The Airbus Perlan 2 has reached new heights, breaking the world record for a glider flight as it soared to 52,172 feet. An Aero Boero AB-180 tow plane pulled chief pilot Jim Payne and co-pilot Morgan Sandercock off the ground at Comandante Armando Tola International Airport, which sits at an elevation of 669 feet in El Calafate, Argentina.
Perlan Breaks Ultimate Glider Record
Key Takeaways:
- The Airbus Perlan 2 glider set a new world record for altitude, reaching an unprecedented 52,172 feet.
- Piloted by Jim Payne and Morgan Sandercock, the record flight took place in El Calafate, Argentina, by leveraging rare atmospheric conditions like mountain waves and a high-altitude polar vortex to gain lift into the stratosphere.
- Despite initial unfavorable weather forecasts, the pilots successfully navigated challenging conditions during the 6.6-hour flight, with the Perlan Project planning further scientific exploration and attempts at even higher altitudes.
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