Hope for High Alt. Rescue...

[RGF1]

Does anyone else think this was a foolish stunt that risked littering the summit of the world's highest peak with wreckage forever????

I can see taking such risks for a rescue mission lower on the mountain - but not to put the aircraft or a passenger on top.[/QUOTE


can see taking such risks for a rescue mission lower on the mountain - but not to put the aircraft or a passenger on top.

KZ it is a publicity stunt. I would not worry to much about some billionaire flying to the top of Everest any time soon. That Helicopter was stripped of every thing except for the fuel needed to get the pilot to the top and back even adding extra passenger would probably make the flight impossible. . If it really matters paying what would be in the billion dollar range to be flown tt the top of Everest where unless properly equipped you would die with in minutes is not going to be a coming tourist attaction in the near future. So enjoy your climb besides doing it the hard way is always going to be more impressive than being flown up.
Not a big deal but a amazing technological, engineering and physics feat none the less. .
FWIW the AMC uses helicopters to supply AMC huts with all the goodies and nice “home cooked “ meals “ at the hotel chain the sky.” Let’s not even get on the LNT kick

B ut to reiterate I doubt is going to be a bif thing. I does have some real life applications such bringing loads to mountain areas that have populations over say 10,000 ft. and SAR at higher altitude might just make it safer for the SAR guys!

 

[beverly]

Movie and pics at:
http://www.eurocopter.com/everest/

Shows the landing spot--looks like the true summit to me.

The movie shows a hover-with-one-skid-down kind of landing. (There wasn't a flat spot big enough for both skids.)

Some very nice pictures...

A great achievement--today's stunt can become tomorrow's capability.

Doug

Thanks for the video. That scene in the beginning of flying into Lukla reminded me that flying out of Lukla is scary in and of itself. The plane accelerates down the runway, where you see airplane debris lining the runway. It gives one a moment of great concern. Then at the end of the very, very short downsloping runway, the plane has to bank severely to continue down the valley, without coming upon the mountians staring you in the face. The first few seconds of that flight are extremely unnerving!