9. Landing Atop Mt. Everest

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Didier Delsalle achieved the unprecedented feat of landing a Eurocopter AS350 Squirrel helicopter on Mount Everest.
  • The historic landing occurred on May 14, 2005, and was repeated the following day to demonstrate its validity.
  • Delsalle described the most challenging and risky aspect as landing on the summit's snow, due to the unknown depth before the helicopter settled.
See a mistake? Contact us.

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.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get the latest Plane & Pilot Magazine stories delivered directly to your inbox

SUBSCRIBE