Top of the World: photos from Nepal
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From: Top of the World
Top of the World - yikes we are high
looking at Lhotse summit 27,940' along the Col to Sagarmartha,Tibet beyond, here flying at 28,000 
Last edited by Vertical Freedom; 5th February 2013 at 08:24.
the outer limits of Earth's atmosphere 
Thread Starter
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From: Top of the World
Top of the World - ultra WoW
David Breashears (famous Mountaineer & now also film maker) + VF + AS350B-9NAJI, mapping ops over of upper Sagarmatha (Everest) but not yet over the top, that's for next time, seen here at Tengboche Monastery coffee shop closed for winter 
Last edited by Vertical Freedom; 5th February 2013 at 07:57.
Thread Starter
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From: Top of the World
Top of the World - Astronut
approaching the Col between Lhotse & Nuptse, 27,500' indicated on GPS? alt set @ 1013mb - 27,000'pa 
Last edited by Vertical Freedom; 5th February 2013 at 08:38.
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From: Top of the World
at only 28,000' yet there's so much to see & do, jet-streams, CAT (clear air turbulence) updrafts, downdrafts, rotors, wind shear; hmmmmmm 
Last edited by Vertical Freedom; 5th February 2013 at 04:02.
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Top of the World
Top of the World
Namaste JR
Yep it is crazy up that high....controls get sloppy & wind/gust eXtreme then put that close to even bigger mountains & Yikes
Check post http://www.pprune.org/7676201-post928.html...
Not over the top yet...
I need to be at 29,500' minimum for that shoot & don't have the power to do that yet without something extra? or last, gotta loose the Film maker David 
then lets see 
Climbers in winter, no chance to cold, except for the very rare one off, 1 climbing team every 3-4years
Cheers to Life
Yep it is crazy up that high....controls get sloppy & wind/gust eXtreme then put that close to even bigger mountains & Yikes
Check post http://www.pprune.org/7676201-post928.html...
Not over the top yet...
I need to be at 29,500' minimum for that shoot & don't have the power to do that yet without something extra? or last, gotta loose the Film maker David then lets see Climbers in winter, no chance to cold, except for the very rare one off, 1 climbing team every 3-4years
Cheers to Life
Last edited by Vertical Freedom; 5th February 2013 at 14:07.
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Top of the World
Top of the World - Sagarmatha
Hi Gemini Twin
hehehe I think Sir Ed & Sir Tenzing did it tough, damn tough
My job is easy peasy in comparison & warmer too
Happy days & landings
hehehe I think Sir Ed & Sir Tenzing did it tough, damn tough
My job is easy peasy in comparison & warmer too
Happy days & landings
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 339
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From: Shelton WA.
VF, I just want to echo what has been stated many times before but your pictures and comments on your operations in the high mountains are nothing short of brilliant.
I just want your boss to buy you a C20R for the Jet Ranger, if any one needs it, it's you!
Best regards, GT
I just want your boss to buy you a C20R for the Jet Ranger, if any one needs it, it's you!
Best regards, GT
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 188
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From: Sydney
VF,
We may have different views about the value of some brands of helicopters. There have been some robust discussions.
However, there is no doubt that you are turning into a great photographer. Amazing photos entertaining a whole bunch of heli people globally. Well done !
You should publish a book, I'm serious. "Views from the top of the world".
All the best.
Arrrj
PS - did you work at Rosehill in Sydney a million years ago ?
We may have different views about the value of some brands of helicopters. There have been some robust discussions.
However, there is no doubt that you are turning into a great photographer. Amazing photos entertaining a whole bunch of heli people globally. Well done !
You should publish a book, I'm serious. "Views from the top of the world".
All the best.
Arrrj
PS - did you work at Rosehill in Sydney a million years ago ?
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 83
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From: Canada
Awesome set of photos there VF
Curious what kind of turbulence you can handle there. Is the VSI pegged? + or -? Rotor droop? How much altitude loss or gain?
With the minimal fuel you sometimes carry is there much danger of sucking air?
Were you just sitting at best ROC speed at those altitudes or were you able to fly a little faster?
Are there any issues with working above the RFM ceiling limits with EC? Insurance issues?
Curious what kind of turbulence you can handle there. Is the VSI pegged? + or -? Rotor droop? How much altitude loss or gain?
With the minimal fuel you sometimes carry is there much danger of sucking air?
Were you just sitting at best ROC speed at those altitudes or were you able to fly a little faster?
Are there any issues with working above the RFM ceiling limits with EC? Insurance issues?
Last edited by nuthin; 8th February 2013 at 04:14.
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Top of the World
Top of the World - details
Grand Morning to All
Thanks for all the positive comments on my pix; always inspiring
Turbulence, hmmmm rather huge turbulence plus wind shear, is all to common here, You just learn to live with it
How much + - on the VSI????? don't really care, it's often hard up against the VSI bump stop on the way down, so much higher ROD than 3,000fpm
Rotor-droop in a B3+?? never happened to me
Yep the best ROC keeps reducing as You climb, above 20,000' it's 30-35knots, above 23,K' it's around 25knots indicated
For Rescue landings above 20,000' I need to be ultra light, so floor, seats, tools, second battery are all out & then I try to manage fuel so as to land with around 40~50litres & yes the fuel light is on, so then I turn on the fuel pump whenever the light comes on as for sucking air........I believe if You fly in trim there's no risk for that, turbulence though 
All flights/altitudes/landings are approved by my office & Director of Ops. otherwise I would not do them
Cheers to Life
Thanks for all the positive comments on my pix; always inspiring
Turbulence, hmmmm rather huge turbulence plus wind shear, is all to common here, You just learn to live with it
How much + - on the VSI????? don't really care, it's often hard up against the VSI bump stop on the way down, so much higher ROD than 3,000fpm
Rotor-droop in a B3+?? never happened to me
Yep the best ROC keeps reducing as You climb, above 20,000' it's 30-35knots, above 23,K' it's around 25knots indicated
For Rescue landings above 20,000' I need to be ultra light, so floor, seats, tools, second battery are all out & then I try to manage fuel so as to land with around 40~50litres & yes the fuel light is on, so then I turn on the fuel pump whenever the light comes on
as for sucking air........I believe if You fly in trim there's no risk for that, turbulence though All flights/altitudes/landings are approved by my office & Director of Ops. otherwise I would not do them
Cheers to Life
