In 2004, Angelo D’Arrigo became the first man to fly over Mount Everest with a hang glider, topping an altitude of 29,200 feet.
His Stratos hang glider is now on display in the Museum of Science and Technology in Milan.
Let's take to the skies and discover the story of this great man and his aerial endeavors.
Angelo D'Arrigo sul deltaplano ad ala rigida StratosNational Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo Da Vinci
May 24, 2004, 5:30 am
The weather conditions are good to conquer the world's highest peak, Mount Everest (29,000 ft) on a hang glider, apart from the wind, which continues to blow at the summit.
Angelo D'Arrigo parte con il suo deltaplano ad ala rigida per la cima dell'EverestNational Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo Da Vinci
D’Arrigo starts with his rigid-wing hang glider, aerotowed by a microlight aircraft equipped with a Rotax 914 engine, driven by Richard Meredith, a friend and fellow adventurer who has accompanied D’Arrigo on previous endeavors.
Angelo D'Arrigo in volo sull'EverestNational Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo Da Vinci
The turbulence becomes unmanageable here because of the jet stream - a high-altitude wind that sweeps the summit of Everest.
Just 0.3 miles from the summit, a gigantic whirlwind breaks the towing cable connecting the two travel companions, and the microlight aircraft is forced into a rapid descent.
Angelo D'Arrigo in volo sull'EverestNational Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo Da Vinci
After freeing himself from the remains of the towing cable, D’Arrigo manages to circle the summit of Everest (29,000 ft) with the glider. and starts his descent immediately.
Angelo D'Arrigo in volo sull'EverestNational Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo Da Vinci
Thickening clouds obscure the way back, and the oxygen in his tank is running low.
Angelo D'Arrigo in atterraggioNational Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo Da Vinci
The hang glider plummets at 60 mph after a drop in winds.
The landing is violent, but everything goes well and neither D’Arrigo nor the wings are damaged.
Angelo D'Arrigo in volo sull'EverestNational Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo Da Vinci
D’Arrigo reaches an altitude of 29,494 ft.
Temperatures reach a low of -53°C and he is flying at speeds between 60 and 130 mph.
Angelo D'Arrigo compie test con l'attrezzatura dell'Ala StratosNational Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo Da Vinci
At 8:30 a.m. on May 24, 2004, Angelo D’Arrigo becomes the first man to fly over Everest with a hang glider .
The flight lasted a total of 4 and a half hours, but took 2 years of study and preparation.
Angelo D'Arrigo e la preparazione atleticaNational Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo Da Vinci
In addition to studying the route, the topographical structure of the area to fly over, and the climatic conditions, the highest level of physical and psychological preparation was also necessary.
Angelo D'Arrigo al centro di medicina aeronautica e spazialeNational Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo Da Vinci
D’Arrigo underwent stringent tests, collaborating with the Aeronautical and Spatial Medicine Center in Pratica di Mare (Rome).
An altitude of 45,931 ft was simulated in a low-pressure chamber, an altitude much higher than that necessary for D’Arrigo's mission.
Angelo D'Arrigo compie test con l'attrezzatura dell'Ala StratosNational Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo Da Vinci
Even his equipment was controlled with the most sophisticated technologies. In the Fiat Wind Tunnel in Orbassano, the optimal hang glider and helmet positions were studied.
Pilots and equipment were subjected to temperatures of -42° and winds stronger than 60 mph.
Rigid-wing Stratos hang glider, 2003
With this hang glider, Angelo D’Arrigo flew over Everest (29,000 ft) for the first time on May 24, 2004.
Today, it is exhibited in the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology in Milan.
The Stratos hang glider derives from the Atos hang glider, designed by the German engineer Felix Rùhle and built in 1997.
The Atos hang glider won the 1998 world championships in Monte Cucco (PG), piloted by the German Christof Kratzner, and in 2001, in Spain, piloted by the Italian Alex Ploner.
A Stratos hang glider, similar to the one used by D’Arrigo, won the 2002 world championships in Washington, USA, and the 2004 championships in Austria.
Angelo D'Arrigo in decollo sull'Ala StratosNational Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo Da Vinci
This hang glider is equipped with a single platform for vertical speed, air speed, altitude pressure, temperature, GPS positioning and navigation information.
The fixed-tail plane is designed to stabilize the wing on the pitch axis.
Il deltaplano Ala Stratos di Angelo D'Arrigo esposto al MuseoNational Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo Da Vinci
The Stratos hang glider exhibited in the Museum of Science and Technology in Milan
Features
Sail surface 148.5 ft2
Wing width 43.4 ft
Total length 10.1 ft
Weight 74 lb
Frame Carbon, components in Ergal (aluminum and zinc alloy)
Sails Stormlite 2.1, (polyester fiber)
Flap deflection angle -5°/70°
Flying over Everest, estrattoNational Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo Da Vinci
Angelo D'Arrigo con un'aquila, ritrattoNational Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo Da Vinci
Angelo D’Arrigo lost his life in 2006 in an accident during a flight demonstration in Comiso, Sicily.
Exhibition by
Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia
Leonardo da Vinci
Via San Vittore 21
Milano
www.museoscienza.org
