PERMANENT World Record for Helicopter

[BigV]

http://www.eitb24.com/noticia_en.php?id=63008

Helicopter lands on top of Mount Everest

On May 14th, 2005 at 7h08 (local time), a serial Ecureuil/AStar AS 350 B3 piloted by the EUROCOPTER X-test pilot Didier Delsalle, landed at 8,850 meters (29,035ft) on the top of the Mount Everest (Kingdom of Nepal), Eurocopter said at its web.

Eurocopter, the European helicopter maker, says it has landed a helicopter on the top of Mount Everest in a world first. The Ecureuil/AStar AS350B3 helicopter landed May 14 at 8,850 meters (29,035 feet) atop the Himalayan peak, setting a new world record for high-altitude landings and takeoffs, Eurocopter said in a statement on its Web site Tuesday.

Ok, the record for highest landing and takeoff is now established for all time (on this planet...)

Hey, xoB, are you a rotary-wingnut? What's your take on this?

[russotto]

Mount Everest rises a few mm/year, so the record CAN be broken :-)

[xoxoxoBruce]

I don't see the point. I'd be willing to bet it was specially prepared for that stunt and sort of pales next to other flight accomplishments.

[wolf]

I thought there wasn't enough air up there for the blades to work ... would be interesting to find out how it was tricked out, and if what they did is sufficiently adaptable to do things like high mountain resuce.

[xoxoxoBruce]

High mountain rescue brings up two problems;
1-The wind around mountains is unpredictable to say the least.
2- High altitude(thin air) means that weight is absolutely crucial.

The Everest stunt could be carefully planned with the weight decreasing as fuel was consumed. Rescue is entirely unpredictable so the safety factor MUST be far greater. Think of the difference between going into space and back(John Glenn) and bringing back Moon rocks.

[wolf]

I figured that in order to get all the way up Everest, they would have had to figure out some technology to deal with the wind shear.

[busterb]

In pilot speak, is that shit not called "density altitude?" Working offshore, I've seen assholes cut their weight to be sure they made the flight. Me, I add. Because on a very dry day, they get lift from the deck of heloport. But when you go over the side, hello. Some don't make it.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by wolf

I figured that in order to get all the way up Everest, they would have had to figure out some technology to deal with the wind shear.

Actually it's much more predictable and safer at the top. They most likely approached after attaining altitude.
The side of the mountain is a whole different story with the air tumbling and swirling every which way. A tandem rotor is more stable there but not safe.