Perlan 2 sailplane reaches 50,000'

[India Four Two]

Not yet nostalgic, but certainly a piece of aviation history.

A few minutes ago, the Perlan 2 sailplane reached 53,400', flying in wave in Argentina. If certified by the FAI, this will be a new world record. Perlan 2 has been designed to attempt to climb to over 90,000'. Attached is a screenshot of them passing through 50,000'.

They are now descending, which you can see in real-time:

Perlan Virtual Cockpit (http://perlanproject.cloud/VirtualCockpit.html)

Website here:
Aircraft | Perlan Project (http://www.perlanproject.org/aircraft)

[Wander00]

Been watching this too. Brilliant and fascinating

[Cirrussy]

Amazing... Would love to get involved with something like this!

[India Four Two]

Looking at the virtual cockpit display, it seems to me they need more batteries for higher flights.

26 m span - I wonder how it handles on takeoff and landing?

At 50,000’, the 105 kt IAS equates to more than 260 kts TAS. The website shows the design TAS at 90,000’ is 350kts! Must have been interesting flutter calculations.

[Cirrussy]

Similar sized gliders handle just fine in the hands of a competent pilot, but unfortunately I cannot speak for the Perlan 2!

[kit344]

2 more record breaking flights in the last few days.

https://www.fai.org/news/airbus-perlan-mission-ii-soars-highest-altitude-ever-reached-glider
Home Perlan Project (http://www.perlanproject.org)

I searched for previous posts before I posted. There are at least 3 , in several different forums.

I am not sure that this really qualifies as a Private Flight, It's certainly Historic. It would probably be useful to combine the different threads into one post, but I'm not sure which is the most appropriate forum.

[Less Hair]

This is definitely history in the making. Very cool.
Manual flying at these altitudes through bad turbulence and in thin air that is the pure high art of flying. Wild rides for sure.

[Wander00]

Theses astonishing achievements are not IMHO gaining the wider publicity they deserve. Great project for school children to follow, adults too. Surprised Airbus not making more of it. Absolutely brilliant.