I love the premise of the show and I wish it weren't fake but if you watch it, you can completely see that its not a real situation. One episode, the plane lacked batteries. So Danny Thompson goes and gets 2 car batteries and wires them together with jumper cables. Now, that sounds feasible up until he just touches the two leads to the wing where there is clearly no kind of battery or leads or any kind of device that might connect to the battery, he was just touching the hull of the plane. Wouldn't those batteries need to be.. ya know.. installed into the plane to be of any kind of use? I'm no aviation expert by any measure but I'm pretty sure you cannot jump start a plane by touching the wing with jumper cables.
30 Reviews
Pure Guilty Pleasure
eob-9370025 February 2021
Yes, it's mostly faux drama, but it's also fun faux TV. Actually they have some talented editors on this series. It's cut like an old-time serial where you can't imagine how these guys will get out of an impossible situation. You know they will because it's more script than actual danger, but the hook is in. Kevin Lacey is the pilot you always hope is flying your jet. He's calm, cool, collected, and just seems like the guy you want in the pilot seat when you're the passenger. Don't take it seriously. Just sit back and enjoy getting hooked for the hour.
As real as a WWE match
speed_energy_hummer9 June 2017
They sneak onto airports, into marinas, lie to security people and all with a cameraman and a guy holding a mic over their heads. No one questions why there's a cameraman? I seriously thought that this was going to be a great show but instead it's beyond phony and insulting to viewers and the producers should be ashamed.
Fake, fake, fake
benhasajeep25 July 2013
These shows are so fake and set up. It's amazing anyone could possibly believe it's real. If these guys are in such a rush to get planes out quickly. When did they have time to mount cameras all over the plane for aerial shots. And how did they happen to get elevated shots from a high point at airports where they land. Where supposedly cops were also waiting?? Show is total BS!!!!! There are clues all over the shows that indicate they are really scripted and set up. I would even go so far as saying the planes were probably already secured and they filmed after they had already been repossessed!
And the 3 reviews that give it rave reviews is absolutely FAKE!!!
And the 3 reviews that give it rave reviews is absolutely FAKE!!!
Totally Fake
chrisa-0719722 November 2019
As a pilot who used to do bank repossessions I can tell you with no question this is one of the most scripted fake reality shows made. I would speculate almost all the repocessions are setup for the show in some way. A good way to know is the logbooks. Logbooks are never carried with aircraft and looking for them was always a problem and that part of the show is portrayed somewhat correct. It falls apart where the fake goon that is owed money that is somehow talked down then conveniently has the books in his car or laying on the desk. This was totally setup. In some episodes you can see the cops that come up dont actually have badges and are clearly actors. Also, I would say almost all the aircraft emergencies are setup and fake. Running low on fuel, radios that wont work all fake. If I where the actors or producers of this I would be ashamed to portray anything other than fiction.
The show is fake, but I love it anyway.
bushcasa8 September 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Sometimes it's good to just turn off your brain and enjoy. If you love aviation and enjoy some good cinematography then this scripted show is a good escape from reality.
The characters and situations the writers come up with are outlandish but it's still entertaining. I like to watch it with my 9 and 13 year-olds and let them figure out the clues that questions the shows 'Reality' veracity.
There is good edutainment value provided by the shows narrator, Mike Rowe of Deadliest Catch fame. He provides some solid facts about aircraft and the aviation world.
Jason Bush Air Traffic Controller/Pilot
The characters and situations the writers come up with are outlandish but it's still entertaining. I like to watch it with my 9 and 13 year-olds and let them figure out the clues that questions the shows 'Reality' veracity.
There is good edutainment value provided by the shows narrator, Mike Rowe of Deadliest Catch fame. He provides some solid facts about aircraft and the aviation world.
Jason Bush Air Traffic Controller/Pilot
I love aviation if not this is a -1 star rating
job-matt18 December 2020
This is clearly one of the most staged fake "reality" TV shows ever made.
Being a big fan of general aviation and expensive toys (not that I can afford them)
This show is a joke, the drama that the producers create is so far fetched even a B-rated movie has more credibility. This goes beyond entertainment, the actors are horrible. Could be a joke that the audience hasn't been made aware of.
Not worth the replay!!
Common sense
PotatoSkit7 June 2021
Repo surprises
klm-901942 May 2017
I am not sure how this show is made, but if genuine, what about airport security. If I fly I want airfield to be very secure. Can the show makers clarify. It is very interesting that these repo (show word) guys seem to enter airfields and take aircraft without being challenged or authorized ( British English). Can someone tell me how things are controlled.
