9. Landing Atop Mt. Everest

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Didier Delsalle successfully landed a Eurocopter AS350 Squirrel helicopter on the summit of Mount Everest.
  • The historic landing occurred on May 14, 2005, and was repeated the next day to confirm its validity.
  • Delsalle described the feat as treacherous and super risky, with the primary challenge being the uncertain depth of snow on the summit.
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Didier Delsalle landed his Eurocopter AS350 Squirrel atop the world’s highest piece of real estate on May 14, 2005. He repeated the feat the next day to show it was no fluke. No fluke, but it was treacherous and super risky. The hardest part, he said, was landing on the snow, not knowing how much snow he would have to settle through before his helicopter settled its weight on the world’s most famous summit.

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