Eurocopter Single-Engine Serial Ecureuil/Astar AS350 B3 Lands on Mt. Everest
http://www.defencetalk.com/news/publish/article_002441.shtml
Yeah, but can it haul the 15 sherpas carrying all her gear and makeup, or are they on their own?
Dang. Kind of takes the thrill out.
“TAXI!!”
Wow, that is truly incredible. An amazing feat. I wonder what the helicopter handled like at that altitude? It must have felt like trying to fly a sheet typing paper. Amazing.
The good thing about this is that this establishes a new precedent for higher altitude SAR at lower cost/risk. I have to believe these Eurocopters are less expensive than a Chinook or other helicopters commonly used here in the U.S. for high altitude rescue.
This really is very cool. Thanks for putting this up.
http://www.mounteverest.net/story/MysteryChopperlandsontopofEverestMay242005.shtml
and had it crashed, Sherpas would be removing debris for years to come.
i lived on everest last year for a few months, and used to chat with my friends about when this would happen. they thought i was crazy, and i said it was just a matter of time. to think, if people will pay $60,000 (US) to be guided up, they’d definitely pay $100,000 to be flown to the top, have their photo taken, and flown down.
i’d say this is the beginning of the end, but everest is already in such awful shape. . .
-mike
What’s a serial helicopter?