News release: 16 December, RAeC Britannia Trophy |
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The Royal Aero Club of the United Kingdom has awarded Richard Meredith-Hardy the Britannia Trophy for 2004 for his flight over Everest.
The Britannia Trophy is the Royal Aero Club's most prestigous award: For the British aviator or aviators accomplishing the most meritorious performance in aviation during the previous year. The citation says: In May 2004 Richard Meredith-Hardy flew over Mount Everest in a weight-shift microlight. The aircraft was a British-made Pegasus Quantum with a Turbocharged Rotax 914 engine. It had a standard simple open-frame structure and a top speed of only 65 mph. The only extra feature was an oxygen system for the pilot. For the initial part of the ascent he was towing a hang-glider, but a cable-break prevented it accompanying him on the critical phase over the summit. The flight reached an altitude of almost 30,000 feet. He showed considerable skill in coping with the extreme weather and courage in flying over the inhospitable terrain. The Royal Aero Club is the national co-ordinating body for Air Sport in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1901 and the Britannia Trophy was first awarded in 1913. Richard joins a very elite group of pilots who have won this award twice, his first time being in 1990 as a member of the British Microlight Team which won the FAI World Championships at Valladolid in Spain. (Richard was also an individual Gold medal winner in that championships). The presentation by the RAeC President HRH the Duke of York will be at the Art Gallery of the National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Rd, Chelsea, London on Thursday 3rd February 2005. Admission is by ticket only (£35) available from Mrs Diana King secretary@royalaeroclub.org The Pegasus Quantum 914 microlight Richard flew over Mt Everest will be on display at the presentation. |
RMH 
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