13,000' Flight around New Zealands Tallest Mountain Mt Cook, Auto Gyro Calidus

[KiwiBird]

Hello from New Zealand. Had a glorious flight around our tallest Mountain in New Zealand, Mt Cook (3,724 metres (12,218 feet)) it has been a little taller but a piece fell off in 2014. I am based at Pukaki Airfield some 35Nm south of the Mountain. The Calidus with a 914 had no trouble at all getting to 13k feet. . I have been wanting to do this flight for some years having soared around the Mountain in the early 2000's

 

[Eric S]

Hello from New Zealand. Had a glorious flight around our tallest Mountain in New Zealand, Mt Cook (3,724 metres (12,218 feet)) it has been a little taller but a piece fell off in 2014. I am based at Pukaki Airfield some 35Nm south of the Mountain. The Calidus with a 914 had no trouble at all getting to 13k feet. . I have been wanting to do this flight for some years having soared around the Mountain in the early 2000's

Awesome pics. Really impressive performance.

Someday, when I visit New Zealand, I am going to ask you to take me up.

If you're ever in Texas or North Carolina, look me up and I'll take you up too.

Eric

 

[Jerry_Forest]

WOW!! That is awesome. What elevation change are we talking about (airfield to 13,000') and how long did it take? Do you have cabin heat? I hear it gets cold up high. Do you need to take an oxygen tank with you? The highest I ever got in my ol' Bensen was about 3500' agl. Didn't go any higher because the open seat felt too narrow for some reason.

 

[Grodou]

Well done & great pics ! Thanks for sharing. Changes a lot from my usual flat environment at shore level !!!

 

[JPAnderson]

Nice trip to NZ. Thank You.

We're waiting for winter on this end. Fall is a great time of year in Montana.

 

[KiwiBird]

WOW!! That is awesome. What elevation change are we talking about (airfield to 13,000') and how long did it take? Do you have cabin heat? I hear it gets cold up high. Do you need to take an oxygen tank with you? The highest I ever got in my ol' Bensen was about 3500' agl. Didn't go any higher because the open seat felt too narrow for some reason.

Hello Jerry
Take off Airfield elevation is 1500', total flight was 1.5hrs, Yes the Calidus does have a heater, but air temperature that day was not below 0 degrees, in NZ you can go above 10000' for no longer than 30minutes with out supplemental oxygen, but you have to be fit and feeling well. I have soared around the same mountain in a glider and as the time frames are much longer we had an oxygen system. I also have a open two seat Dominator and I have taken that to about 4000' I know what you mean about the narrow seat feeling.

Regards
Kiwi Bird (Trevor)

 

[Jerry_Forest]

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Thanks Trevor for your feedback. I lost my medical several years ago, so the only flying I do is follow the pictures and videos of you guys who still fly. Google Earth comes in handy when I see fantastic pictures like yours of Mt. Cook; I can sometimes even get a close "copy" of your view.