It's a Bird, It's a Plane

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Gilligan! is the 95th episode of Gilligan's Island and the 27th episode of the Third Season. It aired on March 27, 1967.

Synopsis
The US Navy loses an experimental jet pack that washes up on the island, and the Professor sees it as hope of getting rescued from the island. Unfortunately, while rigging a dummy for the Jet pack Gillgian accidently activates the pack and expends much of its fuel. Only enough fuel is left for a 15 minunte flight. This means testing to see who among them would be best to fly it for help. That person turns out to be Gilligan.

The only hope left is to shoot straight up over the island to alert the Navy looking for the pack off shore, but he gets scared and crashes back to the island after causing it to rain. Upset, Gilligan takes the pack to try once more going for help after the Professor synthesizes more fuel, but this time, he forgets to strap himself in and it blasts off without him.

Cast
Main Cast
 * Bob Denver as Gilligan
 * Alan Hale Jr. as The Skipper
 * Jim Backus as Mr. Howell
 * Natalie Schafer as Mrs. Howell
 * Tina Louise as Ginger
 * Dawn Wells as Mary Ann
 * Russell Johnson as The Professor

Guest Cast
 * Frank Maxwell as the General
 * Edward Falkner as the Colonel
 * Walt Hazzard as the Lieutenant
 * Chick Hearn as the Radio Announcer

Trivia

 * Syndicated versions of the episode delete the tag scene where Gilligan lets the jet pack fly off without him.
 * XJP stands for Experimental Jet Pack
 * When Gilligan flies over the Island, he is seen observed flying over pine trees that would not be seen on an tropical South Pacific island. These scenes were reportedly shot over Griffith State Park near Los Angeles, California.
 * When Gilligan in the jet pack is seen by the US Navy over the island, the location is reported as about 250 miles south of Hawaii.
 * In the exterior location shot with the Castaways watching Gilligan flying in the jet pack, Mary Ann goes without her signature pig tails.
 * Technically, the pack should have crashed back down to the island or washed back up on shore after a while.

Quotes

 * Professor - "I think it's one of my most brilliant plans. There's just one problem." Skipper - "What's that?" Gilligan - "If it will work."


 * Mrs. Howell - "Oh, Professor, it's absolutely wonderful having you with us. You're absolutely marvelous." Mr. Howell - "If you were Republican, you'd be perfect!"