a piper arrow, I got more pissed than sad for the show. When they were flying the “red warning light” suddenly appears and they have a complete power loss. First of all, the red warning light is for the gear, and you can clearly see the pilot moving the gear selector to get the red light to appear. And that fuc###g warning horn they use in every airplane in every god damn episode!? Also after a “complete power loss” the landing light is clearly still working, as well as the strobes . I mean come on, can’t they just try a tiny bit harder to actually make something look a little more legit?
Also they say the flight is at 5000. You can clearly see the altimeter set right at 1000 feet and the artificial horizon appears that it has no vacuum.
Is it just me or am I the only one who has noticed that mike Rowe is not the narrator of this show?! I’m watching it now and that is def not him. He has a very distinct voice.
Mike Rowe is the narrator for sure. If you can’t tell from his voice, check out his bio on IMDB.
Mike Rowe only narrated a few of the first shows!!!
Every show on any channel is fake. No matter what they about.
it’s as fake as megalodon shark show
I’ve evidence that anyone can see proving it is fake. In the October 3 2014 episode they claim they are on a dangerous island in the Bahamas. Yet, in the video you see repo man Mike Kennedy driving a vehicle. At one point he turns a corner and there is clearly legible a street name marker in the background. It is the corner of Petronia and Frances streets in Key West FL! Go to the Google Maps street view of that location and watch the episode and you will see the same fence, tree, street sign, Do Not Enter sign and house. All claimed to be in the Bahamas. This show is entertainment, but not reality.
I live in the Bahamas and I have never seen that airport on any island , this show is totally fake
The show does not show all the work that Kevin, Mike, or Ken go through to find the plane, or boat. It just shows them finding it and taking it. I saw the episode were Ken Cage was in Maryland in Queen Anne County I do know those places were he was. To say the show is fake is like saying that Kevin, Mike and Ken are actors. Read there bio’s they are real repo men. It is ever educating too. I am glad they are reposing the rich people toys. It is about time. the people who’s planes and boats are reposed for sure are not fake, they are angry chasing them. And Kevin getting beat up, and in a fight with is former boss was not fake. The police are not fake, airport security is not.
So I would say everyone has there opinions. Repossessing someone car, boat, and airplane is a dangerous business, there people are killed. Usually 3 a year.
The show’s a joke. Santa is waiting for you.
The thing that clinched that this show is fake is when they repo that big red speed boat with 3 800 hp engines and the matching truck and trailer all worth 1.3 mil. (Episode “Fly High or Die tryin'”) Note that when the repo man gets on the boat he vocally states he is taking off his shoes and leaves them on the dock. Then the biker dude calls him and tells him the owner is coming back. He and the camerman hide in the cabin and are bounced around and talking in a very loud voice “while hiding”. Seems to me if you owned a 1 mil $ boat and when you get back to it there are some strange shoes sitting by it, wouldn’t you tend to check it out before shoving off?
Which Oneida County Wisconsin airport with the paved 3/21 runway did they repo the three skydiving aircraft from?
I was hoping this was real but I don’t see these men getting in to these airports this easy but after reading all of this and thinking it over I want to ask a question could it be possible these repos did take place and the reason we see the cameras already on the aircraft is that it is a remake of the repo that has already taken place early that day week just with some Hollywood mixed
Ok my second thing is I’m a licensed A&P to get these cameras on the aircraft how can they legally do that with out a license A&P I myself would look at that as changing the airframe and performance of the aircraft from my personal experience that take approval from the manufacturer faa and owner we know you can get these approvals but I’m sure its a lot of money and paper wok and it seems to me that there showing the repo man shows up with a know camera man to set these cams up with out approved Tec data or showing anybody sighing the log book shows they was installed on the plane that would be UNDOCUMENTED MAINTENANCE these flights would still be under FAA guidelines repo or not
So I’m just thinking that there may be some truth to this but what we see and the truth are as different as night and day
I used to watch this show often but my wife switched cable companies and that ended that for a while as I didn’t bother to get the new channel number. Last night I ran across the show and watched a couple of hours. As a pilot I find it interesting, but one can’t help but wonder about the cameras attached to the wings and under the belly when time is of the essence. Maybe they use suction cups, duct tape, or super glue on those million $$ aircraft. So, that’s a bit hokey. But, drama sells. I have a good friend who is corporate pilot and has been hired a number of times as a repo pilot. I have not seen him on any of the shows. I just texted him and asked how much drama he has encountered when he is hired to repo Lear jets. No response as of this post, but he will respond. I suspect that they walk up with the repo papers, hand them to someone then walk out to the plane, run through the check list and off they go.
I just spoke with a good friend who has been hired a number of times as a pilot to repo jets. He said that before he shows up there has been a mechanic who has gone over the aircraft and all of the inspections. He indicated that on the repos he has done the FBO has been notified that they are going to show up at a specific time to take possession. Also, he said that 90% of the repos are flown under an ferry permit from the AFF as not all inspections are current. He noted that an aircraft is worthless without the log books, so those have to be obtained prior to them showing up. So, the vast majority of these shows are staged. Makes for good drams, but that is about it. He did say that he is paid well for ferrying the planes.
Like watching the WWE but with planes!
