In the latest extreme sports event, South African paraglider, Pierre Carter, has become the first person to legally, (with a permit), fly off Mount Everest.
According to Times Live, Carter took off from Everest’s South Col (7,950m) on Sunday (May 20), flying at a top speed of 80km/h, and landing safely 20 minutes later at Gorak Shep village, below base camp.
He had a narrow weather window in which he could fly, forcing him to choose between climbing to the top of Everest (8 849m) with the rest of his team, or taking the gap and getting airborne.
There have only been three recorded flights off of Everest in the past, all without government permits, according to Muscat Daily.
Carter has flown off of five of the seven mountains that make up the tallest summits on their respective continents. His goal is to fly off of all seven.
