Perlan is airborne again

[Aaron R]

I know, I know, it's a rotary wing forum. But for those interested in other cool aviation stuff, the Perlan project is airborne right now, trying to set another world record for glider altitude achieved. You can view their virtual cockpit here. I believe they have to exceed 76,100 feet to set a new record.

 

[WaspAir]

Thanks for the link. They've already exceeded the U2 ceiling. Obviously, engines just hold you down!

 

[okikuma]

I attended a presentation about the Perlan Project at one of the Experiential Soaring Association Western Workshop at the Mountain Valley Airport (L94), Tehachapi, California.

Wayne

 

[Aerofoam]

I was involved briefly with a project trying to set a high altitude glide record back in about 2004.
They were trying to beat NASA to establish a glide at over 100k ft.
The plan was to use one of my larger delta wing designs dropped from a balloon at 120k ft. and try to pull out to establish the glide
about 100k. ft.
it's incredible how fast things accelerate in the absence of air.....
I believe they told me it would be doing about 700mph. within the first 4 second of the drop, so the initial 20k. zone really didn't offer much time to establish flight. Not really my area of expertise, or even in the same galaxy...
NASA was using a full scale glider, maybe a Discus, don't remember, but I was told they kept pulling administrative strings to make sure the other group would NOT get clearance to fly...
They were talking about going to Canada, or Iceland to do the flight....

 

[Aaron R]

Yes, apparently a polar vortex can be found in either north or south polar region. The Perlan team seems to favor this site in southern Argentina, and based on their past record-setting flights, it appears that Aug and Sept are ideal months. I imagine they will try more attempts at the record this year. They only got a little over 60k ft yesterday. If anyone wants to follow them, you can go to the Perlan website and sign up to be notified when they fly.

 

[okikuma]

Here's more information on the Perlan Project.

Wayne

 

[WaspAir]

Visibility from that cockpit is terrible. Fortunately, there isn't much traffic to see above FL600.

 

[WaspAir]

NASA was using a full scale glider, maybe a Discus, don't remember, but I was told they kept pulling administrative strings to make sure the other group would NOT get clearance to fly...

I doubt that a Discus is even capable of flight there (no speed range for it above stall and simultaneously below destructive flutter). True airspeeds are ridiculous in that super thin air.