What about the episode where the repo guy takes a Piper Arrow and looses all power and lights while flying over the Atlantic ocean. Funny thing is if you watch closely he shuts the master off just before the alarms blare. Come on.
There is a “notice” at the either the end or the beginning of the show that states: “for the safety of the repo men and film crew, some scenes are dramatized, bla bla bla” I’m not exactly sure why so many people are surprised that some of it seems scripted. I’ts 2014 and everything we see on television is there to get ratings and to make money.
Just watched an episode where they repo 3 twin otters that were from a Wisconsin skydiving club. I am here to tell you that was totally and completely a fake. I know the Otters and their owner they supposedly repo. They are from Skydive Chicago in Ottawa Ill and are own outright by Skydive Chicago. Google n30ea, n20ea for instance.
I love how the plane just happened to have bad gas, land in some lake and say oh I need at least 3000 feet of lake runway to land, and they just happen to have a boat in that lake to watch them take back off………..WHAT A JOKE, I’d rather watch pawn stars
I’m a B777 captain and fake or not: I love the show!
Definately fake. Have seen two episodes. In the last one, a repo guy jumped into an R44 (helicopter), made some wild-looking hover-turns and said that he had never flown this type of helicopter (or helicopters at all?!). I can only speak for the helicopter part, being a commercial helicopter pilot: There is no legal way (in the U.S. and most other countries) to jump into a helicopter and fly it without doing a typerating. If he never flew that helicopter (or helicopters at all), that would mean that he flew it without typerating, which I doubt. So, at least the part where he denies having flown that type of helicopter is fake. If he had never learned flying helicopters, he would have killed himself and would not have been able to do the takeoff he did.
Anyways, nice entertainment if you´re not in the know.
i just watched that one and all he actually says is “ive never flown a helicopter alone”. I do still agree it is fake though just wanted to clarify since you were not sure and i happen to be wartching that episode right now.
I can confirm with evidence this show is a fake. I went to purchase a helicopter from I guy in Florida. As I started looking around his home it seemed familiar to me. I recognized it from an episode of airplane repo. The one where they repo a float plane in a lake. I asked the owners son about the show. His comment was ” well the airplane is still here” . The owner was a corporate pilot. I expect friends with the producer of the show. This show is a total fake.
I never believed most the show was reql from the beginning just was interested by the idea of a show where they repo fancy jets. The more I watched the more ridiculous it seemed because
1) All the crimes they commit
2) camera angles and such
3) the episode about the potential drug plane
that being said ive seen 1 individual repo that seemed real.
The one where the airport manager actually brings the log books seems like it could be a realistic type repo. (if still staged, at least they made it seem like a realistic repo. no crazy drama)
He enters the airport legally, on a day where there is an airshow.
The airport manager is on his side as the owner of the plane is also late on their hangar rent.
He inconspiculously does a check of the plane by acting like a perspective buyer confirming it is air worthy.
The plane is not an incredibly expensive super luxury jet, it is a small single engine prop plane
The owner has the plane outside of the hanger because of the airshow, and also has it unlocked because it is being supervised.
The airport manager is used to distract the owner and take her away from the plane giving the repo man a chance to hop in and take it.
And he recieves clearance for takeoff because he is in cahoots with the airport.
that is one of many repos and the only one ive seen that seemed real or somewhat real.
I never believed most the show was reql from the beginning just was interested by the idea of a show where they repo fancy jets. The more I watched the more ridiculous it seemed because
1) All the crimes they commit
2) camera angles and such
3) the episode about the potential drug plane
that being said ive seen 1 individual repo that seemed real.
The one where the airport manager actually brings the log books seems like it could be a realistic type repo. (if still staged, at least they made it seem like a realistic repo. no crazy drama)
He enters the airport legally, on a day where there is an airshow.
The airport manager is on his side as the owner of the plane is also late on their hangar rent.
He inconspiculously does a check of the plane by acting like a perspective buyer confirming it is air worthy.
The plane is not an incredibly expensive super luxury jet, it is a small single engine prop plane
The owner has the plane outside of the hanger because of the airshow, and also has it unlocked because it is being supervised.
The airport manager is used to distract the owner and take her away from the plane giving the repo man a chance to hop in and take it.
And he recieves clearance for takeoff because he is in cahoots with the airport.
oh, and the repo man actually says before they leave while getting ready to pull out “make sure to get those go pros mounted” refering to the cameras on the belly and side. This seems reasonable as go pro mounts do not take long to attatch and they were aware they had time because the airport manager was distracting the owner.
that is one of many repos and the only one ive seen that seemed real or somewhat real.
Just saw this show for the first time. This is the biggest load of bullshit I have ever seen. I worked in aviation for about a decade, and there’s no way in hell anyone can pull off all the bs on this show. Even though it is fake, it is funny how dumb it is. I can probably turn this show into a great drinking game.
Hi there guys.
its sad to say but its a fake show. for one reason alone.
in events of taking off or landing or navigating you must report your intentions flight plan and sort of other dozens things to ATC even its an undisclosed or Private airport you must file a flight plan and as soon as airborne you must report your intentions even if ur flying VMC (visual) you must report. so we dont see this much in the show from this point, the show is a fake. but still shows part of a repo life reality.
