Briton first to fly microlight around Everest

A British adventurer has become the first to fly around Mount Everest in a microlight aircraft.

Mount Everest is the world's tallest peak at 8,848 metres.

Forty-six-year old Richard Meredith-Hardy took off from a base camp 25 kilometres away, braving icy winds to reach the top of the peak.

"This place is seriously big," he was quoted as saying by a news agency.

Meredith-Hardy, a two-time World Microlight Champion, made his flight in a British-built Pegasus XL-S powered by a Rotax turbo engine.

His account of his feat, and photos, have been posted on www.flymicro.com.