EARLY EPISODE: The Strange Tale of the RB2000
Summary
This episode of Lions Led by Donkeys explores the history of the RB-2000 jetpack, tracing its development from early military experiments to a lucrative carnival act. The narrative shifts to the chaotic 1980s, following a group of eccentric individuals, including a fired insurance salesman and a drug smuggler, who become entangled in a web of theft, violence, and legal battles over the device. The hosts discuss the jetpack's impracticality and the bizarre circumstances surrounding its commercialization, highlighting the absurdity of the people involved.
Topics discussed
Patreon promotion and show intro
Hotel room banter and cuck furniture
9/11 anecdotes and stand-up comedy
Jetpacks in pop culture and history
Defining rocket belts vs jetpacks
Nazi origins and the Himmelsturmer myth
Ernst Zündel and the Auschwitz hoax
Early jetpack concepts and Mormon lore
The Bell Rocket Belt and Wendell Moore
Jetpack safety issues and carnival tours
Fatalities and the Tyler rocket belt
Legal status of jetpacks in the US
Brad Barker and the RB2000 project
Theft, karate fights, and goons
Joe Wright's involvement and funding
Building the RB2000 in a car shop
Legal ownership and financial struggles
Bill Sutter's test flight and retirement
Barker vs Stanley violence and theft
Jetpack chaos and the murder of Joe Wright
Unsolved murder and civil court rulings
Reflections on drug use and desperation
Barker's kidnapping and FBI interview
Bail jumping and legal consequences
Barker's refusal to surrender the jetpack
Conclusion and literary comparisons
Outro: Soviet alcohol and show plugs
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