# Stunt pilot flies plane through tunnel **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 7, 2021, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stunt-pilot-flies-plane-through-tunnel/950236 "2021-09-07T14:25:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2021, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stunt-pilot-flies-plane-through-tunnel/950236/1 "2021-09-07T14:25:20Z")
A stunt pilot flying a plane with Red Bull markings flew through a highway tunnel near Istanbul, Turkey. It’s thought to be the first time anyone has flown an airplane through a tunnel. The stunt was a year in the planning. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/wi58HifcxMY/hqdefault.jpg "Stunt pilot flies plane through two road tunnels") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi58HifcxMY) I guess it’s true, Red Bull does give you wings! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2021, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stunt-pilot-flies-plane-through-tunnel/950236/2 "2021-09-07T14:27:59Z")
I first read the OP as “Stunned” instead of “Stunt”. The story in my head was awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2021, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stunt-pilot-flies-plane-through-tunnel/950236/3 "2021-09-07T14:43:37Z")
Ah yes, Ace Combat “Ice Floes” mission… ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2021, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stunt-pilot-flies-plane-through-tunnel/950236/4 "2021-09-07T15:19:15Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I first read the OP as “Stunned” instead of “Stunt”. The story in my head was awesome [Groucho voice] If the pilot was stunned, how do you think his passengers felt? [/Groucho voice] ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2021, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stunt-pilot-flies-plane-through-tunnel/950236/5 "2021-09-07T15:28:15Z")
Considering it is twenty years (give or take 5 days) since another plane stunt I must try really hard not to crack a tasteless joke here. But… no, better not. Just sayin’: No incoming traffic, ventilation off, lights on, no curves, single engine small plane, one year preparation (🤨 how do you spend _a whole year_ preparing that?)… well. I see no reason to drink Red Bull here. I am not convinced. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2021, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stunt-pilot-flies-plane-through-tunnel/950236/6 "2021-09-07T15:58:30Z")
He basically starts low and stays low for the long straight tunnel. Difficult and careful consideration of conditions required, but not mindboggling. If he’d turned around and flown _back_ through the tunnel, I’d be suitably boggled. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2021, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stunt-pilot-flies-plane-through-tunnel/950236/7 "2021-09-07T16:07:56Z")
Or if the pilot had at least tied the plane to a moving train: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/qCG0dxM0JIk/maxresdefault.jpg "HELICOPTER IN TRAIN TUNNEL -Mission Impossible 1 1996 Best scene") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCG0dxM0JIk) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2021, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stunt-pilot-flies-plane-through-tunnel/950236/8 "2021-09-07T20:20:25Z")
Flying in close spaces isn’t so hard… 🙂 [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ITsExjg47-c/hqdefault.jpg "Birds Of Prey (1973) helicopter action highlights") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITsExjg47-c) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2021, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stunt-pilot-flies-plane-through-tunnel/950236/9 "2021-09-07T20:26:43Z")
Love those 500s! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Iob5N_RgSqg/maxresdefault.jpg "Deadly Encounter (1982) helicopter action highlights") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iob5N_RgSqg) ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2021, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stunt-pilot-flies-plane-through-tunnel/950236/10 "2021-09-08T08:32:36Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > If he’d turned around and flown _back_ through the tunnel, I’d be suitably boggled. Or if he’d done any kind of aerobatics in the tunnel, that would be impressive. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2021, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stunt-pilot-flies-plane-through-tunnel/950236/11 "2021-09-08T12:00:32Z")
There were a couple of stunts like that (flying through airplane hangars) in a couple of the James Bond movies. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2021, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stunt-pilot-flies-plane-through-tunnel/950236/12 "2021-09-08T12:08:34Z")
Fortunately, that tunnel is quite spacious. My concerns would be tricky air currents and losing lift, but it appears from the article that the planning was very thorough. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2021, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stunt-pilot-flies-plane-through-tunnel/950236/13 "2021-09-08T12:33:39Z")
meh, I’ve seen better. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Cho039BrHpg/maxresdefault.jpg "Mission: Impossible (1996) - Tunnel Chase Scene (9/9) | Movieclips") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cho039BrHpg) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2021, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stunt-pilot-flies-plane-through-tunnel/950236/14 "2021-09-08T14:08:11Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > meh, I’ve seen better. Me, too. Six posts back, I think. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2021, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stunt-pilot-flies-plane-through-tunnel/950236/15 "2021-09-08T14:20:11Z")
I spent a six months in 1981 chucking quarters into Scramble. Piece of cake! ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2021, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stunt-pilot-flies-plane-through-tunnel/950236/16 "2021-09-08T16:18:10Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Me, too. > > Six posts back, I think. Mea culpa. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2021, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stunt-pilot-flies-plane-through-tunnel/950236/17 "2021-09-08T16:34:56Z")
They got some cool footage from it and now we all _know_ that this is a thing that can be done; my guess is that people do it again. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2021, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stunt-pilot-flies-plane-through-tunnel/950236/18 "2021-09-08T16:46:40Z")
> [@Mark\_Finn](#): > > There were a couple of stunts like that (flying through airplane hangars) in a couple of the James Bond movies. Don’t forget the scene from It’s A Mad Mad Mad Mad World: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/eWoCLqMq8qM/maxresdefault.jpg "It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad Mad World All Plane Scenes") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWoCLqMq8qM&t=476) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2021, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stunt-pilot-flies-plane-through-tunnel/950236/19 "2021-09-08T16:51:09Z")
And a less successful stunt: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/70Z28nULwfQ/hqdefault.jpg "Airplane Tunnel Car Chase: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70Z28nULwfQ) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2021, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stunt-pilot-flies-plane-through-tunnel/950236/20 "2021-09-08T17:11:53Z")
Two of the times I was walking the Golden Gate Bridge, a helicopter (maybe the same one, actually) flew underneath. While going under a bridge isn’t as inherently a disaster waiting to happen as flying through a tunnel, I did think it was illegal. How was he getting away with it? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stunt-pilot-flies-plane-through-tunnel/950236.md?page=2)