I must point out the episode where they are trying to repo the bell jet ranger did it for me ! As a previous pilot (fixed wing) I used to watch the rotary wing students regularly and I know from experience that these things need a good five minutes to warm up the turbine prior to flight but in this episode the “owner” seems to arrive, take possession and go fly in the same way as you start a car and just drive off ! All under the nose of the police man. The show is fake of course but I watch it regular because there’s some pretty neat machines that you don’t see everyday and some good flying manoeuvres but it would be much appreciated if the showmakers could read all of these posts and make a few much needed more believable changes. That way the uninformed and the informed would all be happy all of the time. Simples !
Great comments, I fly the B999 all the time out of the b.s. county regional. Oh, its real alright. Seriously though, as super fake as it is, my wife and watch it from time to time. We like to point out the mistakes. It’s kind of a game for us. Try it.
As much as I love alot of previous American shows and people.
What the hell are you guys producing now days? Airplane Repo, Jersey Shore, Swamp People and all these other so called “Reality Shows” are just pathetic. Does everyone think they’re actors or would they destroy everything they stand for just to be on T.V? Sad really.
Episode air’d 2015/01/05
The team repo’d 3 planes off a skydive strip. As usual a few skeptical points throughout but then just as they fly the 3rd plane off the runway and the “bad guys” are pathetically blocking the end of the runway with quads, you realize the cameraman is standing right amongst the group of bad guys as the last plane leaves the ground. Soooooo they just left him behind? WTF.
So fake. I don’t need the extra bit of excitement added by them faking it. Show us the real deal. I’d probly still watch.
I imagine if everyone on this blog forwarded a comment via discovery’s site they might at least review the program…
http://corporate.discovery.com/contact/viewer-relations/
Another clue that the show is fake.. is the audio capture
Having worked on documentaries and movies myself capturing audio dialog
When a stranger walks up to the scene and busts the heist (mechanic, pilot or airport authority..etc)
The scene buster’s dialog recording is often suspiciously crystal clear.. Even when they are15 feet away talking to the repo men in action.. even if the audio is being picked up from the repo man’s lapel mic in proximity of them.. The audio should sound more distant.
The audio is often to good to be true
All of these characters flying those turbine aircraft must have a type certificate for each one on their pilots certificate. That is a whole bunch of type ratings which are very expensive to obtain. The FAA would be on them like bears on honey is they were flying these planes without the proper rating.
Hard to swallow.
GET A GRIP PEOPLE !…. This is a chance for 3rd. and 4th. ranked actors to make a living.
Give them their day and cash. If you don’t like the show, OK………….. But at least turn it on when you go pee. get the ratings up for Mike Rowe.
Mike……… Go back to digging maggots……. more fun…….
Maybe just one silly question from my side- where the hell do they get the keys of all the planes always? If this was anywhere close to real, keys and locked doors to the planes would have been problem number 1
Despite the obvious inaccuracies, re-staged events, multiple cameras etc I do like watching this program. As a pilot, it often gives me a good laugh on technical stuff, but especially liked the one where they are trapped in the swamp/lake whilst man and his girlfriend have long sex bout inside target float-plane. Whoever writes these stories has an evil sense of humour. Oh, and they do warn that many scenes and characters have been filmed afterwards for the sake of TV. Take with a large grain of salt and enjoy!
i dont understand what is the point of this show ,there is nothing science, this should be for boring channel
Here is the disclaimer, shown at the end of the show.
“To protect the repo men, debtors and property, key identifying information has been changed and selected dramatizations employed. Viewers should not engage in the highly dangerous activities depicted on the show.”
Translation, “OK, during the show, we pretend that everything we show is really happening, but, the truth is it is really fake. And, don’t try any of the crazy stuff we show yourself, because if you do and you get hurt, you won’t be able to sue us, since we have just told you that is is all fake and you should not do it.”
Must be fake. If a plane is up for repo there’s no need to sneak around at night and hide from the police. The financing company owns the plane and can just go and get it.
I just watched a episode being filmed at Apopka Florida on April 8. Mike Kennedy and some other guy in pilots uniforms walked through the same scene 3 times while I was watching. A lady in a black dress arrived in a Cadillac SUV 3 times , must have been the “owner” of the jet sitting on the ramp as two other pilot looking guys came to get her luggage from the SUV and took it to the jet 3 times. Then she came inside the terminal to cool off and chatted with Mike while he was waiting to shoot another scene. She complained the mic transmitter hidden under her dress was getting hot. I was waiting to go for a flight but could not step outside until they finished the shots. I did get a photo of me and Mike.
ITS COMPLETLY FAKE! My name is Mark and the episode where there taking a King Air and a Cessna 340 is fake. They say its in New Mexico but yet it’s in Lake Havasu. I know this for a fact because I fly in there all the time. I’m a charter pilot and the C340 belongs to the owner of Havasu Air Center. Lorie is the girl that works behind the counter at the FBO and Darren who fly’s the 340 in the show flew me back to Fullerton airport once in it. He is the owners son that owns Havasu Air center where this is. The King air is a customers plane that Darren fly’s or at least use to for a guy out of Fullerton airport and all he did was keep it stored at his hanger in Havasu and manage it for him. Ive been in that as well. Want to see the pictures! (:
Watching airplane repo: takeoff season 3 episode 2 titled “woman on a mission” First aired tonight may 27th. Completely fake. They are saying they are in Carson county texas up in the panhandle repo’ing a Lear jet. There at KUVA in Uvalde county. You can see the Huff Air hanger, the AirLIFE hanger in the background and the fuel guy/security guy that I know from the FBO there. Why lie? Just adds to the stupity of the whole series.
