Airbus VIP Day at Minden Airport
May 8, 2016 started with rain at Minden. By 11:00 the skies were clearing and aviation fun could be had. Tim Gardner flew a ride in his Pitts, SoaringNV got 2 two-place gliders out for several VIP rides.
Enders Flies in Perlan 2 on Airbus Perlan Mission II Media Day
Despite the rainy conditions in the morning the Perlan team welcomed Airbus CEO Tom Enders and a large group of international reporters to the Tito Perlan hangar at Minden Tahoe airport on May 7, 2016.
Drogue Chute Deployment Test
On April 29 the Perlan team successfully conducted the first airborne deployment test of Perlan's drogue parachute.
Teachers in Space Visit Minden
Teachers in Space arrived at the Perlan hangar on April 23. Liz Kennick, Joe Latrell, Chris Murphy, and Austin Reese pitched in immediately with a ground test being conducted for the glider. That's Austin's CubeSat experiment in his hands in the red case.
Tail Tost Release Test
On Sunday April 24 Perlan Project did a static load test to verify the tail was strong enough to withstand the maximum opening shock from the rear drogue chute. The glider was held taunt between a snow plow in the front and from behind a Ford 250 pickup strapped to a Chevy Suburban.
Minden Wave Camp
Minden Wave Camp sponsored by SoaringNV was held April 5 - 10, 2016. Perlan Project was well represented by team members Einar and Susana, Ed and Linda, Tim, Stewart, Morgan, Doug, Jim and Jackie.
Iturmendi presents to Society of Experimental Test Pilots
On April 8, 2016 Flight Test Pilot and Engineer Miguel Iturmendi presented to the regional meeting of SETP in Florida. His description of the Perlan 2 glider, and the Perlan Project was of high interest to over 100 other Test Pilots. Turns out that several of the currently active Air Force TPs were students of Jim Payne at the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB.
Perlan 2 Flies in Wave
On March 21, 2016 the Airbus Perlan 2 pressurized sailplane made its first climbing wave flight. The all-volunteer Perlan Team has accomplished this critical milestone after an amazing amount of effort from the core team.