Although stripped down, Iit was apparently a standard Twin Squirrel. If someone had the interest and money to spend on it, figuring out something with the power to take an extra 200lb person up there is surely possible.
I’m not sure that touching a skid on the summit quite fulfills the OP’s fantasy, but the view is nice.
Could be a good ride business: Drop one rich tourist at the summit; return to fetch the next. First one rides down after second steps out. Each gets about 45 minutes on top; pays (say) $20k. Passenger briefing: don’t wander off.
On a good-weather day, figure on around 10 rides, so income of $200k.
Better have two fully capable helicopters available - if one has a problem, you wouldn’t want to leave anyone stranded (bad for future business).
Hanna.
Oh yeah, Everest Submitting Jetpack,damn it I knew there was something I had meant to do for the last couple decades.:smack:
If someone gets their name changed, it changes on all of their old posts, but other people’s posts referring to them will still use the old name.
Heh, I watched a PBS show tonight about Everest, then got to Googling around and found this thread. I’m NOT a mountain climber but I do like to read about other people who do it.
Great discussion here on the possibility and feasibility of building a heli that could (maybe) rescue people on Everest. I’m not an aeronautical engineer either, but find the technical details interesting . . . however, that discussion is 16 years old; any of those posters still here?
I’ve fantasized about this.
If I were Howard Hughes, with his money (and still alive) I’d have my company design a heli/jet assisted craft that can hover at 30K+ feet, with a reasonable payload. With sufficient money, I think it could be done. You’d never make that money back, most likely, but did the Flying Boat ever recoup its costs? Did the XH-17? Would it matter?
My proposed Himalayan Helicopter would be able to take me as pilot and a payload of say 300 lbs. This could be 1-2 people depending on their weight, or emergency equipment. The craft would be able to land on top, but it’s primary benefit would be search and rescue. It could land on the South Col and bring back injured climbers. Or take more oxygen.
The trouble with this is, I’m sure it would eventually lead to even more people on Everest, more who have even less skills. It would encourage even more undertrained people to “climb” the mountain. It would probably lead to more junk, more empty oxygen bottles littering the mountain, though the craft could also be used as a garbage truck, taking down a lot of the trash. It could also be used as a hearse, to bring down those long dead, still on the mountain. And if it ever breaks, well, there’s at least one more body and a large pile of trash added to the mountain. :eek:
Using the craft as a base, rescue crews wouldn’t get so exhausted, after first having to climb up before they can even start the rescue operations.
China already built a highway to Base Camp. They’re planning on building a “mountaineering center” and a hotel. Probably not so long before they’re running cables up the North side for a gondola, and a escalator right to the top for the adventurous. 
I’d think a thrust vectored VTOL jet would be a better bet than a helicopter. The thinner air would reduce the jet power, but I’d think less than the efficiency reduction for a helicopter. Take a military one and dump armor/weapons/unneeded electronics to reduce weight, and it should have passenger capability. Couldn’t land on the peak, maybe, but nearby for a quick walkup with an oxygen mask should be doable.