Blog posts | Perlan Project

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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.

Perlan and Patagonia Wave Clouds

The tail camera footage from Perlan 2 can be spectacular. I scoured the 5 hour flight from 9/9/17 for the most glorious shots. It was very difficult to narrow it to only 4 minutes! The music I selected was "Higher" by Silent Partner. How cool is that? Tim Davis put it together for us. The glacier Perito Moreno is visible below the Perlan 2 in several early sections and the third photo of this blog. If you look closely you can see where a chunk of ice (calf) has fallen off the 200 foot wall of the glacier. The stacked lenticular clouds in photo four topped out at 35,000 feet.

Perlan Project nominated for 2017 Collier Trophy

On February 5, 2018 the National Aeronautic Association annouced the illustrious list of nominees for the greatest aviation achievement in America in 2017. Perlan Project was proud to be included in this prestigeous group. This is the Oscar of Aviation, there is no higher honor. Jack Pelton, Chairman and CEO of the Experimental Aviation Association and a NAA Distinguished Statesman in Aviation nominated Perlan Project based on it's accomplishments in 2017.

“For more than a century, the Collier Trophy has recognized the ‘greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America,’ Greg Principato, President and CEO of NAA stated. “This year’s outstanding group of nominees represent the great depth and breadth of our aviation industry. Each is changing our world for the better. The Collier Selection Committee will have its work cut out for it this year and we at NAA couldn’t be more excited." For a recap of all 2017 nominees see https://aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/collier-trophy-nominees-announced/

Perlan 2 CubeSat Upgrades

Today we have a guest blogger Alec Guay our intern for past 2 years. Alec (aka Grasshopper) has helped immeasurably in Argentina for two campaigns. Now he is helping with the improved CubeSat rack and other Payload Bay improvements in Rosamond under the watchful eye of composites guru Greg Scates. To avoid confusion in Alec's photos, it is the Perlan 2 glider which is upside down in the background of some photos! And Alec got the donation of carbon fiber from Tom Haulik of Hexcel all by himself. Alec writes:

Hi Perlan Blog Readers! A mid project update on the composite science rack I am fabricating as part of my Mechanical Engineering Senior Design Project.

Turbulence on Tow for Perlan 2

One of the more challenging aspects of every wave flight of Perlan 2 is the tow. On the September 9, 2017 wave day the air that the CNVVM tow plane and Perlan 2 flew through was dynamic. It could be compared to a moderate roller coaster ride. The video linked below shows a 4 minute composite of that hour long tow.

Rigging the Perlan 2 Glider

The one-of-a-kind pressurized glider Perlan 2 is assembled similar to a normal large two-place glider. We pull out the fuselage and each wing from the special built Cobra trailer. We have created our own heavy-duty rigging aids like metal rolling saw horses modified by Greg Scates, a wing-rigger with air jack for fine tuned adjustments made by Tom Stowers, and a tail dolly made by Silvio Ricardi. The photos and video are in the Aero Club Lago Argentino hangar at the El Calafate airport.

Airbus/Perlan Quarterly Review Day

On January 6, 2018 Perlan Project hosted title sponsor Airbus for the quarterly review meeting. Since the Perlan 2 glider was in Rosamond for upgrades requiring carbon fiber parts, we held the meeting at nearby Hilton Garden Inn in Palmdale, CA. After the meeting we reconvened in Greg Scates' hangar for some "inverted show and tell."

Enders CEO of Airbus selected Av Week Person of the Year

On January 5, 2018 Aviation Week annouced their 2017 Aviation Person of the Year - Tom Enders, CEO of Airbus. Dr. Enders has been a long time supporter of the visionary Perlan Project. We are so pleased to congratulate him on this awesome accolade. Dr. Enders has visited Minden twice and was able to fly a test mission with Chief Perlan Pilot Jim Payne. It was with Dr. Enders' approval that the sponsorship creating Airbus Perlan Mission II was announced at Oshkosh in 2014.

Preparing for Perlan 2 Upgrades

In the off-season Airbus Perlan Mission II is making more upgrades to the Perlan 2 pressurized glider. Team member Greg Scates has been invaluable in creeating solutions for these upgrades. Previously he came to Minden to the cold hangar to make and cure carbon fiber parts. This year we decided to take the Perlan 2 to Greg's warm hangar in sunny Rosamond. (Greg and Paynes are across the taxiway neighbors at Rosamond Skypark.) Since Greg knew that he would be working upside down on the inside of the cabin, he decided to invert the glider instead.

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