TGR Helicorp announces unmanned alpine rescue helicopter

In our opinion, there are three routes to certain death: riding a motorcycle, flying in a helicopter, and engaging in alpine sports. Why anyone would want to ascend a high mountain is beyond us (“because it is there” is not a sufficient reason), and we find it particulary irksome that others must risk their lives to rescue stranded climbers who should have known better to begin with. Fortunately, Aukland, New Zealand-based TGR Helicorp (the only helicopter manufacturer in the Southern Hemisphere, by the way) has taken heed of our cynical concerns and developed the Alpine Wasp, an unpiloted full-size alpine rescue helicopter capable of operating at altutudes above 30,000 feet — approximetly the summit of Mount Everest. As most helicopters cannot go above 14,000 feet, this is indeed a technological accomplishment. The Alpine Wasp is manufactured from ultra-modern composite technologies, a revolutionary diesel helicopter engine and rotor blades designed especially for maximum performance in thin air.

As soon as testing is complete, the company intends to donate the Alpine Wasp to the Everest Rescue Trust, an organization dedicated to saving lives on the Nepalese slopes. The idea is to create an alpine rescue base at a small village located 11,300 feet on the approach to Mount Everest. In addition to the Alpine Wasp, the base will include an aircraft hangar and rescue facilities, a prosthetics facility porters and sherpas, and a frostbite prevention facility. “We hope that the success of this project will increase the Trust’s capability to help other people all over the world,” said TGR’s Trevor Rogers. “The potential for pushing the boundaries of long range, high altitude rescue is unlimited, it could change the course of modern alpine aviation history.”

-read more in this company news release