When a show becomes as predictable as any show on cable, you know it’s scripted. They get the guys plane in a seperate hanger, and surprise, just as theyre shutting the hanger door the owner shows up. Everything in this show is scripted and created to make more drama..
FAKE FAKE FAKE. Give me a court order and a cop and I’ll get the job done without all the fake bullshit. Stupid show.
OK I’m not too sure if the repo’s are real or not, but I will say this. I know that a lot is added, mr. Laci and his copilot just did a repo where the FBI took them down while refueling and one of the FBI agents was miked up on his back belt loop!!! Now I don’t know where these FBI agents were from but I’m sure most FBI agents don’t wear microphones unless on a TV show!!!!
Just watched the latest July 15 episode with the helicopter. When the biker repo man is taking off with the heli, there’s a shot of the man and woman walking around the truck with the gun in his hand, the camera man literally in their face with them, and the next scene is of the guy supposedly shooting the gun at the other two repo men driving off.
Other times it’s very comical seeing the confrontations with both parties trying to keep a straight face.
I don’t know much about aircraft, but I do know that the “cops” on the show are all actors.
All you have to do to 100 percent prove this show is fake as hell is pay close attention to the camera’s. just watched s2 ep11 south of the border. there was a black and white camera mounted right above a ranch hand guarding a gate with a shotgun..ask yourself how were they able to get that camera mounted above the guy without him or any of the other ranch hands knowing.
that’s was the last episode ill ever watch. I’d say 90% of television reality shows are fake these days..sad we are played for fools i hope it backfires for them badly.
This is fake as all get up. The episode where one of the repo men gets taken into custody by Border Patrol Agents in Texas, that is not the Border Patrol uniform, badge is wrong, different patches, and name tapes on the uniform. Complete unofficial costume props. How do I know this? I am a Border Patrol Agent. It’s like a Soldier, Marine, Salior or Airman to see a bogus uniform from one that is genuine.
It’s fake on one eposide the show claims that the airport is in orange county which is wrong the small airport is called whiteman airport in pacoima , ca And second they walk into a 50 ‘s restaurant which is not an operating restaurant it’s only open for studio’s shooting. INTERTAINING BUT FAKE !!!!
I like the show for the “idea” of the job they do, but as most have said it has to be “staged” and that’s for the shows “drama for your mama”. What does bother me is I have seen private jets and even a helicopter taken by their owners when your repo guys just let them be able to walk away with it. I’m not in their business of reposing things, but I would have learned the very first time that once I have the aircraft I would pull a fuse or something so that the owner couldn’t just put the key in it and start it up and fly away with it. I also think you could and should use the law when ever possible and the federal departments as well like Federal Marshals and FFA. I’m sure that wouldn’t make for good T.V. But you make this show look like it “Must” be done in the dark of night or on the fly. But when it comes down to it, I would much rather watch this then Survivor
What a joke of a show…..totally fake!
I have been a cooperate pilot for 29 years. I can tell you this show is absolutely fake. Pure fiction. Last season they claimed to be in the Bahamas when the where actually at Island City Flying Service in Key West. This season is even worse with bad guys with guns, fake FBI agents etc. Ridiculous!
My wife and I love watching the airplanes, but the show is so obviously fake. Too many contrived situations, too many camera angles and too many convenient and predictable scenes. Every time I watch this I want to puke. They may be real repo men, but this is not real time repo’s. I think it is time to find something better to do with my time.
ok, dont judge but my job is an airplane repo, not as much as these guys make (Kevin, Mike and Ken), but still this TV show is real, ok, and if your lucky, you can make over 150 grand at this job!
My wife went to school with one of the actors who played a debtor on one of the most unbelievable shows!
One thing no mattervwhat show it is if it’s on discovery channel it’s FAKE.
They should rename it the fake channel.
Look atbthat stupid show lizard lick towing. It’s so stupid it will give you a headache just glimpsing it for 30 seconds.
Discovery channel plays people forvfools and obviously millions are fools.
i was just watching these idiots tepo a seaplane and the camera crew is with the guy who they are repoing it from and all his friends are playing in the water playing like they do not see the cameraman. Btw why is the debtor blured out.
So let me see ” hi we are going to repo your plane, do you think we would be too obvious if a camera crew hung out with you while the repo takes place”? ” we just want to watch your reaction to all this
Works for me otherwise how do you explain the camera crew who is standing a few feet away to the debtor ???!!!!!!
Last night they had a repo in Cherokee County GA that was supposed to be a father-son gun running operation from there to El Paso. The plane was so loaded down that it could barely climb. No one checked the cargo before they took off. Once they broke the code and figured out what was going on, they called the cops and returned to Cherokee County, which they made to look uninhabited, (actually 200,000 plus residents). There to meet them in the nick of time were ATLANTA police dept cars and officers NOT wearing APD uniforms but some other department uniforms. The APD has no jurisdiction anywhere near Cherokee County and the cops were fake. There goes the show for me. And we used to enjoy it.
