Helicopter lands on top of Mt. Everest
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Helicopter lands on Mt. Everest's peak
An AStar AS350B3 touched down on Mt. Everest's peak for 2 minutes on May 14.
Read the story on Eurocopter website
Read the story on Eurocopter website
Last edited by octavo; 25th May 2005 at 10:33.
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Congratulations to all concerned.
Wonder what the minimum wind speed had to be for the feat.
My guess would be about 60 Kts at that high altitude.
Then that necessary wind would have to be very turbulent going over/around the peak.
Hope there was an accompanying aircraft with a photographer aboard
Wonder what the minimum wind speed had to be for the feat.
My guess would be about 60 Kts at that high altitude.
Then that necessary wind would have to be very turbulent going over/around the peak.
Hope there was an accompanying aircraft with a photographer aboard
"Stepping out of his helicopter, Didier Delsalle commented: « To reach this mythical summit definitively seemed to be a dream; despite the obvious difficulties of the target to be reached, the aircraft demonstrated its capability to cope with the situation (…), sublimated by the magic of the place”."
"Mythical" summit? Was this a mythical landing then and just a dream?
"Mythical" summit? Was this a mythical landing then and just a dream?
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A sad day, in my view.
I rather liked the touch of class that was shown many years ago when the predecessor to Eurocopter wanted to do this, and the test pilot said:
"there are some things only men should do"
How long before there will be tourist flights to the top of the mountain?
Just because we can do it doesn't mean we should do it.
I rather liked the touch of class that was shown many years ago when the predecessor to Eurocopter wanted to do this, and the test pilot said:
"there are some things only men should do"
How long before there will be tourist flights to the top of the mountain?
Just because we can do it doesn't mean we should do it.
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Very impressive!
Hat off to Eurocopter.
If some climbers think that their climb is not that great anymore, so what? If someone runs a marathon in less than 2hr 20min it's very impressive. This feat is not worth less only because I can drive my car the same distance in a much shorter time.
Showing the versatility of helicopters is always good!
/2beers
Hat off to Eurocopter.
If some climbers think that their climb is not that great anymore, so what? If someone runs a marathon in less than 2hr 20min it's very impressive. This feat is not worth less only because I can drive my car the same distance in a much shorter time.
Showing the versatility of helicopters is always good!
/2beers
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How can it be called a landing when it wouldn't have been able to switch off, it must have been under near max power to just stay in contact with the rock!
Vfr
Vfr
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Unauthorised Landing??
Talking by telephone with a prominent Nepalese politician this morning I was interested to hear his surprise at the news of the landing on the top of Everest by an AS 350B3. Apparently it is not known about by many (if any) in aviation circles in Kathmandu. This gentlemen's comment was that he was very surprised that the landing attempt had been approved by the Nepalese Government.
I remember back in the mid 70's a proposal to attempt a landing with a Bell 214 being rejected by the Nepalese Government.
Is it possible that M. Didier Delsalle was carrying out high altitude testing and the temptation became too great? Was official sanction given by the Nepalese Government for the landing? Did Eurocopter know in advance of the record attempt? Why is there an unnatural silence about the achievement in Kathmandu?
Of course, there is not much point in asking Eurocopter these questions!!
I remember back in the mid 70's a proposal to attempt a landing with a Bell 214 being rejected by the Nepalese Government.
Is it possible that M. Didier Delsalle was carrying out high altitude testing and the temptation became too great? Was official sanction given by the Nepalese Government for the landing? Did Eurocopter know in advance of the record attempt? Why is there an unnatural silence about the achievement in Kathmandu?
Of course, there is not much point in asking Eurocopter these questions!!
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Vfr;
Isn't a landing defined as "the act of coming down to the earth (or other surface)"
Would have been interesting if she wouldn't start-up!! So perhaps a wise move not to!
Spin the blades, push it down the slope, 007 style, and do a world record auto!
Wasn't permission to attempt a landing with a British Army Gazelle on the top of Everest, a few years ago, refused somewhere along the official line?
How can it be called a landing when it wouldn't have been able to switch off,
Isn't a landing defined as "the act of coming down to the earth (or other surface)"
Would have been interesting if she wouldn't start-up!! So perhaps a wise move not to!
Spin the blades, push it down the slope, 007 style, and do a world record auto!