You've got to be kidding me
dholec21 July 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I watched part of an episode the other night. The repo man went to pick up a plane and some of the electronics were missing. He takes the plane at night, uses a automotive GPS device to fly to a neighboring airfield and has to call using a cell phone to get the new airfield to turn on the lights. WTF. With the thousands of dollars these guys claim to make off of these repos, they could afford a hand-held com and a Garmin 396 in their repo bag. This is full of manufactured drama. They are in a hurry to remove the plane from the airfield but they apparently have time to install 10 GoPro cameras on and around the airplane. ( even in the wheel wells ) Real repos are boring. You show up with a sheriff and a bunch of legal documents and if the plane is flyable but incomplete, you must obtain a ferry permit from the FAA otherwise the pilot could lose his/her license. Far from real. I wouldn't hire these jokers to WASH an airplane of mine, let alone fly it.
Strangely Interesting
sburjak27 March 2011
An odd, but interesting show. Suspense, reality, wry humor, pathos, people with colorful pasts, most importantly flying and airplanes.
Also what a range of airplanes and locales.
Has it all. A show that doesn't need anything added to quicken the pulse rate.
It's real. It has a number of personalities who have differing MOs for dealing with difficult situations.
What an interesting career path.
Nick Popovich has quite a knack for assembling teams of people who are specialists in their fields.
Go Nick, keep collecting from the deadbeats and dreamers.
Also what a range of airplanes and locales.
Has it all. A show that doesn't need anything added to quicken the pulse rate.
It's real. It has a number of personalities who have differing MOs for dealing with difficult situations.
What an interesting career path.
Nick Popovich has quite a knack for assembling teams of people who are specialists in their fields.
Go Nick, keep collecting from the deadbeats and dreamers.
Fake and gotten worse
mikeopam16 September 2015
I've watched every season up to now. 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 episode I watched, they repossessed a bus
MoviePopcornCostsTooMuch5 December 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I guess 'Bus Repo' isn't as sexy as 'Airplane Repo'. The white haired guy and the guy that did too many steroids repossessed a tour bus. This duo, unlike the other two repo guys, doesn't just repossess airplanes, they repo buses and boats.
Like one of the other comments I watch the show because of the airplanes - I enjoy seeing a different plane each time and the cinematography of the flying. I am interested in seeing the value of the plane and the little animation they do with the range, size, passenger quantities etc. The producers should know these are the only reasons people really continue to watch. They should show more activity in the air rather than in a bar, casino, etc. And get the pilots to talk more about the plus and minuses and unique qualities of each individual plane. That is to say do less of the incredulous, contrived 'reality' and focus more on the core of the show.
In real life, I doubt EVERY repo has the owner show up JUST as the repo pilot is getting into the plane. Some of the episodes are so bleeping stupid. Examples:
>>somehow, the repo man discovers the owner of the plane is 'in town for a card game'. He needs to befriend the owner to find out where the plane is. Cut to, pilot in a tuxedo going to a private high stakes poker game at a hotel with his girlfriend all dressed up as well so she can get intel from the other girlfriends. First of all, how the hell did he find out where the game was? ( in a hotel room ) 2nd, how the hell did he get in? 3rd, how did he secretly place 3 cameras in the room on the ceiling to film him while he played poker - oh, and he got great audio too. All staged and staged badly.
>>following a 'rich media type guy' and his entourage to a club because they need to get the plane keys off the guy's car key chain. Rich guy gets out of his Lincoln Navigator with three girls and goes arm and arm into a club. Repo man steals keys from the valet, grabs the jet key, returns the car keys to the valet. Then, of course, JUST as he is walking from the valet, the rich guy exits the club in less time than it takes to order a drink. Then, of course, they both arrive at the airport at about the same time.
>>during a bus repo ( not a typo, they repossessed a bus on airplane repo - tour bus of a band ) the white haired repo guy and the bouncer looking repo guy infiltrate a tour bus then, of course, just as they get inside, the lead singer comes in to start making out with a girl and the repo guys quickly hide in the bunks. But I guess the repo guys weren't that nervous about being caught because they still got good audio and video of the singer and his girlfriend.
The most worrisome thing I discovered is how easy it still is for ANYONE to get access to an airfield and airplanes in post Sept 11 America.
Stay tuned, Ice Road Hookers is probably next for the Discovery Channel.
