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The absolute record for helicopter altitude made in 1972 by celebrated French test pilot, Jean Boulet, still remains unbeaten on its 50 year anniversary. Boulet took the lightened Aerospatiale SA315 Lama 001 to an impressive 12,442m altitude on 21 June 1972, above Istres airfield in France. This absolute record for altitude was ratified by FAI, which holds the record dossier, as well as documents pertaining to Boulet’s other FAI records.

Between 8 and 13 October 1930, Italian pilot Marinello Nelli broke three helicopter world records at Ciampino Airport in Rome: duration record (8min 45sec), distance in a straight line (1078m) and altitude (18m).

Pilot Marinello Nelli

Spectators witnessed the incredible navigation and control skills from the international crews at the fourth and final stage of the Helicopter World Cup 2019 in Poland’s Lososina Dolna Airfield.

A total of 14 crews flying R-44 and Mil-2 helicopters participated in the nail-biting final stage, representing the nations of Czech Republic, Poland, Russia and Ukraine.

In the third stage of the 2019 Helicopter World Cup held in Belarus last week, the formidable Russian duo of Elena Prokofyeva and Diana Riiazova remained overall leaders in the General Class, despite having been knocked off the top spots during the actual competition. Last year’s winners, the equally impressive Russian Masters Class crew of Yury Yablokov and Konstantin Podoinitsyn, also kept hold of their top overall position.