I used to like this show but this season has gotten so fake (much worse than prior seasons) that this is the last one I will watch. I think the producers think up every conceivable thing that could possibly happen on any given repo and then write it into each episode. Every episode this season I’ve went, “jeez give me a break” with all the stuff I’m seeing. It’s just gotten really really bad to the point of not being the least bit believable anymore or even entertaining. It’s really a slap in the face to the viewer to think he/she is actually buying into this stuff. Later Airplane Repo, you guys have lost a viewer.
First off, 90% of you idiots cannot seem to spell and you are deeming the show Airplane Repo and the Moon Landing all fake. Get your damn 2nd grade education first and learn to spell.
I will quote “space was made in a Hollywood basement”.
And as far as Airplane Repo is concerned it is fake. They even go as far as to state “some of the situations have been changed” in the beginning of the show.
My question is why does it always have to be a heist. If the bank is truly repossessing an airplane you bring the paperwork to the owner and take the damn plane. The cops cannot stop you nor can the previous owner. The bank owns the plane now.
There should be none of this sneaking around or stealing the planes. It is all fake as well as the moon landing. You notice we have never been to the North side of the moon. Why not?
There is a damn alien fortress on one side of the moon. The Government does not want us to know about it because than they would have to admit we have made contact with extra-terrestrials. This would destroy religion as we know it and change the whole thinking of the human race.
Now, am I nuts or is everyone on here who cannot spell? You determine!!!
It’s completely fake. As a real pilot this and most of the other discovery shows just disgust me..
All of there shows that include aircraft are just retarded, one show that was briefly on was Jade Fever. In scenes where there was a helicopter landing it always went like this… They’ll show a helicopter on approach, a Jet Ranger, then they’ll show a helicopter on final, magically the helicopter has changed in too an A-Star, then they’ll show a helicopter landing, now it’s a 500D, then they’ll show a helicopter taking off again.. Now it’s transformed back in too a Jet Ranger…
And it’s all edited together as if it’s the same aircraft… Do there editors think people are retarded?
I hope I wasn’t the only one too notice that in the intro sequence of Airplane Repo they blatantly used a crash video from the internet. Like really?
super funny show. Dressing up as mechanics to get onto the airfield unnoticed. Don’t mind the camera crew following the mechanics while they run around the airfield. Totally not suspicious.
being a certified asset recovery specialist i can tell you that you cant legally repocess an aircraft, a car,a truck or anything else on national television due to confidentialality clauses so lets stop cry babying about it and just enjoy the show.
Watched one episode and it’s a fucking joke !!!
Fat bastard repo men who know how to fool real criminals and can make any fix to plane to get in the air ??? It’s funny how cameras catch all scenes lol when it’s all said and done, I have no idea how they capture the audiences attention !!! Well I guess the oblivious and naive people out there lol just terrible !!
Watching an episode where Kevin repos a 172 (clearly model N or earlier). It has a engine problem because the debter shit him in the tail. Kevin says it’s a fuel système failure. Man, every pilot at any level of experience knows for à fact that there aint nothing there except cables. Show is pure shit straight out of a bull’s ass.
For all the haters of this show or any of the other “realty show”, if you don like them, stop griping and change the channel!!!!!! Why keep watching a show that you clearly dislike and disapprove of! Move On!!!!!!!
I wouldn’t use the word “Fake” rather its just entertainment supposedly “Based” on real events. I’m no expert in repossessing planes but I’m sure repossessing such high value collateral would require some sort of court order document with the debtor already aware of the consequences. I can only imagine the lender who’s financing the high value collateral will probably take the debtor to court before repossessing. These guys from Airplane Repo are trespassing into airports like its nothing (which I’m sure is super illegal) and breaking into locks is just all baloney.. I know this show is staged but i just watch it for entertainment rather than complain that its “fake” read the disclaimer people!
A lot of these repo reality shows are definitely fake or reconstructed with 70% drama and exaggeration. I have been in the private investigation and recovery business for 16 years. 99% of the time there isn’t any danger why? coz u don’t put yourself in the situation. Professionals do it without attracting attention and without breaking the law..that’s the reason why clients hire your services. The key in such business is not being a tough guy its about being wise and diplomatic. You have to be creative and always think out of the box.
But I was to make a reality show of the real thing it will be pretty boring. I have gone after serious criminals in Asia and still do and all without the drama. There has been interesting situations but none of those cut! action! stuff.
I am an insolvency practitioner and I just saw the show where they recover 2 Airbuses from the Azores for a leasing company – they tried to make it touch and go but once you place the reps soon order on the plane it cannot be touched if the airline is not the legal owner. I have recovered planes by just having that placed on the cockpit windshield – same as boats and ships
If you watch the first 3 pilot episodes that was real show, Nick Popovich was his company in the first 3. He had full support of the FBO and airports he always had a court order to repo the plane. Too bad they ruined the show with those bozo’s after the pilot.
The original order was for 6 episodes the first season but because of the difficulty involved in shooting real repos, it was cut back. It was a logistical nightmare, film crew even got arrested at an airport (their escort walked away from them on the tarmac) But it was real!
