Rare Photos Of The First Flight Expedition Over Everest, 1933

In 1918, British mountaineering physiologist, Alexander Kellas, gave birth to the idea of a flight quest over the Mountain Everest. Kelly further added to his diary “The Possibility of Aerial Reconnaissance in the Himalayas.”

Alexander Kellas was also a skilled mountain climber and an expert in physiology. He believed with the proper machinery, guidance, time and funding his idea would be achieved.

In September 1932, Lord Clydesdale set out to visit Lady Houston while she was at her shooting estate in Kinrara, Scotland. There he solicited her for funding in the mount Everest flight expedition, while doing all this he didn’t fail to impress Lady Houston who was overwhelmed by the Kilt dress Lord Clydesdale put on for dinner.

Lady Houston was a powerful nationalist and was more than happy with the idea presented to her by Lord Clydesdale. She believed achieving this feat would give the British an upper hand rule in India. She then proceeded to fund the project and she also decided to get involved at all stages from England.

And in November 1932, the team for the expedition was set after a 15year waiting period for technology. They picked two modernized Westland Wallace aircraft for the project. The two-seat aircraft had open cockpits and were made with Bristol Pegasus S3 engines. Lord Clydesdale alongside Colonel Blacker piloted a modified Westland PV-3.

On the other hand, Lieutenant MacIntyre and Photographer Bonnett were together in a PV-6 model prototype. Both men were presented with modifications including hearing and oxygen equipment. Both aircraft went on to be the first to fly over Everest.

The planners had to address the gripping problems in regards to supplying the airmen with oxygen and keeping them warm above 30,000 feet with the weight factor as extremely important. With weight a key factor, Vickers Armstrong was able to supply lightweight oxygen cylinders made from a new type of alloy steel.