Blog posts | Perlan Project

Error message

Deprecated function: implode(): Passing glue string after array is deprecated. Swap the parameters in drupal_get_feeds() (line 394 of /home2/perlan/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Deprecated function: The each() function is deprecated. This message will be suppressed on further calls in menu_set_active_trail() (line 2405 of /home2/perlan/public_html/includes/menu.inc).

Blog

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.

Weather and Wave Flight - Aug 24 '17

Weather forecasting is as much art as science, especially in Patagonia. Airbus Perlan Mission II has the best forecasts and satellite photos available this year. Last year the GOES 13 satellite photos for southern Patagonia were only published three times per day. This year the GOES 16 satellite photos are every 15 minutes which is a huge improvement; usually not quite an hour old when we can see them on-line. We are launching our Perlan weather balloon to confirm any forecast soundings and create our own SkewT charts.

On August 24, 2017 there was not a strong indication of wave. But if you look at the multi-day outlook it was the best we would see for the next 5 days. The Perlan team is great, we are all wanting to do our part to make it happen if at all possible. So we decided to fly and explore.

Rainy Day Off

Wave Flight - August 19, 2017

After a strong effort by the Airbus Perlan Mission II team on the morning of August 19, 2017 we were ready to tow out Perlan 2. (See separate blog about PreFlight.) We had been inspired by the possible forecast from 48 hours previous for what might be possible. Unfortunately as the day got nearer the new forecast reduced our hopes. Back on Thursday the lift band through the sky in the cross section forecast was the best we had seen with a red (lift) path from low to high altitudes. (First photo) But on the actual flight day the lower level lift was not as strong as desired and the mid level was almost non-existant (Second photo). The high level wave was still looking strong.

Ice and PreFlight Description 8-19-17

This blog is dedicated to the entire support team for Perlan Project in El Calafate. On August 19 we knew there was a short window of opportunity to fly between two fronts. But when we arrived at the hangar there was ice pushed up against the 4 piece rolling hangar doors. And pushing the main wheel of Perlan 2 through snow with the low fairing and antennas was not happening. The balloon team released a weather balloon and Morgan updated some wing tip software. It was Alec's last day so he continued to train others as his replacement. Alec left big shoes to fill.

Snow in El Calafate

In Flight Tail Camera Photos and Video 8-15-17

After flying 4.6 hours on August 15, 2017 the Airbus Perlan Mission II team celebrated the new high mark of 33,200 feet or 10,000 meters! The first photo is from 30,000 feet looking east over Lago Argentina. The second photo is from 33,000 feet looking west towards the Andes. The third photo is to give you a sense of the immense height of 33,000 feet from the video. The white tongue just below left wing on left edge of second photo is the wall of Perito Moreno Glacier.

In-Flight Photos Aug 15 '17

Tim Gardner was able to take some goregous photos while flying above Patagonia.

First - Lago Argentino on tow 7400 feet

Second - Lake from 15,600 feet

Third - Above Upsala and Spegazzini glaciers 28,000 feet

Fourth - Looking at Andes from 33,000 feet

Fifth - Looking North from 33,000 feet

Sixth - Foehn Gap Tim says "Wave trigger to the left. Lenny to the right."

Argentina Wave to 33,200 feet - Aug 15 '17

On August 15, 2017 Airbus Perlan Mission II team gathered in the hangar for an early launch. The weather balloon team of Loris, Sandra, Stewart, Martin, Alec and Michael had collected wind, temperature, and altitude data to use to fine tune the forecast. Those hardy souls start their duties an hour ( or two) before everyone else. Since the sun was just up and the wind was blowing, it was cold out on the ramp and runway. Linda, Tago, Stewart, Alec, Loris, and Jackie were ground ops. Martin took photograghs and worked with the tail camera footage. Miguel helped with aviation translations. Sandra applied for credentials for newly arriving team members. The lower air mass was very dynamic. The Perlan 2 lost 2,000 feet on tow in the sink just before reaching the primary wave. As soon as Jim Payne and Tim Gardner got off at 10,000 feet they had 1500 feet per minute of lift. Unfortunately that quickly died back to 400 feet per minute above 14,000 feet. See the flight trace at

https://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightinfo.html?dsId=6064755

‹ previous
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
next ›

Error message

Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in tb_blocks_preprocess_block() (line 117 of /home2/perlan/public_html/sites/all/modules/biotic/tb_blocks/tb_blocks.module).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in tb_blocks_preprocess_block() (line 118 of /home2/perlan/public_html/sites/all/modules/biotic/tb_blocks/tb_blocks.module).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in tb_blocks_preprocess_block() (line 119 of /home2/perlan/public_html/sites/all/modules/biotic/tb_blocks/tb_blocks.module).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in tb_blocks_preprocess_block() (line 120 of /home2/perlan/public_html/sites/all/modules/biotic/tb_blocks/tb_blocks.module).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in tb_blocks_preprocess_block() (line 122 of /home2/perlan/public_html/sites/all/modules/biotic/tb_blocks/tb_blocks.module).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in tb_blocks_preprocess_block() (line 123 of /home2/perlan/public_html/sites/all/modules/biotic/tb_blocks/tb_blocks.module).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in tb_blocks_preprocess_block() (line 125 of /home2/perlan/public_html/sites/all/modules/biotic/tb_blocks/tb_blocks.module).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in tb_blocks_preprocess_block() (line 126 of /home2/perlan/public_html/sites/all/modules/biotic/tb_blocks/tb_blocks.module).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in tb_blocks_preprocess_block() (line 128 of /home2/perlan/public_html/sites/all/modules/biotic/tb_blocks/tb_blocks.module).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type int in element_children() (line 6595 of /home2/perlan/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type int in element_children() (line 6595 of /home2/perlan/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type int in element_children() (line 6595 of /home2/perlan/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type int in element_children() (line 6595 of /home2/perlan/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type int in element_children() (line 6595 of /home2/perlan/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type int in element_children() (line 6595 of /home2/perlan/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type int in element_children() (line 6595 of /home2/perlan/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type int in element_children() (line 6595 of /home2/perlan/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type int in element_children() (line 6595 of /home2/perlan/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type int in element_children() (line 6595 of /home2/perlan/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type int in element_children() (line 6595 of /home2/perlan/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type int in element_children() (line 6595 of /home2/perlan/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type int in element_children() (line 6595 of /home2/perlan/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type int in element_children() (line 6595 of /home2/perlan/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type int in element_children() (line 6595 of /home2/perlan/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type int in element_children() (line 6595 of /home2/perlan/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type int in element_children() (line 6595 of /home2/perlan/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type int in element_children() (line 6595 of /home2/perlan/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type int in element_children() (line 6595 of /home2/perlan/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type int in element_children() (line 6595 of /home2/perlan/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type int in element_children() (line 6595 of /home2/perlan/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type int in element_children() (line 6595 of /home2/perlan/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type int in element_children() (line 6595 of /home2/perlan/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type int in element_children() (line 6595 of /home2/perlan/public_html/includes/common.inc).