Like one of the other comments I watch the show because of the airplanes - I enjoy seeing a different plane each time and the cinematography of the flying. I am interested in seeing the value of the plane and the little animation they do with the range, size, passenger quantities etc. The producers should know these are the only reasons people really continue to watch. They should show more activity in the air rather than in a bar, casino, etc. And get the pilots to talk more about the plus and minuses and unique qualities of each individual plane. That is to say do less of the incredulous, contrived 'reality' and focus more on the core of the show.
In real life, I doubt EVERY repo has the owner show up JUST as the repo pilot is getting into the plane. Some of the episodes are so bleeping stupid. Examples:
>>somehow, the repo man discovers the owner of the plane is 'in town for a card game'. He needs to befriend the owner to find out where the plane is. Cut to, pilot in a tuxedo going to a private high stakes poker game at a hotel with his girlfriend all dressed up as well so she can get intel from the other girlfriends. First of all, how the hell did he find out where the game was? ( in a hotel room ) 2nd, how the hell did he get in? 3rd, how did he secretly place 3 cameras in the room on the ceiling to film him while he played poker - oh, and he got great audio too. All staged and staged badly.
>>following a 'rich media type guy' and his entourage to a club because they need to get the plane keys off the guy's car key chain. Rich guy gets out of his Lincoln Navigator with three girls and goes arm and arm into a club. Repo man steals keys from the valet, grabs the jet key, returns the car keys to the valet. Then, of course, JUST as he is walking from the valet, the rich guy exits the club in less time than it takes to order a drink. Then, of course, they both arrive at the airport at about the same time.
>>during a bus repo ( not a typo, they repossessed a bus on airplane repo - tour bus of a band ) the white haired repo guy and the bouncer looking repo guy infiltrate a tour bus then, of course, just as they get inside, the lead singer comes in to start making out with a girl and the repo guys quickly hide in the bunks. But I guess the repo guys weren't that nervous about being caught because they still got good audio and video of the singer and his girlfriend.
The most worrisome thing I discovered is how easy it still is for ANYONE to get access to an airfield and airplanes in post Sept 11 America.
Stay tuned, Ice Road Hookers is probably next for the Discovery Channel.
Scripted Joke
holcklarsencarl8 August 2013
This whole plot is a joke... They bring camera men in on secret missions really? Don't be fooled by this scripted terrible story. Once they found an alligator in the desert... Even if you ignore the scripted sides of things, this thing still has a terrible story. Make a real documentary about how it is in real life or make an interesting show. You have failed to do both here. This needs some work ...
This whole plot is a joke... They bring camera men in on secret missions really? Don't be fooled by this scripted terrible story. Once they found an alligator in the desert... Even if you ignore the scripted sides of things, this thing still has a terrible story. Make a real documentary about how it is in real life or make an interesting show. You have failed to do both here. This needs some work ...
This whole plot is a joke... They bring camera men in on secret missions really? Don't be fooled by this scripted terrible story. Once they found an alligator in the desert... Even if you ignore the scripted sides of things, this thing still has a terrible story. Make a real documentary about how it is in real life or make an interesting show. You have failed to do both here. This needs some work ...
Fake, scripted and poorly executed!!
regarco200210 December 2020
I've watched reality shows ever since MTV introduced them in the early 1990"s and admitted to the viewers that most dialogue was scripted. In addition most segments were reshot, edited, rewritten etc. Airplane Repo is sadly a total fake, please. I know the real deal when I see it!! Don't waste your time with this ridiculous show!!
Reviews here are ridiculous
kenithbaker8 March 2019
Do you people who have posted "fake" and "scripted" reviews know how to read? It clearly says that these are recreations. Of course, they don't have camera men and boom mikes with them on repos. They trying to give you an example of what they do. I personally find it interesting.
bs haseth new name
miltonmunster20 July 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This has to be the absolute worst,stupidest,oh wait no the other repo show definitely holds that title securely,but an almost equal second is deserving.'My eardrums are blowing because oil pressure in one engine is low'....bahahaha.Lets sneak around battle alligators steal a bottle of unknown oil in the dark to top up a high performance aircraft engine,repo an aircraft secretly the one with cameras attached & surrounded by cameramen uuuuuuuuggghhh
Well done insight into complex and team driven business of high ticket Repos
info-92689 June 2011
Very well produced series details the enormity of what one may mistakenly take for granted; aircraft repos. The problems and solutions faced by the crew are unimaginable; except to perhaps a pilot and a leasing financier.
