Perlan Project
Perlan Project Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit aeronautical exploration and atmospheric science research organization that utilizes sailplanes (gliders) designed to fly at extremely high altitudes.
| Company type | Non-operating private foundation IRS 501(c)(3) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1992 |
| Founder | Einar Enevoldson |
Number of locations | Beaverton, Oregon, USA |
Area served | Global |
Key people | Einar Enevoldson, Founder and chairman Elizabeth Austin, Chief Meteorologist Ed Warnock, CEO Jim Payne,Chief Pilot Morgan Sandercock, Donor and Project Manager Dennis Tito, Major Donor Stéphane Fymat, Head of Build and Fundraising |
| Products | Aerospace and Atmospheric Science Research, Development, Innovation and Education |
| Website | www.perlanproject.org |
On 29 August 2006 Steve Fossett and Einar Enevoldson, the pilots of Perlan Mission I, broke the existing altitude record for gliders by soaring up to 50,671 feet (15,460m) in a standard glider using stratospheric waves of air.
The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale has ratified the altitude record of 22,657 metres (74,334 ft) achieved on 2 September 2018, a substantial improvement over the previous year's best altitude of 15,902 metres (52,172 ft), which was set on 3 September 2017. These flights used the custom designed and built pressurized high-altitude Windward Performance Perlan II glider, sponsored by Airbus. They also collected data about Earth's atmosphere and its ozone layer.