Perlan Climbing

[Tony[_5_]]

Perlan has climbed above release height. I believe the first soaring flight this season for them. http://www.perlanproject.cloud/VirtualCockpit.html

[Tom BravoMike]

Sunday, August 26, 2016, 1:15 pm US Central D Time. Perlan climbing in 4-7 kts.

[Tom BravoMike]

On Sunday, August 26, 2018 at 1:16:04 PM UTC-5, Tom BravoMike wrote:
> Sunday, August 26, 2016, 1:15 pm US Central D Time. Perlan climbing in 4-7 kts.

2018, of, course. Sorry for the typo, but it's so exciting to watch!

[Tom BravoMike]

On Sunday, August 26, 2018 at 1:17:28 PM UTC-5, Tom BravoMike wrote:
> On Sunday, August 26, 2018 at 1:16:04 PM UTC-5, Tom BravoMike wrote:
> > Sunday, August 26, 2016, 1:15 pm US Central D Time. Perlan climbing in 4-7 kts.
>
> 2018, of, course. Sorry for the typo, but it's so exciting to watch!

http://www.perlanproject.cloud/VirtualCockpit.html

[Tom BravoMike]

The current ('old') glider altitude record set by the Perlan pilots Sept. 3, 2017 is 52,172ft (15.9km).
>
> http://www.perlanproject.cloud/VirtualCockpit.html

[kinsell]

On 08/26/2018 12:25 PM, Tom BravoMike wrote:
> The current ('old') glider altitude record set by the Perlan pilots Sept. 3, 2017 is 52,172ft (15.9km).
>>
>> http://www.perlanproject.cloud/VirtualCockpit.html
>

Now 55K! Wish we could hear radio transmissions.

[Paul Remde]

On Sunday, August 26, 2018 at 1:56:17 PM UTC-5, kinsell wrote:
> On 08/26/2018 12:25 PM, Tom BravoMike wrote:
> > The current ('old') glider altitude record set by the Perlan pilots Sept. 3, 2017 is 52,172ft (15.9km).
> >>
> >> http://www.perlanproject.cloud/VirtualCockpit.html
> >
>
> Now 55K! Wish we could hear radio transmissions.

Now over 60,000 feet!!!

Paul Remde

[Tom BravoMike]

Now returning home after reaching about 62473 ft (19041.77 meters).
Congratulations! Another milestone in gliding flight! Wow!

[Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot)]

With their L/D and a tailwind, one heck of a downwind dash....

[Bruce Hoult]

On Sunday, August 26, 2018 at 7:03:09 PM UTC-7, Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot) wrote:
> With their L/D and a tailwind, one heck of a downwind dash....

But nowhere near enough to get to Africa...

[JS[_5_]]

On Sunday, August 26, 2018 at 7:27:16 PM UTC-7, Bruce Hoult wrote:
> On Sunday, August 26, 2018 at 7:03:09 PM UTC-7, Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot) wrote:
> > With their L/D and a tailwind, one heck of a downwind dash....
>
> But nowhere near enough to get to Africa...

Which would make it a downwind splash.
Jim

[Bruce Hoult]

On Sunday, August 26, 2018 at 7:41:42 PM UTC-7, JS wrote:
> On Sunday, August 26, 2018 at 7:27:16 PM UTC-7, Bruce Hoult wrote:
> > On Sunday, August 26, 2018 at 7:03:09 PM UTC-7, Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot) wrote:
> > > With their L/D and a tailwind, one heck of a downwind dash....
> >
> > But nowhere near enough to get to Africa...
>
> Which would make it a downwind splash.

Maybe they could borrow Mr Steven.

[[email protected]]

On Sunday, August 26, 2018 at 2:18:06 PM UTC-4, Tom BravoMike wrote:
> On Sunday, August 26, 2018 at 1:17:28 PM UTC-5, Tom BravoMike wrote:
> > On Sunday, August 26, 2018 at 1:16:04 PM UTC-5, Tom BravoMike wrote:
> > > Sunday, August 26, 2016, 1:15 pm US Central D Time. Perlan climbing in 4-7 kts.
> >
> > 2018, of, course. Sorry for the typo, but it's so exciting to watch!
>
> http://www.perlanproject.cloud/VirtualCockpit.html

Is the displayed "airspeed" true, indicated, or what?

