Perlan Project has had so many opportunities to share our story in presentations around the world. 3 in Germany, London, Alaska, California, Nevada. Plus there are already dates scheduled in 2019 at NASA Armstrong, in Maryland, and the Founder’s Innovation at Oshkosh to name a few more. The story of an all-volunteer team of enthusiastic experts from various fields of aviation, engineering, computers, marketing, logistics and management really resonates with our Perlan fans.
Dan Gudgel presented to the Air Force test pilot soaring program on ground training day. He covered the complex meteorology of stratospheric wave and team focus. Dr Dan Johnson was asked to speak in Alaska about his experiences joining the team in El Calafate in 2018. He took over 5,000 photos and “extemporaneously told the story of Perlan, its meteorology, its engineering, and its discipline. He emphasized the meticulous safety planning.” Several Perlan team members have gone into classrooms to engage students with the latest news about our triple high flights. (No photos, sorry.)
Jim and Jackie traveled to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to speak to aviation and engineering college students. He was invited by Dr. Paulo Iscold who won the Experimental Aircraft Association Raspet Memorial Award for innovative aviation engineering. The students are starting a program similar to an akafleig with hands on design, engineering, wind tunnels, and all things soaring! The students peppered Jim with questions and Jackie emphasized the possibility of an internship next year in El Calafate – as long as they brought boots, coats and gloves. Jim also spoke to aviation engineering classes at San Diego State University. Jim and Miguel’s Perlan Presentation at Society of Experimental Test Pilots at Disneyland was wildly popular. Jim also spoke at the Aero Club of Southern California annual membership dinner at the Aviation Pathways museum.
Walt Rogers spoke to the Tehachapi Southern Sierra Soaring soaring dinner when they celebrated their win in the Silver League of the OnLineContest for cross-country soaring. He emphasized meteorology and Perlan team accomplishments. Jim also answered questions about flying wave to extreme altitudes. Miguel Iturmendi and Al Lawless spoke about the Perlan team to the Society of Flight Test Engineers in Savannah, Georgia.
In Germany Lars Bensch was definitely popular on the speaking circuit. Lars spoke in Manching where Airbus Defense and Space is located and the Eurofighter is built. He also spoke to the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology on the 90th anniversary of Akaflieg Karlsruhe to about 700 people. Then he shared the Perlan story with his old glider club in southern Germany.
In Darmstadt, Germany Ed Warnock spoke at the Darmstadt Technical University at the Segelflugzeug-symposium with over 200 in the audience. He also visited with the Darmstadt Akaflieg. “The students had many insightful questions about the challenges of stratospheric soaring.” He visited the university’s wind tunnel and at their hangar saw a student-built hot wire micro-turbulence probe.
Perlan Project members have likely had other presentations, but this gives you a good idea of the international appeal of our saga. Stay tuned as we plan for next year’s campaign to safely reach 90,000 feet in a glider. Perlan Soars High! Jackie
