Helicopter fly upto Mount Everest

[Dom Tuk]

is there no type of helicopter that can fly upto the summit of Mount Everest and why not??.

[undercovers]

my guess is that the technology is not tested to that temperature (-25 C) and this coupled with the lack of oxygen must have implications for the use of petrol driven motors. having said that those hang glides have been at it  http://www2.flymicro.com/everest/

[Clanad]

Actually, the world's record for altitude in a helicopter is just over 40,000 feet above mean sea level (MSL).  However the average maximum altitude in helicopters is drastically lower than that.  The limiting factor is engine power (most are turbine engines, hence no limitation due to temperatures) and main rotor design.  They just are not designed for those kinds of altitudes.  Even in lower altitudes, say 10,000 to 12,000 feet, many helicopters need to do a running take-off.  They can't lift off vertically, nor can they hover...