[kinsell]

On 08/28/2018 12:03 PM, wrote:
> On Sunday, August 26, 2018 at 2:18:06 PM UTC-4, Tom BravoMike wrote:
>> On Sunday, August 26, 2018 at 1:17:28 PM UTC-5, Tom BravoMike wrote:
>>> On Sunday, August 26, 2018 at 1:16:04 PM UTC-5, Tom BravoMike wrote:
>>>> Sunday, August 26, 2016, 1:15 pm US Central D Time. Perlan climbing in 4-7 kts.
>>>
>>> 2018, of, course. Sorry for the typo, but it's so exciting to watch!
>>
>> http://www.perlanproject.cloud/VirtualCockpit.html
>
> Is the displayed "airspeed" true, indicated, or what?
>

I saw over 200 displayed during the high-altitude flutter test. It's
gotta be true airspeed, if it was indicated, that would be insanely fast.

[[email protected]]

I just can’t get excited about this. Until a guy climbs into his sailplane without big money sponsorship or pressure suits “on loan” from NASA and surpasses 49,009 feet, Bob Harris is still the King in my book.

[[email protected]]

On Tuesday, August 28, 2018 at 10:26:19 PM UTC-4, wrote:
> I just can’t get excited about this. Until a guy climbs into his sailplane without big money sponsorship or pressure suits “on loan” from NASA and surpasses 49,009 feet, Bob Harris is still the King in my book.

I understand where you are coming from, I love it when people go big with no money. Perlan is also awesome. Sponsorship is just the lever adventurers use to fund the fun. Behind the 'serious scientific research funded by Airbus' cover story is a bunch of soaring junkies doing cool flights.

[Tango Eight]

On Tuesday, August 28, 2018 at 10:39:52 PM UTC-4, wrote:
> On Tuesday, August 28, 2018 at 10:26:19 PM UTC-4, wrote:
> > I just can’t get excited about this. Until a guy climbs into his sailplane without big money sponsorship or pressure suits “on loan” from NASA and surpasses 49,009 feet, Bob Harris is still the King in my book.
>
> I understand where you are coming from, I love it when people go big with no money. Perlan is also awesome. Sponsorship is just the lever adventurers use to fund the fun. Behind the 'serious scientific research funded by Airbus' cover story is a bunch of soaring junkies doing cool flights.

Reinhold Messner's "Fair Means" vs "Siege Tactics".

The sticky bit is: we all have our own definitions of "Fair Means".

Evan Ludeman / T8

[Jonathon May]

At 12:54 29 August 2018, Tango Eight wrote:
>On Tuesday, August 28, 2018 at 10:39:52 PM UTC-4,
wrote:
>> On Tuesday, August 28, 2018 at 10:26:19 PM UTC-4,
>wr=
>ote:
>> > I just can=E2=80=99t get excited about this. Until a guy climbs into
>hi=
>s sailplane without big money sponsorship or pressure suits =E2=80=9Con
>loa=
>n=E2=80=9D from NASA and surpasses 49,009 feet, Bob Harris is still the
>Kin=
>g in my book.
>>=20
>> I understand where you are coming from, I love it when people go big
>with=
> no money. Perlan is also awesome. Sponsorship is just the lever
>adventur=
>ers use to fund the fun. Behind the 'serious scientific research funded
>by=
> Airbus' cover story is a bunch of soaring junkies doing cool flights.
>
>Reinhold Messner's "Fair Means" vs "Siege Tactics". =20
>
>The sticky bit is: we all have our own definitions of "Fair Means".
>
>Evan Ludeman / T8
>


I thought the tricky bit was above "coffin corner" where VNE is lower than
the stall speed,which was why a standard sailplane could not be used.
>
>
>

[Eric Greenwell[_4_]]

wrote on 8/28/2018 7:26 PM:
> I just can’t get excited about this. Until a guy climbs into his sailplane without big money sponsorship or pressure suits “on loan” from NASA and surpasses 49,009 feet, Bob Harris is still the King in my book.

Bob Harris did an amazing feet, but even he didn't push the boundaries of high
altitude soaring: he was limited by his physiology, not his knowledge of soaring
or his skill as a pilot. Any pilots attempting to beat his record are testing
their pulmonary function, not their soaring abilities or those of the glider.

The Perlan pilots are not limited by their physiology, and what they accomplish
will depend on their soaring skills, and their glider's performance. For me, they
are the ones pushing back the frontiers of soaring, and not someone that risks
death by trying to beat Bob's record using just a mask to breath.


