Eurocopter has secured a world record performance of high altitude landing and takeoff. To achieve the feat, test pilot Didier Delsalle landed an Ecureuil AS350 B3 on the top of Mount Everest, at an altitude of 29,035 feet.

Following takeoff from the base camp, Lukla, at 9,403 feet, the helicopter scaled the mountain and landed for almost four minutes (the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale requires the aircraft to remain on the ground for at least two minutes to validate the record).

Said Delsalle: “To reach the mythical summit definitely seemed to be a dream; despite the obvious difficulties of the target to be reached, the aircraft demonstrated its ability to cope with the situation.”

To date, Eurocopter has sold 3,760 Ecureuil/AStars and the worldwide fleet has logged 15 million

flight hours.

There are currently 424 AS350 B3s in operation worldwide.