Ed WarnockEd has a BS in Aerospace Engineering (Honors and high Distinction) from the University of Arizona and an MA in Systems Theory. When he was working at the Naval Weapons Center at China Lake, Bertha Ryan gave him his first glider ride. He became a...
James DarcyJames Darcy is Airbus Vice President of Communications for the Americas. He leads a team of communicators responsible for the full range of internal and external communications tactics and strategy across North and Latin America, including all Airbus lines...
Jim PayneJim Payne started soaring at the Air Force Academy in 1971. At the Academy he made his first wave flight and was immediately hooked. His paper for his senior technical writing course was “A Report on High Altitude Sailplane Flight.” He graduated...
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...
On August 20, 2019 Airbus Perlan Mission II soared in Patagonia skies for the first time this campaign. With the long delay on the container, the Perlan team was ready to launch Perlan 2 for a return to service flight. Jamie Darcy had his video crew and photo chase...
The high altitude Perlan 2 glider is almost ready to soar over Patagonia! After several days of checking systems and installing upgrades it was time to put the wings on. Everyone was really excited to be this close to flying. The hangar of AeroClub Lago Argentino was...
Perlan El Calafate Meetings Airbus Perlan Mission could not successfully operate from remote Patagonia without strong support from Argentina organizations. We met with representatives from many groups – governmental, volunteer, and informal. Perlan 2 has unique...