I miss the Wing Suit episode where he gets dropped out of a pland @ 25000 ft. and lands right in the cocpit. Lol. Too funny
This is not reality tv!, so fake!
OK. So here are my questions: 1) Why call it stealing? I believe it is actually repossession isn’t it. Do they call it stealing to try to make it more suspenseful? 2) Why not show up, get in the asset, call the police, show them the paperwork, and leave with it? No more debtors running around yelling and screaming and no more sneaking around.
Ok, I’ll admit it…I am completely aviation ignorant….but being retired from law enforcement, the first thing I noticed was…hey, great job showing everyone how easy it is to get into small airports, terrorize much? That being said, I’ll continue watching and reeeally enjoy my stupidity, cause the adreneline junkie never dies 🙂
I read most of the above comments. It doesn’t matter to some of us because I always enjoyed the show with the original Ken Cage group. Watched the newer one with a different cast and did NOT like it. It’s TV entertainment, and better than a lot of the stuff on TV. My dad was a pilot and I was a flight attendant and we both liked it, and it tells you on the show that some scenes are recorded. You can always change the channel, etc.
I haven’t read all the replies, but when Kevin Lacy has to land a Cub because it is out of gas, then why did they show the fuel indicator, a stiff wire with a cork at the bottom of it, showing it is a full tank. I think anybody that knows about aviation knows it is not all “there”. And of those that know nothing about aviation, it doesn’t take much brain power to see things arn’t as they appear. But still,I like to watch airplanes fly.
Why did they not stay with first 3 pilot episodes? The show was right on the mark. That Nick Popovich was the real deal. I loved watching him and his team. I have been repoing cars for over 20 years. I love to work with Nick Popovich.
I saw an episode last night that claimed to have happened at an undisclosed Alameda County executive airport. Well, ok. But there are only four airports in the county and one of them is KOAK (which I don’t think qualifies as an executive airport).
They briefly show sections of the airport diagram as they are planning, and even though they don’t show the name, it is obviously Witham Field in Stuart Florida.
But in some of the airport scenes there are shots that show taxiways that don’t exist at SUA.
I’m guessing if indeed it was a “re-enactment” it originally occurred at yet a fourth airport. 😀
While I worked in aviation for over 20 years, you don’t need to have a background in the industry to see how annoyingly fake this show is. EVERY last person is a terrible actor sounding like third graders in a school play, scenes filmed from areas and vantage points which would require the entire cooperation of those who are “unsuspecting” targets, and so many “close calls”, stupid “impromptu” remarks, and frankly FAA laws broken over and over. If what they claimed was real actually happened, non of those guys would still have their ticket. But the thing that bugged me the MOST in the one episode I watched was the BAD BAD acting.
While the repossessions themselves may be real, the situations have a tremendous amount of “dramatic license”
“If the fuel flow problem isn’t resolved, they will fall out of the sky”…
No, they become a glider.
The fear of arrest is unjustified if you have legitimate and proper paperwork, so they are not “heists”
It is an entertaining series, but factually challenged.
Completely fake. One episode involved the reposession of a Stearman from the airport community where I live. Never heard of the airport manager they interviewed, and that airplane has never been hangared on this airport.
All of you guys complaining on a blog like it’s gonna change the show. Poor guys.
To me it doesn’t matter how much of the show is real or fake. I watch it for entertainment.I have watched just about every so called reality show that has been on Discovery Channel and there are scenes in everyone of them that are staged. Who cares. Most of what is on television is fake. I have watched every episode of Seinfeld at least twice and enjoyed every one of them.Guess what, they are all fake, written by Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David for entertainment. I guessing most of the idiot replys I just read were written by people who have watched Seinfeld,Alaska the Last Frontier, Bush People, Life Below Zero, and Deadliest Catch and didn’t start complaining that all were fake or staged. Even programs that should be real with no part staged is the news. ( Fox HAHA ) I don’t understand why anyone cares about reality shows being real. If you don’t like any of them DON”T WATCH. What a bunch of a-holes.
it is totally fake but still makes good watching compared to other fiction on TV
Yes, the show is mostly staged. It is mostly recreated from actual events. Still entertaining. That’s what it is all about, entertainment! As far as the 2008 bank crisis, Barnie Frank’s & Nance Pelosi introduced legislation years before that FORCED banks to lend to risky subprime borrowers who could not really afford to buy a house with a Minimum down payment, & barely enough income to live let alone pay a mortgage! You can thank those two CLOWNS for their totally stupid idea to help the poor live like the middle class who worked hard & saved to buy a house! Typical liberal handout just like welfare!!
It’s fake. Everyone would know these actors by now (in the real world) who repo their planes. Just as you would recognize these repo guy, if they showed up at your place. In just about every episode they always get away, just in time, as the guys are running after them. Except with the one with the bodyguard. They always get caught, since he has a bodyguard. They also always find the plane, just as the guys are leaving it unattended. It’s all written and staged. When they get arrested, they never arrest the camera man or ask them any questions nor does anyone, as if they are not there or don’t exist. No one ever questions about all the damn cameras everywhere …not even the bad guys …lol.