Wasn't permission to attempt a landing with a British Army Gazelle on the top of Everest, a few years ago, refused somewhere along the official line?
"it must have been under near max power to just stay in contact with the rock!"
Actually, I don't think it requires very much power at all, to stay in contact with the ground. It tends to be the other way round.
(PS. at the end of the press release it says the following:
EUROCOPTER is thankful to the Nepalese government and all its departments for their help and friendly support throughout this mission.
So I guess permission was granted)
Actually, I don't think it requires very much power at all, to stay in contact with the ground. It tends to be the other way round.
(PS. at the end of the press release it says the following:
EUROCOPTER is thankful to the Nepalese government and all its departments for their help and friendly support throughout this mission.
So I guess permission was granted)
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Sorry 212man, I can't come to the same conclusion. The article was written by a veteran pr man / press officer. Jean-Louis Espes is an expert at ‘telling it like it aint’. Sounds more like a plea in mitigation to me. I guess that we won’t hear the true story from either side for several years.
As several rescue missions were flown on behalf of the Nepalese authorities during the trial I can only assume that Eurocopter were out to enhance their chances of securing a sizeable sale. I am sure this ‘invasion of a sacred mountain’ will be remembered when the subject gets around to discounts.
Perhaps the local operators will also remember the rice that has been stolen from their bowl by Eurocopter as a result of them providing free rescue flights when it comes time for these operators to buy replacement machines. At periods when tourist numbers are down due to the activities of the Maoists local operators rely heavily on the need for rescue flights to stay in business.
Perhaps J-LE is going to be a busy man in the coming months controlling the damage caused by this ‘tremendous achievement’. As Shawn Coyle rightly, IMHO, said, “Just because we can do it doesn't mean we should do it.”
As several rescue missions were flown on behalf of the Nepalese authorities during the trial I can only assume that Eurocopter were out to enhance their chances of securing a sizeable sale. I am sure this ‘invasion of a sacred mountain’ will be remembered when the subject gets around to discounts.
Perhaps the local operators will also remember the rice that has been stolen from their bowl by Eurocopter as a result of them providing free rescue flights when it comes time for these operators to buy replacement machines. At periods when tourist numbers are down due to the activities of the Maoists local operators rely heavily on the need for rescue flights to stay in business.
Perhaps J-LE is going to be a busy man in the coming months controlling the damage caused by this ‘tremendous achievement’. As Shawn Coyle rightly, IMHO, said, “Just because we can do it doesn't mean we should do it.”
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Only the French could be so Arrogant.
But then again, they were the first into the air, that the copycat Wright Brothers did 14 years later.
I agree with Shawn, what a sad day.
Far too many folk have died doing that ultimate trek, now it will be done for $$$$ in a heated capsule.
The 407 will follow….again!!!
I agree with Shawn, what a sad day.
Far too many folk have died doing that ultimate trek, now it will be done for $$$$ in a heated capsule.
The 407 will follow….again!!!
Climbing there is done for money....something along the lines of 100,000 USD per person for the permit to go for the summit. At least then this could be the ultimate Tour Ride Ticket....at least in cost.
That summit fee figure comes from a professional photographer who spent three months filiming there and was deprived of the climb to the top when his permit got sold to mitigate expenses.
I wonder how much Eurocopter had to shell out for the permit?
That summit fee figure comes from a professional photographer who spent three months filiming there and was deprived of the climb to the top when his permit got sold to mitigate expenses.
I wonder how much Eurocopter had to shell out for the permit?
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Great achievement, irrespective...
Vfr, anyone that shuts down where it could be a compromise to man or machine is silly, even if on a beach at sea level, below the high watermark, with the high tide coming in.
A small step for man, giant step for mankind and especially so for the helicopter industry. Landing where A380's fly is a great achievement!
A small step for man, giant step for mankind and especially so for the helicopter industry. Landing where A380's fly is a great achievement!
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Everest
Today the french television showed some footage at prime time.
Hard to believe this was unofficial.
Did not really look like a landing, because the top is a peak (never been there...), just touched skids in the snow
Delta3
Hard to believe this was unofficial.
Did not really look like a landing, because the top is a peak (never been there...), just touched skids in the snow
Delta3
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As we can assume that the power in use would be rather high but in terms of turning it into a tourist venture would the poor girl have enough grunt to haul four lazy peolple up the hill and not only land but take off........