Mission Everest Success

The Mission Everest Expedition has been completed successfully. The first week of the expedition was marred by severe weather which made any type of flying activity impossible in the Khumbu region. However on Monday 14th May, Adventure Extreme CFI, Terry Stubbs woke early to find unexpectedly good flying conditions. He quickly woke the team and got the sherpa cook crew up and running. By 0820 Bear Grylls and Giles Cardoza were ready to launch, the Meteomodem Radio Sonde weather balloon giving light winds all the way up to 30,000ft. Bear had some initial difficulties getting airborne but got away on his third launch attempt. Gilo followed shortly after and both pilots climbed rapidly away. The flight was in many ways almost an anticlimax as it was completed with relative ease, the only problem being Gilos supercharger belt snapping at about 28000ft - He glided down to a safe landing at Periche. Bear continued to reach an estimated altitude of about 29500ft (none of his instruments were functioning by that time) from where he could look across the Lhotse wall down at Mt Everest. They had decided previously that they would not in fact fly actually over the peak for safety reasons and permit restrictions. By 10.30 both pilots were safely back in Periche and the helicopters arranged for an early departure for home.

The expedition is a considerable success for Parajet owner, Gilo who has managed to do what many said was impossible in designing a viable high altitude paramotor capable of cruising at over 29000ft. Great achievement for Parajet and a boost for sports aviation in general. It also leaves the challenge of a future flight over the actual peak of Mt Everest open for future protagonists.