7 summits by Microlight

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17 May
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13 May, Camp life
12 May, Runway repairs
11 May, Yaks, Naks & Jopkyoks
10 May, Syangboche
9 May, fog
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(UTC + 5:45)
2-1

News release: 13 May, Camp life


 

 

 
We are now well encamped at Syangboche airfield, one of the highest in the World and about 30 Km from Everest. Early today we did the first aerotow out of the field, really just a test of our airfield surface repairs and to see the sort of takeoff distance we need. It went pretty well, Angelo was off in about 60 metres and my takeoff distance was more or less what I estimated, about 160 metres.

It was unusually cloudy this morning and the film people took an enormous amount of time sorting their stuff out so we were actually airborne just after seven which is rather late. I had climbed to about 2000 ft above the airfield when Angelo released, not very high but there was a bit of a risk of the airfield suddenly disappearing into a cloud...

By the time Angelo had landed and I had released the tow rope it had cleared a bit so I climbed to about 2500 ft over the airfield just above the cloud so Sydney Spider could get a view of Everest. From this position South of Everest the Geography is not very clear, and unless you know, it is quite easy to mis-identify the highest mountain in the World. From Sydney's aspect, the Solu Khumbu valley is straight ahead, but it turns left more or less abreast Amadablam, the striking peak on the right. In front of Everest is Nuptse to the left and Lhotse to the right with a ridge between them, so from this aspect Sydney can see only the very top of Everest above the ridge. To fly there we will follow the valley, turn right around Nuptse, over Everest base camp and up into a deep valley with a glacier in it known as the Western Cwm. Only then will we be able to see the whole south face of Everest.

Our flying activities end at about 9 am, so what do we do for the rest of the day? There is plenty to do getting our kit ready and checking everything, and there is plenty to eat, in fact far too much really as our cooks are used to catering for energetic climbers burning thousands of calories. Barty, who has been to Nepal many times generally rekons on losing weight whilst in Nepal, but he doesn't think he will this time!

Our four cooks produce the most delicious meals seemingly out of nothing. They have two or three kerosine burners and lots of dishes and things, but no furniture of any kind in their tent, it is all done on the ground. Full breakfast, lunch & dinner, not to mention elevensies and tea and biscuits at tea time. I suppose that if they have one fault it is that they think Italians always eat pasta so we almost always have something like Spagetti or Lasagne. Yesterday they produced a huge cake for pudding, goodness only knows how they made it.

A weather window for our attempt still looks viable in four of five days time. In the meantime we will do some more training flights so that when the time comes we will be ready.

The FIAT group
 
 
THE NORTH FACE clothing for extreme conditions
 
 
ALPHA emergency parachute
 
 
ICARO 2000 Hang Gliding World Champion
 
 
Neltec flexible heaters
 
 
Lyndhurst Touchdown Services.  Supplier of fuel system components to the expedition.
 
 
Mainair Sports; UK dealer for Warp Drive Propellors
 
 
O-ZEE flight suits.  Suppliers of Bar-mitts to the expedition.
 
 
PEGASUS AVIATION manufacturers of fine microlight Aircraft
 
 
Articole Studios - GRP mouldings
 
 
SKYDRIVE, the UK Distributor of ROTAX engines
 
 
MAINAIR SPORTS  manufacturers of fine microlight Aircraft
 
 
AdventureWeather.com providing Meteorological information to the expedition
 
 
BAILEY AVIATION manufacturers of Paramotors and automotive sport acessories
 
 
Industrial Pressure Testing Ltd; Suppliers of Oxygen cylinders to the expedition.
 
 
PARAMINA; Suppliers of Oxygen equipment to the expedition
 
 
FLYCOM Intercom and Radio equipment
 
 
Gerbings heated clothing
 
 
Quatar airways
 
 
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Page last reviewed
13 May 2004
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