Legendary helicopter pilot Jean Boulet’s altitude record still stands 50 years on
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.
