Boeing 747 revved up to produce EF5 tornado level wind force to see if 'tornado-proof' armored cars can withstand it

This Boeing 747 got revved up to produce EF5 tornado-level wind forces to see if ‘tornado-proof’ armored cars could withstand it.

On an episode of MythBusters, the hosts wanted to see if tornado-proof cars could withstand the power of a jet engine.

When regular cars were put in the path of the plane’s powerful winds, they didn’t stand a chance.

Would armored cars fare any better?

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This Boeing 747 was revved up to test some ‘tornado-proof’ armored cars

To start off with, the Mythbusters team put some normal cars behind a Boeing 747 to see how much they could take.

At a mid-range EF3 tornado level from the engine, parts of the car began flying off.

It was an incredible sight.

But no storm chaser worth their salt would go into the eye of a storm in one of those cars.

No, to really to get to grips with the vehicles used by storm chasers, they’d have to take a look at their armored vehicles.

And to look at these vehicles, you know they mean business.

For a start, they look like tanks.

But appearances can be deceiving – would they be able to stand their ground when faced with the powerful gusts of a Boeing 747?

The ultimate test of sturdiness

These vehicles came stocked with a whole lot of gadgets – one-inch bulletproof glass, hydraulic panels, 40-inch steel spikes to anchor it to the ground, and 10,000Ibs of synthetic armor.

That all sounds very impressive, but how would they fare against a plane’s jet?

Positioned 175 feet behind the plane, the defenses were activated, and the Boeing 747 roared to life.

At 160mph (EF3 level), the vehicles remained unaffected.

At 250mph (EF5 level), one truck began sliding backwards after 15 seconds – but it didn’t tip over.

The second vehicle, which had deployed ground spikes, barely budged.

However, later inspection would reveal that the spikes had bent slightly under the pressure.

It just goes to show that these vehicles do have what it takes to withstand some seriously high gusts of wind.

Not that we’re in any way endorsing or encouraging people to take up storm chasing as a hobby.

It’s not for the faint of heart – as Gabby Downing of Supercar Blondie found out when she took a ride in the SRV Dominator 3.

And storm chasers don’t limit themselves to the ground.

Oh no, some of these fearless enthusiasts are flying into the heart of hurricanes.

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