On May 16, 2018 the National Aeronautic Association awarded Perlan Project the Most Memorable Soaring Record from 2017. This recognized the high altitude flight flown by Chief Pilot Jim Payne and Morgan Sandercock to 52,221 feet on September 3 from El Calafate...
Perlan 2 is back in the air! It was a beautiful flight with an excellent shake-down performance. The Perlan team gather at 6:30 this morning to add the final touches to the Perlan 2 pre-flight. We were joined by Teachers in Space Jim Kuhl and Chris Murphy who handled...
A critical upgrade for 2018 was to build a new front hatch. The original clearly worked to 54,000 feet, thanks to Keith Kongslie's work in 2016. But it was not a perfect match between hatch and fuselage. Jim and Greg decided perfection was the goal. And on May 4 (Star...
During the off season 2017-2018 Perlan 2 has had several upgrades. More battery power was desired. New insulated battery boxes meant the old telemery and science wiring needed to be moved. Since Perlan 2 is the most sophisticated glider ever built this was a...
On April 28, 2018 three Perlan team members went to the Southern Aero Medical Institute to test the Perlan re-breather system and emergency bailout bottle. Dr Paul Buza met Miguel Iturmendi test pilot, Tim Gardner safety pilot, and Alec Guay observer at SAMI. The...
Perlan Project team members were integral in the success of Minden Wave Camp '18. There were over 60 pilot wave campers plus family and of course SoaringNV staff to tow, instruct and support. Tim Gardner organized the guest speakers and instructed in unusual attitude...
During the off season in 2017-18 we wanted to do several upgrades to the Perlan 2. Most of these would either require back-breaking contorsions to get inside the cockpit and work on the ceiling or........invert the glider. So Perlan 2 hangar acrobatics was invented....
On April 3, 2018 the Perlan team again gathered in Washington DC to present to the Collier Selection Committee. Unfortunately Ed Warnock had to teach university classes so the team was comprised of Miguel Iturmendi, Jim Payne, Einar Enevoldson and Tim Gardner. The...
For a fun 360 spherical video that can look all around the Patagonia sky, go to Perlan Project's March 29, 2018 Facebook post linked below. Timelapse was used to conserve memory, so it is a bit quick to watch. My iPhone doesn't support 360 viewing, but my computer...
In Rosamond Greg Scates, Mike Malis and Jim Payne continue the upgrade progress on Perlan 2. The rear cockpit has the collar around the opening. The tool for the new front hatch is almost ready. The plug is a perfect match of the fuselage. The carbon fiber coupon for...
When you claim a world altitude record, you must be able to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that you truly achieved your claimed altitude. Part of the rules require a pre- AND a post-flight calibration of your instruments. The Soaring Society of America contributed...
On November 2 after 12,700 miles over 45 days of travel the Perlan 2 arrived back home in Minden, Nevada. Each journey is unique in its logistical challenges. Sometimes the obstacles are paperwork, or insurance, or connections, or a blizzard closing Andes mountain...
The Society of Flight Test Engineers SFTE just celebrated its 50th birthday. At their October annual symposium in Savannah, Georgia the Perlan Team was highly honored with the Flight Test Team of the Year Award. Miguel wrote: Al Lawless and Miguel Iturmendi received...
The Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP) has honored one of its own as Test Pilot of the Year with the Iven Kincheloe Award since 1958. This year Airbus Perlan Mission II Chief Pilot Jim Payne was selected for his flight testing of Perlan 2. "The achievement...
The Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP) annual conference in Anaheim (Disneyland) was well attended this year. There was an after hours buffet dinner inside the park for SETP guests on Thursday evening, yet at 8 am Friday morning there was standing room only...
After two envelope expansioin flights it was time to pack up Perlan 2 and our equipment to ship north. With inclement weather expected, the team took the final nice weather day for personal use. The boat trip excursion to the glaciers was popular, as was skiing in...