I just today (7/6/2018) watched an episode where Mike repo’d a Beech Baron, and it developed engine trouble shortly after takeoff somewhere in Texas. He planned to put it down on a highway. Guess what, there were camera shots from the ground showing him approaching the highway. How did the camera crew get there? Definitely staged. He abandoned the highway landing, and flew on to an airport. The young female in a tank top flying co-pilot announced on the radio that “Cherokee” such and such was landing, even though they were in a Beech Baron.
Buyer beware… or is it viewer beware.
A point on repo. As I understand it, the police won’t get involved in private contracts, which is what a loan for an aviation asset is. The ‘true’ owner is usually the lender until the balance is paid. There are rules/laws around reposession in different jurisdictions, but typically there is a requirement for peaceful reposession. Often if the police arrive it isn’t peaceful anymore so the police may send the repo guys/gals on their way – empty handed. This is why the repo guys are sneaky. Get in and get out before it is no longer peaceful. Repo agents are also supposed to abide by the repo laws, which may prohibit break and enter/forceful entry. Check your state/country laws if you want the speifics.
There are way to many scenes where aircraft are filmed from other aircraft for this to be real. Also vehicles, snowmobiles, equipment left where no one would want to go back and get it if the situation was real. Another give away is that there are to many camera crew members for these to be covert repo attemempts. I would expect if real there would be a lot more gopro type covert/small camera footage.
I don’t doubt the actual cases are real, but I also believe there is a lot of Dramatised scenes. It probably varies by episode. Good on them for telling a good yarn and making a few bucks.
Take the show for what it is. There is no claim it is a documentary.
This is what Canadian television has come to. The CRTC should cancel Discovery Channel’s license and this show really needs to be exposed publicly. Bell Media saw to it that there is no forum to get to the truth when they cancelled Daily Planet. They should be ashamed of themselves filling Canadians up with this crap!
I worked for the federal Government for ten years and that is some of the worse acting by FBI agents I have ever seen. There is no way that the scenes where the repo men are cuffed and the paperwork is checked is real. FAKE 100% ! In one scene the ATF shows up and the planes owner is waving around a shotgun. Not one shot fired. In the real world he would have been shot on sight. The guy ran (very slowly) as if he was supposed to get caught. This show is laughable at best.
I believe it’s fake , when they repo a Ferrari or Lambo ,aren’t these cars protected by a security system that prevents you from starting the Car. They just hop in and drive away. second :once they wanted to repo a truck in a remote wooded area far in the woods of Georgia and there was a vicious guard dog in the yard.To distract the dog after having come face to face with it. They came back minutes later with BBQ pork chops . Where did they find these freshly cook meat ! and once the dog ate the pork chops they simply commanded the dog to sit and stand down, this dog was about to launch to kill them ??? Looks like they knew this dog.
Another repo of 4 planes from a flight school, they showed the owner in his school doing the paper work while they were repoing the planes, how did they get a hidden camera in the school to film the faulty owner doing paperwork when they just happened to have walk in that airport minutes before. ???!!!! Every plane, boat or car seem to lack any security system, High price toy with no security systems WTF!
I just wonder how they get the clearance to take of so quickly…or do they just go and hope for the best?
And this tv show folks,… Just reminded me why I do not watch TV. Horrible! If you are going to have nothing but fake seens, atleast have decent actor’s!Boooo!! I give the entire thing an F!I’m surprised they made it into a second season. Now if something believable happens like one of them gets shot..I might give it a second chance lol
This is one of the funniest shows on TV. It really should be on Comedy Central as opposed to the Discovery Channel, and renamed “The Keystone Kops meet Airplane”. The entire cast are all very funny in their roles. This show is so fake it makes the trump residency seem legit..
I am a pilot with 10,000 + hours, worked for the FAA and NTSB along with other very reputable aviation firms. I can 100% assure you this show is STAGED!!!!! Prove to me its not staged and bring me on the show!!
Pitiful show should be cancelled as it brings SHAME to the aviation community!
Funny thing is Trump is real and is your president regardless of your socialism beliefs are…the show is staged!
More clarification of the creative filming.
1. Police vehicles have no markings & often have no number plates.
2. Nobody ID’s themselves when demanded.
3. Post 9/11 the USA’s so tight it could pass a greased BB (cleaned up for here) so there are 2 chances – NONE & BUCKLEY’s of being able to waltz into airports like that.
4. The same planes have been staged a few times.
5. Since 9/11 Nobody is going to broadcast HOW to circumvent FAA regulations & security
6. Everyone is Smiling !!!
7. I cannot believe that an veteran pilot would never carry a portable aviation transceiver to listen to air traffic or in case of an air emergency.
8. A few times the fuel tanks are allegedly bone dry & need a top up. Is this not theft when fuel is pilfered without payment ?
9. No planes (unless a model plane) operate on a few gallons of Avgas the fuel pumps require a minimum fuel level.
10. A few times I we see a quick refuel with watering can or similar. Why would the Repo Agent not be prepared with 1 gallon fuel bladder ?
