The Himalayas by helicopter
Mar 8, 2015 21:18:46 #
Mar 8, 2015 21:41:17 #
Mar 8, 2015 21:46:13 #
Dan L wrote:
Nice scenic views. Thanks for sharing!
You are welcome Dan. :-D
Mar 9, 2015 08:00:15 #
Mar 9, 2015 11:08:37 #
Awesome footage! High def which really catches the details. If you look on the same page as the helicopter footage, there is a link to glider footage, as well: http://biggeekdad.com/2014/02/everest-glider-flight/
When you watch it, you can see the 'tell-tale' string attached to the front of the cockpit canopy on the glider that moves with the wind and tells the pilot if they are 'slipping' sideways or flying straight. You sailers will recognize it from the ones on your sails.
I met a glider pilot 35 years ago while skiing out west. We took a break mid-week to go soaring. After his checkout ride with an instructor and review of his logbook (very high time, experienced pilot who owned his own sailplane), he took me up for the ride of my life! We caught an updraft along the edge of the Rocky Mountains and rode it back and forth like a surfer, rising upward at an extreme rate, soon donning the oxygen masks. I was so in awe of the sight, I didn't pay attention to the altimeter. We didn't have an intercom and my friend started tapping the canopy to get my attention and pointing to a jetliner far below us. He pulled his mask away and said we were low on oxygen and to hold on for a steep dive. After spiraling downward and dropping below 13,000 feet, he pulled off his mask and couldn't contain his excitement.
First, he said not to tell anyone because we were at an illegal altitude without permission (no radio on this bird). Due to the updraft and his precision flying, we rode the lift up to an incredible 40,000 feet! My friend said that IF we had a radio and asked for permission to fly above the window set by the local airfield and FAA, and IF we could have had a chase plane (jet?) meet us to verify the altitude, and IF we'd had enough oxygen to wait for all of this to happen, we would have set a world record. That record would be eclipsed, according to Wikipedia, in 1986 by Robert Harris using lee waves over California City to reach 49,009 ft (14,938 m). It doesn't matter, though. Sometimes just experiencing something incredible is enough!
When you watch it, you can see the 'tell-tale' string attached to the front of the cockpit canopy on the glider that moves with the wind and tells the pilot if they are 'slipping' sideways or flying straight. You sailers will recognize it from the ones on your sails.
I met a glider pilot 35 years ago while skiing out west. We took a break mid-week to go soaring. After his checkout ride with an instructor and review of his logbook (very high time, experienced pilot who owned his own sailplane), he took me up for the ride of my life! We caught an updraft along the edge of the Rocky Mountains and rode it back and forth like a surfer, rising upward at an extreme rate, soon donning the oxygen masks. I was so in awe of the sight, I didn't pay attention to the altimeter. We didn't have an intercom and my friend started tapping the canopy to get my attention and pointing to a jetliner far below us. He pulled his mask away and said we were low on oxygen and to hold on for a steep dive. After spiraling downward and dropping below 13,000 feet, he pulled off his mask and couldn't contain his excitement.
First, he said not to tell anyone because we were at an illegal altitude without permission (no radio on this bird). Due to the updraft and his precision flying, we rode the lift up to an incredible 40,000 feet! My friend said that IF we had a radio and asked for permission to fly above the window set by the local airfield and FAA, and IF we could have had a chase plane (jet?) meet us to verify the altitude, and IF we'd had enough oxygen to wait for all of this to happen, we would have set a world record. That record would be eclipsed, according to Wikipedia, in 1986 by Robert Harris using lee waves over California City to reach 49,009 ft (14,938 m). It doesn't matter, though. Sometimes just experiencing something incredible is enough!
Mar 9, 2015 12:58:23 #
MikeMcK wrote:
Absolutely awesome. Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure Mike. :-D
Mar 9, 2015 13:11:14 #
dweaver wrote:
Awesome footage! High def which really catches the... (show quote)
Thanks. I missed that. Pretty interesting. I should imagine that there would be some pretty good updrafts around those mountains. That pilot had a few cameras placed around the glider. Altitude must have been high the way the pilot was sucking oxygen. I envy you your ride in Colorado. Great skiing up there. Us sailors call the "Tell Tails". :-D
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