Perlan’s blog collects the thoughts and experiences of team members from the multiple disciplines needed to build and prepare the aircraft, plan the flight, and carry out the mission. Here, you’ll find insights from the designers, craftspeople, pilots, meteorologists, and support personnel who will make Perlan’s record ascents a reality. Perlan’s blog will be an opportunity to delve into the challenges and triumphs that travel with the giant sailplane.
Ten years ago on August 29, 2006 Einar Enevoldson and Steve Fossett made history with a sailplane flight to 50,722 feet (15,460 meters) from El Calafate, Argentina. They were extremely cold and their pressure suits, on loan from NASA, had inflated to the point of being stiff. After they knew they had achieved the altitude for the record they decided to come down.
Argentina and California have approximately the same population, but Argentina is over five times larger. Over a third of the population live in Buenos Aires, Over three-fourths live in cities over 100,000. This is all to say that Argentina is a vast land of unspoiled beauty. I’m an expert having been here four days.
August 27 dawned clear and calm so aeriel reconnassiance was in order. German, an instructor from Aero Club Largo Argentino took Jim and Miguel up scouting several landing strips. They took off from El Calafate on the shore of Lago Argentino. They headed west toward Andes and over flew an air strip near Perito Morena glacier and Punta Bandera. Then they headed north towards Chalten runnway, Lago Viedma, and Rio La Leona. In the Andes photo after the two river photos, Mt Fitz Roy's famous jagged pinnacle is in the center of the range. They looked at several more strips and came back to El Calafate.
The Perlan Team visited two schools in two days in two cities in Argentina. Tago, Morgan, and Cholo (Argentine tow pilot and soaring record holder) visited an elementary school in Mendoza. The next morning Jim Kuhl (Teachers in Space), Miguel Iturmendi, and Martin Heltai (photographer) visited a middle school in El Calafate. The photos tell the story!!!
Here is a link to more photos from El Calafate school. Use with attribution.
The Perlan Team will be very comfy in El Calafate, Argentina. Eduarado and Patricia have been extremely welcoming to the team with their cabins.
August 22, 2016 - The Airbus Perlan Press Briefing was a smash hit, home run, hat trick, record setting event.
Ed and Linda Warnock along with college intern Alec Quay have been the Perlan advance party in Buenos Aires.
From the Teachers In Space Second Quarter 2016 Newsletter
By Aditya A.& Nicolas M. 8th Grade Students