I too have an interest in this topic. I am assuming that you are referencing the National and World Altitude Records? First off, the National Altitude Record for single place gliders is still held by Bob Harris...not Fossett and Einvoldson. Their record was set in a multi- place glider. Bob Harris set his record back in 1986 flying out of California City and that record stands to this day. I concur with your concern about a record that was set in Argentina being a U.S. National Record. You would think that it should have occurred in the United States to count as a U.S. Record.

Another item that has bothered me about this is that Fossett and Einvoldson benefitted from borrowing Pressure Suits from NASA. How many ordinary glider pilots are going to be able to borrow Pressure Suits from NASA when they want to attempt to break these records? I would like to believe that NASA would treat all such requests from U.S. Citizens fairly and equally but I have my doubts. Don't even think about purchasing your own if finances are a concern!

The bigger challenge, I think, would be obtaining ATC clearance into the airspace in the Owens Valley when the conditions are right and when you need it. If you can work that out with the FAA and ATC, then you would at least have a shot at it. Then the finances challenge rears it's ugly head again. You essentially need to live there and be available to fly 7 days a week. Remember, Bob Harris checked weather every day for five years before making his record setting flight. That was dedication personified!

Then there is the Perlan Project which, if successful, will put the World Altitude Record out of reach for good but, again, that is a multi-place glider...not single-place. So that leaves the Harris Record in-tact for the rest of us Adventurers to dream about. I share your interest but given all of the challenges and obstacles to overcome, I'm not sure that anyone will be able to successfully challenge the Harris record. However, it is still there and possible...

Brian K. Lott