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Perian 2 glider9/3/2023 “The possibilities are just so incredible,” says Austin, an atmospheric physicist and the founder of forecasting service WeatherExtreme in Incline Village, Nevada. For its pilots and engineers, the Perlan Project holds the excitement of breaking the world altitude record for gliding-and perhaps one day reaching close to the vacuum of space.īut for Elizabeth Austin, the project’s chief scientist, there’s another thrill: the glider will carry scientific instruments for climate, aerospace and stratospheric research that cannot be done using other means. Future of Space Travel – Perlan 2 will operate in atmospheric conditions roughly similar to those on Mars, providing insight into how wingborne aircraft could operate above the Martian surface.A glider that aims to soar higher than any other piloted aircraft will begin its first campaign this month in the skies above Argentina. Future of Aviation – Many of the high-altitude weather phenomena Perlan 2 will encounter have implications for aircraft performance and safety, especially as commercial aviation strives to operate aircraft at higher altitudes. Diagnosing the Ozone Layer – Perlan 2 can take untainted air samples from the stratosphere to measure the levels of ozone-damaging chemicals and assess whether the ozone layer is replenishing or still depleting. Predicting Climate Change – Perlan 2 will collect and share data with atmospheric scientists worldwide, to improve climate models and more accurately predict climate change. Understanding Weather – What happens at the highest levels of the stratosphere impacts weather around the globe, and Perlan 2 will be able to directly observe important atmospheric phenomena that previously have only been speculated about. Because it lacks an engine, Perlan 2 can explore the edge of space without polluting the atmosphere it will study, opening up human knowledge on several fronts : In addition to its two-person crew, the aircraft carries scientific instruments to provide new insight into climate change and our upper atmosphere. The crew will breathe pure oxygen provided by a rebreather system, similar to what astronauts use in space. Next year’s flights are expected to reach 90,000 feet, exceeding even the altitudes achieved by the U-2 and the SR-71.ĭespite having no engine, the glider’s true flight speed at that altitude will be more than 400 mph and the air density will be less than two percent of what it is at sea level. The Perlan 2 is a pressurized sailplane designed to ride air currents that, in certain mountainous regions near the north and south poles, can reach into the stratosphere. Jim Payne and Morgan Sandercock piloted today’s flight, which was the first of many for the Airbus Perlan Mission II team as it prepares to soar the aircraft to the edge of space in Argentina in 2016. “This marks a major breakthrough in aviation innovation, one that will allow winged exploration of the atmosphere at the edge of space and lead to new discoveries to unravel some of the continuing mysteries of weather, climate change and ozone depletion.” We’re extremely excited about the successful first flight of the Perlan 2 glider,”said Ed Warnock, CEO of the Perlan Project. It is supported by Airbus Group and a group of other sponsors that includes Weather Extreme Ltd., United Technologies and The Perlan 2 glider was developed by The Perlan Project, a volunteer-run, non-profit endeavour headed by leaders in aerospace and engineering. But it will also help Airbus continue to innovate ways to fly higher, faster and cleaner, on Earth and possibly beyond.” “The knowledge gained from this project will impact how the world understands and addresses climate change. “Airbus Perlan Mission II is a historic endeavour in the truest spirit of aviation’s earliest pioneers,” said Tom Enders, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Airbus Group. The goal of this project is to open up a world of new discoveries related to high-altitude flight, climate change and space exploration. This was the first test flight of the aircraft, which next year will attempt to set a new world altitude record for any airplane. The Perlan 2 glider, the world’s first engineless aircraft designed to reach the edge of space, achieved its successful first flight today in a historic moment about 5,000 feet above Roberts Field, the Redmond Municipal Airport in Oregon.
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