The mind boggles, people
Interesting group in a curious style? Almost illiterate , unable to read the preface on television programmes, and unable to spell words despite the facility of spellcheck on our devices. Some factors are clearly illustrations of the horrid reproduction of a service action repossessing vehicles. However most of these would be a matter of finding the debtor and requesting the surrender of keys ,documents and the goods under threat of being arrested for contempt of court if the order is not complied with. But it is announced as a remake of the activities which means the company will add any nonsense they want to to spice up the game for viewers – you have been forewarned. Now you go wandering around an airport like that you’ll experience security displaying all the training they have studied with an eagerness to prove themselves indispensable to the airport. However there are people who show contempt and are delinquent debtors of the extreme . In those there are stories we may disbelieve anyway, and the truth of those will not be revealed in order to protect the agents. They simply produce results with a veil of secrecy . Obviously there is also a duty of care with this form of transport that the FAA and similar agencies where curious, non essential persons are excluded whenever noticed. Sabotage can be deliberate or unintentional but it will be life threatening or just plain expensive to rectify, so you all may keep out. Anyway I guess some people get frustrated with watching cartoons and gotta write on forums about the disingenuous nature of the product but I like to watch this bullshit story Airplane Repo. There are many facets that keep me coming back to view it repeatedly and when it stops airing .THEN I get pissed off about it ; not being on every week . And thats MY 2 cents.
I believe there are real repo people, but this show is totally staged. Outside and inside cameras mounted on the planes, close get-away calls. Swarms of cameramen tagging along. And why is it they can wander around airports for hours, going through hangars and not a soul around. I just watched a show where muscleboy was stealing a Cessna 340, and first he steals an electric baggage cart and drives all over the bloody airport and no one notices. Then he discovers, the plane has no power so steals batteries out of a couple cars. Are you kidding me? My intellegence was insulted and I’m a pilot. This show is as fake as my wife’s hair color.
It’s so fake. Being chased by men with guns, yet the camera men stay on the ground for those sweet take off shots. If you have the paperwork, you call the local authorities to keep the peace to stroll in and take it. If you don’t call local Leo’s, you’re an ass that deserves to be taken down at gunpoint. Entertaining, but totally fake.
Ha…welcome to my life as a nurse watching medical shows. A pulse oximeter( which belongs on a finger) shoved up a nose. I never laughed so much. I hate those shows cant watch them. Televison..hmmp.
I am a retired Continental Airlines DC-10 captain. I will have to say it’s probably the worst reality TV show I have ever witnessed pure pure garbage
I’m a professional photographer and a pilot, seeing this show insults both fields! There are so many scenes where they are sneaking around in the dark, hiding from security, fighting off owners, and they barely make it out in time. My biggest question; How do they have time to attach all of the lipstick cameras on the interior and exterior of the planes? It’s all staged and completely fake. After saying this, I would like to say, It would be cool if they could make a show about this type of work and it be the real thing!
Who would fly an airplane where you have no clue what kind of problems it has? Especially ones on the show that are often missing pieces, yet since he’s an A&P mechanic, he can put the plane back together in record time, and find all the tools and parts he needs. There are many episodes were they magically find everything they need just lying around. Tow vehicles, tow carts, jump carts, batteries, fuel, wheels, circuit breakers, etc.
And the plane/boat owners always oddly goes away for awhile, then magically always a very short time later goes back to the airport/water (as if they hang out at the airport/water all day every day), and arrive right as the plane is taxing. Then the owners often chase after the plane (or shoot at it) on foot or in a car. What could they possibly do? Run it over? Jump on it James Bond style and force it to land/crash?
Shows like this make me question humanity’s continued existence.
Besides all of the issues mentioned by others, I have noticed that all registration numbers are blurred out. If these were really repos and they had the permission of the legit owners to film the repo (which they would have to have) why do they need to blur out the registration number? I wonder if these aircraft are repos at all, but the whole episode is a total fabrication. Also, they routinely enter into presumably locked hangars that are private property. This is known as breaking and entering, which is illegal regardless of the ownership of the aircraft. The legal way of doing it is to contact law enforcement, present them with ownership documentation and proof that the aircraft is in the subject hangar, get a search warrant for the hangar and compel the hangar owner to open the hangar. Obviously they already had permission of the hangar to enter and film on their property (and probably paid for the privilege).
Absolutely fake…Rigged…
what multi millionaire would have 6 gorgeous jets sitting in a hanger with NO elaborate security system to protect them…But it is fun to watch these idiots….
And the money they say they make…is probably true …like $37500 fot one jet repo…TV show pays them
well.
And then there are the other idiots trying to convince us that bigfoot is real…
But it is imaginary fakery…
Isn’t all TV and movie shows like that?????????
Absolutely fake…Rigged…
what multi millionaire would have 6 gorgeous jets sitting in a hanger with NO elaborate security system to protect them…But it is fun to watch these idiots….
Many shows are fake, but this one is the fakest of them all.
Not to mention they would have all been shot before they ever stole the first 3, much less hundreds.
I’ve been around airports, and aircraft all my life. We pilots talk, and they all claim it is 100% fake.
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Not in aviation but it looks sooooooooo fake. Common sense says it’s BS. Like they took car repos, the worst case senerio, & applied to planes. It’s so bad I can’t even laugh.
So much bullshit on most these programs. What did the debtors think was going on when they being filmed. And oh being chased, the Repo guys are taking their sweet time to set up cameras. And I’ve only seen one show and came to this conclusion and never again.