--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to email me)
- "A Guide to Self-Launching Sailplane Operation"
https://sites.google.com/site/motorgliders/publications/download-the-guide-1
- "Transponders in Sailplanes - Dec 2014a" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarm

http://soaringsafety.org/prevention/Guide-to-transponders-in-sailplanes-2014A.pdf

[Dave Nadler]

Live video now shows them hooking up to Egret on the ramp...

http://www.perlanproject.cloud/VirtualCockpit.html

[JS[_5_]]

On Sunday, September 2, 2018 at 7:38:52 AM UTC-7, Dave Nadler wrote:
> Live video now shows them hooking up to Egret on the ramp...
>
> http://www.perlanproject.cloud/VirtualCockpit.html

67,103'?
Jim

[Papa3[_2_]]

I've got 68....do I hear 69...

[Michael Opitz]

At 17:29 02 September 2018, Papa3 wrote:
>I've got 68....do I hear 69...
>
69 and still climbing at 2-4 Kts..

[Papa3[_2_]]

69 do I hear 70?

[Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot)]

I say 68.....,,"you do me, I owe you one.....".......LOL......crude joke.....

[Paul Remde]

On Monday, August 20, 2018 at 11:30:03 AM UTC-5, Tony wrote:
> Perlan has climbed above release height. I believe the first soaring flight this season for them. http://www.perlanproject.cloud/VirtualCockpit.html

74,000 feet and climbing at 9 knots!!! Wow!!!

Paul Remde

[Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot)]

Instead of, "the sky is the limit", guess "space is the limit" now?!

Cool watching this.

[[email protected]]

76,124 ft. Pressure Altitude

74,295 ft. GPS Altitude

Totally awesome flight for Pilot Jim Payne and Copilot Tim Gardner!

[glidergeek]

On Sunday, September 2, 2018 at 5:50:53 PM UTC-7, wrote:
> 76,124 ft. Pressure Altitude
>
> 74,295 ft. GPS Altitude
>
> Totally awesome flight for Pilot Jim Payne and Copilot Tim Gardner!

Ho hum only 177.84 OLC points not that good of a flight.

[Bruce Hoult]

On Sunday, September 2, 2018 at 5:50:53 PM UTC-7, wrote:
> 76,124 ft. Pressure Altitude
>
> 74,295 ft. GPS Altitude
>
> Totally awesome flight for Pilot Jim Payne and Copilot Tim Gardner!

Amazing.

That's well above the official highest U-2 altitude of 66800 ft in 1998 as well as Concorde's 1973 68000 ft record. Even the SR71's official 85069 is not far away if they can keep improving by 10000 ft every flight! (probably not, of course)

[[email protected]]

Amazing and Congratulations reaching 76,000 feet

AE

[Tom[_21_]]

Absolutely cool! Good for you guys.

Keep it going.

Regards Tom

[Dave Nadler]

Towing down the runway now:
http://www.perlanproject.cloud/VirtualCockpit.html

[[email protected]]

On Wednesday, September 12, 2018 at 9:06:58 AM UTC-4, Dave Nadler wrote:
> Towing down the runway now:
> http://www.perlanproject.cloud/VirtualCockpit.html

It is reported by the ground crew that today is a "Ripping" day....

[Dan Marotta]

It appears to be coming down.

On 9/12/2018 8:08 AM, wrote:
> On Wednesday, September 12, 2018 at 9:06:58 AM UTC-4, Dave Nadler wrote:
>> Towing down the runway now:
>> http://www.perlanproject.cloud/VirtualCockpit.html
> It is reported by the ground crew that today is a "Ripping" day....

--
Dan, 5J

[Steve Leonard[_2_]]

Now, that is a rare problem!

"The lift was too strong to do the 50,000 ft flutter excitation test, so they excited the lift temporarily."

The lift was too strong at 50,000 feet, so they had to move to a different location so they would not exceed their planned speed at that altitude. I think that would qualify as a "Ripping" day, alright!

Steve Leonard

[Bruce Hoult]

On Wednesday, September 12, 2018 at 8:54:47 AM UTC-7, Steve Leonard wrote:
> Now, that is a rare problem!
>
> "The lift was too strong to do the 50,000 ft flutter excitation test, so they excited the lift temporarily."
>
> The lift was too strong at 50,000 feet, so they had to move to a different location so they would not exceed their planned speed at that altitude. I think that would qualify as a "Ripping" day, alright!

So no attempt at a new record, and I believe they are now packing up to go home for the year.

I wonder how the envelope expansion went. The glider design is intended to provide a usable speed range between stall and flutter at 90k ft, but the upper limit they've been sticking within this year runs out soon after 75k ft.

It possible they have have found they need some remediation before going higher.