Wings Over Everest - An Epic Adventure Wings Over Everest - An Epic Adventure

Westland Biplane
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STAGE 1 : New Westland Biplane
manufactured by experts to launch at Everest


Timeline : 9-15 months





Wingspan:46 ft 5 ins
Length: 34 ft 2 ins
Height:11 ft 6 ins.
Prop:12 ft.
Weight: 3,680 lbs.(loaded)5,750 lbs.
Climbs to 10,000 ft in 6 mins
20,000 ft in 14 mins.
Speed: 180 mph at 15,000 ft.
Lands at: 61 mph.


Tank capacity: 476 litres
Avgas Consumption: 112 litres p/h
Range: 3-4 hours on full tanks
approx: 560 kms (350 miles




Green Footprints Green Footprints

The biplane is sadly no green machine. To compensate, its flight to Asia may address issues of public concern

Present Status: 40% built to date



The main fuselage above now visible at Shuttleworth Collection, a European centre for vintage aircraft


The two Westlands in the 1933 Expedition were Akbar and Lucy in honour of, the principal sponsor.

Both aircraft were powered by 650 hp Bristol Pegasus engines fitted with super-chargers to attain the required altitudes.

Each biplane carried a pilot and an observer with heated suits and oxygen masks, vital equipment at 35,000 feet in an open aircraft.


Finance for each stage of
manufacture must be in place
prior to commissioning

Operation of the new machine is retained for the professional pilots of the re-enactment flight

Its final valuation will reflect
cost of manufacture, testing, certification, insurance and registration costs


Pegasus, the mythical winged horse who overcame all obstacles, lent his name to the powerful engine that carried the Westland biplane over Everest in 1933 - the engine never faltered...