We’re forging ahead in 2021 with our mission to inspire, educate and advance aerospace and meteorological science. As the world emerges from this global pandemic, we continue to respect international health and safety protocols that are keeping much of our work in...
The Airbus Perlan Mission II has wrapped up 2019 Campaign IV flights in Argentina. The team members have returned to homes across America and around the world. The Perlan 2 glider is on its way back to the space glider’s home in Minden, Nevada.Season IV was a great...
Weather is what ultimately powers a soaring flight and that's exactly the case for Perlan 2. In 2019 Airbus Perlan Mission II started soaring over Patagonia on August 20. Barely over a week later a rare major atmospheric event for the South Pole called Sudden...
Flight 65 to 65,000 feet In 2019 Airbus Perlan Mission II has been ready to fly, but the stratospheric wave lift has been practically unusable above 60,000 feet. (see future Stratospheric Warming blog) The team kept a positive attitude and we launched every chance...
Einar Enevoldson, named the Perlan Project after the rare polar stratospheric clouds that glow pink and blue in the early evening and morning. They are jewels in the stratosphere. These polar stratospheric clouds (PSC) are known in Scandinavia as “Perlan clouds”...
The Airbus Perlan Mission II team operates with around 25 volunteers. But not everyone can take 6-8 weeks away from work and families. So we repeatedly say "Hail and Farewell" to inbound and outbound team members. The night of 5 September we welcomed Kristina Messner...
Aviation measurements can be confusing when different numbers are used to describe similar terms. In the following blog we will compare the useage of the term altitude - pressure and GPS, as well as the usage of the term airspeed - indicated and true. ALTITUDE When...
In the non-wave season Airbus Perlan Mission II took the opportunity to prioritize desirable upgrades to our systems. 2019 was extremely productive for improvements and completely new add-ons. After the first wave flight of the year, Jim summed it up: “Flight 0060 was...
On August 28, 2019 Perlan 2 took to the skies over the Andes looking for Patagonia wave. This flight took extraordinary effort on the part of Airbus Perlan Mission II team. But we "got 'er done"! During the preflight procedures, not one but two potentially flight...
It was a perfect day for a check flight and photo chase mission. Crystal blue skies, no clouds, and no winds - Argentina Patagonia at its finest. Perlan 2 leaped skyward with test pilots Jim Payne and Miguel Iturmendi behind the mighty Egrett...
When Airbus Perlan Mission II conducts a "high" tech campaign in remote Patagonia we must take everything we need plus any spares with us. We started packing in April. The glider trailer was designed to fit into a standard 40 foot shipping container - as long as we...
Perlan 2 Flies at Minden Airbus Perlan Mission II is preparing to soar high over Patagonia once again in 2023. Perlan Project was on hiatus during the Covid era 2020-2022. To be ready to soar again in the stratospheric wave above 40,000 feet we needed Return to...
Perlan Project's all-volunteer team has made incredible preparations to get ready for Argentina. Each week additional team members have journeyed to Minden to join the core team. In the past few weeks we have hosted CEO Ed and Linda Warnock, Miguel Iturmendi, Alan...
Family, friends, and colleagues remember Einar’s life. On a recent afternoon, a group gathered at the Julia Morgan Hall, University of California Botanical Garden to celebrate the life of Einar Enevoldson, whose vision inspired The Perlan Project. Old friends to...
The primary stakeholders for the Airbus Perlan Mission II met to discuss budget and logistics last week. Thanks to the generous contributions of AVExperts, Perlan Project can fund a 2023 Campaign in Argentina with a rather austere budget. What we still hope to gain...
The 2023 Soaring Society of America convention in Reno had extreme winter weather constricting attendance. Road and airport closures bracketed the dates. The wide spread storm stretched all the way to Southern California where one ski resort got 65” of snow in 24...