Mon, Sep 14, 2015
Hopes To Eventually Fly To 90,000 Feet Of Altitude
The Perlan 2 glider is being prepped for a low-altitude flight next week, but the team has their sights set much higher.
The newspaper The Bulletin reports that the first flight for the glider, which resembles something built for Virgin Galactic by Scaled Composites, is planned for Wednesday. The altitude will be limited to about 5,000 feet as the aircraft is put through a series of system checks.
But the Perlan 2 team has much loftier aspirations. They hope to eventually fly the glider to an altitude of 90,000 feet ... higher than any other manned fixed-wing aircraft ... and shatter the existing record of 50,722 feet set in 2006 by Steve Fossett and Perlan Project founder Einar Enevoldson, a former NASA test pilot.
Doug Perrenod, the project coordinator for the Perlan 2 launch, said one of the main problems faced by the team is pressurization, as there is no engine to power pumps that would pressurize the cockpit. While he did not elaborate on how the cockpit will maintain pressure, he did say that the life support system resembles rebreather systems used by SCUBA divers.
The team received an experimental airworthiness certificate for the glider on September 4, according to the project blog. The Perlan 2 glider will conduct a series of test flights from Redmond Airport in central Oregon over the next several months, and Perrenod says they will probably achieve an altitude in excess of 50,000 feet. The record attempt is currently planned for March or April of next year, and the team will travel to Argentina for the attempt, Perrenod said.
(Artist's rendering of Perlan 2 glider in flight via Facebook)
More News
Takeoff Roll The process whereby an aircraft is aligned with the runway centerline and the aircraft is moving with the intent to take off. For helicopters, this pertains to the act>[...]
“We’re proud of the hard work that went into receiving this validation, and it will be a welcome relief to our customers in the European Union. We couldn’t be mor>[...]
Also: 1800th E-Jet, Uncle Sam Sues For Landing Gear, Embraer Ag Plane, Textron Parts A friend of the family reported that Lt. Col. (Ret.) Richard Glenn Rutan flew west on Friday, M>[...]
Also: Virgin Galactic, B-29 Doc to Allentown, Erickson Fire-Fighters Bought, FAA Reauthorization After dealing with a big letdown after the unexpected decision by Skyreach to disco>[...]
"Aircraft Spruce is pleased to announce the acquisition of the parts distribution operations of Wag-Aero. Wag-Aero was founded in the 1960’s by Dick and Bobbie Wagner in the >[...]