Brit Flies Microlight Over Everest

A British pilot has become the first person to fly over Everest in a microlight.

Interviewed by BBC Five Live yesterday, Richard Meredith-Hardy, a 46 year-old Old Etonian, began by pointing out that he was towing a hang-glider behind him as he flew towards the mountain from the Syangboche airstrip some 20 miles from the mountain.

He described seeing approximately five climbers on the summit, which he circled while exchanging waves. When asked if the climbers might have expected to see a microlight on the mountain, he responded that he thought it was 'unlikely' to be the case.

Asked about highlights, he described the experience of rounding the shoulder of Nuptse to see the huge South West Face of Everest spread out in front of him and said it made him realise the huge scale of the mountain.

According to the Belfast Telegraph, this was Meredith-Hardy's second attempt, the first had to be abandoned after a toe line broke. The pilot of the hang glider was named as Italian Angelo D'Arrigo who descended to Lobuche safely.

For more information, see the project's home page 'Over Everest'. There are some photos from the flight here.