The international, multi-million dollar repos of TWO Airbus aircraft was captivating. Customs, trans oceanic flights, logistics, customs, defaulter's bankruptcy efforts, part failures, master mechanics' international parts delivery; EVERYTHING!
Quite well done and extremely educational. No personality battles or ego tripping. Just serious professionals who know their jobs and work in a very high stakes business.
Kudos !
The international, multi-million dollar repos of TWO Airbus aircraft was captivating. Customs, trans oceanic flights, logistics, customs, defaulter's bankruptcy efforts, part failures, master mechanics' international parts delivery; EVERYTHING!
Quite well done and extremely educational. No personality battles or ego tripping. Just serious professionals who know their jobs and work in a very high stakes business.
Kudos !
Great show!
kevinbrown-21 December 2018
I guess I don't understand all the poor reviews. I have a buddy who's a pilot, not me though. But watching this show, makes me want to learn, and steal airplanes back for the legitimate owners. Maybe some of the stuff is staged, don't care. It could be just as real the next time they try and repo a plane. The one episode I just watched, they got stopped by the FBI trying to take off with a repo'ed plane. They got back in the plane, taxiing down the runway *again*, and the local cops show up and try and bust them. I just chuckle when they whip out all the official paperwork to get the plane back. And I love the little schemes they come up with sometimes, either as a distraction to get the plane back, or faking a charter flight, etc. Great show!
Gets worse each episode
bjboulden12 September 2020
This is a fun show. But each season is worse than the others. By the 3rd season they don't even hide what is being staged. Starting in the 2nd season one of the Repo men suddenly starts yelling Yahtzee all the time. Super annoying but I don't recall it being used season one.
They all drive extremely nice cars to the Repo sites and escape with the plane. But who drives the cars out?
This would have been a lot more fun if the producers, and clearly at least one of the Repo Men (Ken Cage) did not go so Hollywood.
They all drive extremely nice cars to the Repo sites and escape with the plane. But who drives the cars out?
This would have been a lot more fun if the producers, and clearly at least one of the Repo Men (Ken Cage) did not go so Hollywood.
b/s
lambgary44429 April 2021
100% fake if they did 1/10th of the crap they did they would be in jail i do this for a living and its actually very boring i bring the paperwork and there is not one airport that ha ever tried to protect and illegal plane. If you have the paperwork you can call the cops oops wait whats the lie when you hear a saftey click off behid your head maybe they should be in his head never happens ever.
Ridiculous
skydogfree30 November 2021
I watched about 5 minutes. Even half-blind I can see how fake this show is. A guy on a dirt bike, alone, is going to rush in and repo a plane??? What happens to his bike? Two guys pulling a crop duster plane hitch a ride with another plane?? What happens to their truck? That they left on the farmer's land?? Idiot show. Zero stars!
More More More
rain-wallace14 February 2012
This was the best TV I've seen in... ever. I was up late night and bam! This reality TV show pops up, two shows in a row. Lucky me I was locked into watching both. You may remember when Mission Impossible was a TV show about cool operatives who seamlessly pulled off the impossible every week? Before the movies when everything gets all screwed up and emotional everything is about just trying to stay ahead of the last screwup? This lear-jet repo crew is like the first Mission Impossible crew. They are well funded, cool, prepared and successful. The only show that has reality looking better than fiction. Now I can't find it on the guide and I don't think it's showing anywhere. Figures this bunch was way too cool to be allowed to run long as reality TV, they had all their teeth and were sober.
Sometimes staged is still entertaining
chazz46-227 September 2014
Like many others, I can see through each scenario as very likely being staged, yet I cannot change the channel - because it is very entertaining. There has to be a lot of hum drum repossessions out there, but the imagination leads to an infinitesimal number of dramatic situations. With improbable scenarios, you can keep our interest. I don't mind if you put bird's nests in the carburetor intakes to force an abort on takeoff. I don't mind if the plane sitting in the hangar is surrounded by cargo containing live cobras, etc. I don't mind if a colossal combine with the plane's owner is coming down the runway to try to prevent a takeoff. All of these scenarios are just a script writer's "genius". Think about the gator shows: search for alligators, find them hooked with the bait, pull them alongside small boat, try to shoot them in their small skull, and then pull them inside the boat. The script genius in these episodes are more dramas about the relationships between the gator hunters. But they never surpass even the soap opera level here. I have to make sure I don't find Airplane Repo on the channel or it's like eating popcorn.
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