"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
ups.com...
I managed five landings without rolling past the numbers with calm air
the
other day. Making really short AND smooth landings AND hitting the exact
aimpoint has proved elusive. I can usually accomplish any two but not
all
three. It gives me additional respect for the pilots demoing Helios at
OSH.

I can't imagine what flying something like that must be like. Very
challenging, it sounds like!


It is always difficult to get every bit of performance out of an aircraft.
Usually we make it easier by using approach speeds that are high and settle
onto the runway. To put it down on the first foot of pavement at the
absolute minimium speed is a challenge in anything.



I was
climbing in the Andes early in the year and then made an attempt on the
North side of Everest in the spring. I reached 25,000' without O2 and
then
bailed for a variety of reasons.

Um, isn't life pretty much unsustainable at that altitude without
oxygen?

Depends on what you consider unsustainable. The highest permanant
settlement is about 18,000'. Personally I felt that I was constantly
deteriorating above 21,000'.