In the early 1990s, NASA test pilot Einar Enevoldson set out to prove that gliders could catch mountain waves and soar to extreme altitudes. With the Perlan Mission, Enevoldson set out with a very ambitious goal: to soar into the stratosphere – the atmospheric layer between the troposphere and the mesosphere. On August 30, 2006, Enevoldson together with record-setter Steve Fossett, flew the Perlan I beyond 50,000 feet, breaking the altitude record for gliders at that time.
Perlan 2 Glider Soars Beyond 76,000 Feet
Key Takeaways:
- The Perlan Mission, initiated by Einar Enevoldson in the 1990s, sought to prove gliders could reach the stratosphere by catching mountain waves, with Perlan I setting a record over 50,000 feet in 2006.
- On September 3, the Perlan 2 glider achieved a new world altitude record for gliders, soaring to an astonishing 76,124 feet, surpassing previous records and the U2 spy plane's top altitude.
- This record-breaking flight was the culmination of multiple high-altitude flights by the Perlan 2 in the preceding week, showcasing its advanced features like a pressurized carbon fiber structure.
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