Windward Performance Perlan II

The Perlan 2 is a follow-up design to the successful Perlan 1. Its design goal is to reach and exceed {{convert|90000|ft|km|0|abbr=on}} in altitude. The project's goals include science, engineering and education. The aircraft will be used to study the northern polar vortex and its influence on global weather patterns. It has already surpassed the sub-sonic altitude record set in 1989 by a Lockheed U-2. The program also hopes to beat the 85,069 ft altitude record set in 1975 by a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.{{cite web|title=Gliding To The Edge Of Space|url=http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Gliding-To-Edge-Space220972-1.html|accessdate=15 November 2013}}

The aircraft is made from composites. Its {{convert|83.83|ft|m|2|abbr=on}} span wing has a high aspect ratio of 27.1 and is equipped with airbrakes. The pressurization system produces an 8.5 psi differential, and the two-person crew will not wear pressure suits. The landing gear is a fixed monowheel gear. Because the aircraft will operate at extreme altitudes, in only 3% of sea level atmospheric pressure, it will also be flying at true airspeeds in excess of 0.5 Mach. The aircraft was designed to minimize flutter and manage shock wave formation.

The original funding for the Perlan Project was provided by Steve Fossett and he flew the Perlan 1, along with test pilot Einar Enevoldson to a glider altitude record of {{convert|50761|ft|km|0|abbr=on}} in the mountain waves of El Calafate, Argentina on 30 August 2006. Fossett was killed in a light aircraft crash a year later and the project floundered without funding. Since then more than US$2.8M has been raised to build the Perlan 2, including a donation in 2010{{Cite web |date=2021-01-18 |title=ABOUT - The Perlan Project |url=https://perlanproject.org/about/#history |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240623161759/https://perlanproject.org/about/#history |archive-date=2024-06-23 |access-date=2024-09-20 |language=en-US}} from Dennis Tito. In November 2013, a crowd-funding effort was undertaken. In August 2014 Airbus became a partner in the project and the title sponsor.{{cite web|url=http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Airbus-to-Join-Perlan-Project-222530-1.html|title=Airbus To Join Perlan Project|work=AVweb|accessdate=28 July 2015}}

The Perlan 2 first flew in 2015 and started with flights in the U.S. Sierra Nevada mountain wave. The record setting and research flights started in southern Argentina in 2016,{{cite web|url=http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=f6b72e51-72fa-49d0-b641-d04942a3fa75|title=Perlan 2 Glider Getting Set For First Flight|work=aero-news.net}} by Einar Envoldson or Perrenod using rebreather oxygen systems.{{cite web|url=http://worldindustrialreporter.com/the-edge-of-space-airbus-perlan-2-aims-to-break-world-altitude-record/|title=The Edge of Space: Airbus' Perlan 2 Aims to Break World Altitude Record |work=World Industrial Reporter}} The aircraft was displayed at AirVenture in July 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/New-Perlan-Glider-Debuts-At-Oshkosh-224565-1.html|title=New Perlan Glider Debuts At Oshkosh|work=AVweb|accessdate=28 July 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/high-hopes-airbus-perlan-mission-II-glider-built-become-highest-flying-winged-2056474.htm|title=High Hopes: Airbus Perlan Mission II Glider Built to Become 'Highest-Flying Winged Aircraft Ever' to Attempt Historic First Flight|work=Marketwire}}

On 3 September 2017 Perlan 2, flown by Jim Payne and Morgan Sandercock, reached an altitude of {{convert|52172|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}, establishing a new world record for gliders over the Andes Mountain range in Argentina.{{Cite web |title=Airbus Perlan Mission II - World Record Flight {{!}} Perlan Project |url=http://www.perlanproject.org/blog/airbus-perlan-mission-ii-world-record-flight |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911040849/http://www.perlanproject.org/blog/airbus-perlan-mission-ii-world-record-claim |archive-date=2017-09-11 |access-date=2017-09-04 |website=www.perlanproject.org |language=en}}{{cite web |date=3 September 2017 |title=Soaring Altitude Record Set |url=https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Soaring-Altitude-Record-Set-229585-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419094054/https://www.avweb.com/web/20230419094054/https://www.avweb.com/recent-updates/business-military/soaring-altitude-record-set/ |archive-date=2023-04-19 |accessdate=4 September 2017 |work=AVweb}}

On 2 September 2018, Jim Payne and Tim Gardner reached an altitude of {{cvt|76,124|ft}}, surpassing the {{cvt|73,737|feet}} attained by Jerry Hoyt on April 17, 1989, in a Lockheed U-2: the highest subsonic flight.{{cite press release |title=Airbus Perlan Mission II glider soars to 76,000 feet to break own altitude record, surpassing even U-2 reconnaissance plane |date=3 September 2018 |publisher=Airbus |url=https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2018/09/airbus-perlan-mission-ii-glider-soars-to-76-000-feet-to-break-ow.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001042649/https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2018/09/airbus-perlan-mission-ii-glider-soars-to-76-000-feet-to-break-ow.html |archive-date=2018-10-01}}

File:Perlan II.jpg

{{Aircraft specs

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{{aircontent

|see also=

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• Lamson L-106 Alcor

|lists=

• List of gliders

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{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website|http://www.perlanproject.org/}}
• {{youTube|aTmkKmvd2_c|Taxi test}}

{{Windward Performance aircraft}}

Category:2010s United States experimental aircraft

Category:Aircraft first flown in 2015

Category:2010s United States sailplanes