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.
We apply special grease between metal parts that won’t freeze at the extremely low (-90F) temps that we have already seen. The gently curved spar stub of the heavy wing needs to be eyeballed in as it enters the fuselage opening. Then the wing rigger is switched to the second (right) wing. As always with any glider, the alignment of the two wings is fine tuned and then the 2 greased spar pins are inserted into the alligned holes through both spar stubs. Applause is appreciated at the end of the process. Two of our interns Alec Guay and Loris Gliner show how the wings line up next to the fuselage. A video showing the important steps of Perlan 2 assembly is available on PerlanProject youtube channel at https://youtu.be/ey6vpDNYIrc A quick-time fun version of the rigging video is available at https://www.facebook.com/PerlanProject/videos/1995622493783092/ Videos edited by Tim Davis Media. Perlan Soars High! Jackie
