Perlan’s blog collects the thoughts and experiences of team members from the multiple disciplines needed to build and prepare the aircraft, plan the flight, and carry out the mission. Here, you’ll find insights from the designers, craftspeople, pilots, meteorologists, and support personnel who will make Perlan’s record ascents a reality. Perlan’s blog will be an opportunity to delve into the challenges and triumphs that travel with the giant sailplane.
November 9, 2015
The Airbus Perlan Mission II has reached another major milestone, the Ground Vibration Test (GVT) of the Perlan 2 Glider. The testing is taking place this week at ATA Engineering, in San Diego, CA.
Ground vibration testing is often performed on experimental aircraft. It applies controlled vibration to the structure and then measures how the aricraft responds. Excessive vibration can cause a variety of problems in a aircraft.
Gliding Convention in Germany
Miguel Iturmendi made a presentation on the Perlan Project on Saturday, October 31, 2015, at the Gliding Convention that was held at the Convention Center in Freudenstadt, Germany.
It was a fantastic event! Hundreds of people received information and brochures about the Airbus Perlan Mission II. Around 1200 people attended the presentation. The event was busy and the Perlan 2 model and stand was at the entrance for the event. There was a high degree of curiosity and many questions answered regarding the aircraft and the project.
January 11, 2016
Perlan CubeSat Contest: High Altitude Experiments with an Exciting Twist
Teachers in Space has teamed up with Perlan to bring space science directly into the classroom.
The wing spar that was impossible to assemble has passed its ultimate test. This was a really important milestone, more important than the first flight. We knew it was going to fly and we had enough analysis and simulation done to know what it would be like to fly. But this spar test was a much bigger unknown. We truly didn't know if it would pass the test.
September 23, 2015
Press Conference and Reception following the First Flight of the Perlan 2.
September 23, 2015
These beautiful photos of the first flight of Perlan 2 were taken by Jamie Darcy from Airbus from the chase helicopter.
On the morning of first flight of the Perlan 2 glider, we had just a few people on the line for launch.
Einar Enevoldson, the visionary of The Perlan Project, shook the chief pilot, Jim Payne's,
hand symbolizing the passing of the baton from the Perlan 1 to the Perlan 2 glider.
On Sunday before first flight some practice tows with a masked DG had been done at Minden with Silvio and same SoaringNV Pawnee that would be used for actual First Flight. Jim was in front with Perlan-style masked canopy and Morgan was in back with clear canopy. Both pilots were happy with the visibility.