This looks to be something interesting to follow in the aviation world; a friend in Carson City mentioned it today. There is a presentation on it tomorrow sponsored by The Reno Air Race Association, I believe. This is the first time I can recall hearing about polar vortexes.

This is the first paragraph from the web page describing the project:

The Perlan Project is an attempt to fly a glider to 90,000ft (28km) in a weather phenomenon called the Polar Vortex. The project has completed stage 1 and proven that it is possible to soar in the Polar Vortex and climb into the stratosphere without an engine. Windward Performance is designing and constructing the stage 2 glider for the Perlan Project. Progress is being made each day on the construction of the Perlan 2 glider in Bend, Oregon, USA and we are very excited about this project.

Here is the link to the full story: http://windward-performance.com/?page_id=17

Wow! I think that might be Scolopax's old company. Would be an incredible feat, one of the few aviation firsts still left.

The Perlan Project is a bunch of people I do not know personally, but their project pilot is someone I have had the privilege of meeting, perhaps the greatest living old-school test pilot, Einar Enevoldson.

What I do know for sure is that if Mr. Enevoldson says 90K is possible in a sailplane using a polar vortex of some sort, and he is willing to put his (incomparable) reputation on it, then it's possible in my book.

Anyone here who is interested in soaring, and efficient flight, and alternate power flight, and regenerative flying, I would like to invite you to be there at the ESA meeting and workshop in Tehachapi, CA on Labor Day. Cutting edge theory and practice in low speed low power flight, the best and brightest in US electric aircraft, the guys building ultra low-cost, garage level ultralight gliders, and ultralight high tech gliders that can stay aloft in almost imperceptible air currents. Frequent participants at this event were/are Paul MacCready, the Perlan Project, Mike Sandlin and his BUG and GOAT gliders, Burt Rutan, Jack Norris (author of the Propellers Explained book) the LightHawk micro light sailplane, oh and Eric Raymond just happened to FLY in with his Sunseeker solar aircraft one year, etc.

Anyone interested... I'll hook you up.

Steve Fossett was to be the money man in this project and Einer Enevoldson was to be 2nd crew member.

EZ,
As an old hang glider pilot, with a 9K soaring ridge in my backyard, AND a surplus of electricity on an annual basis due to my grid tied solar/wind, and micro hydro power, I have been paying attention to the electric powered soaring machines starting to appear. It is comforting to know that worse comes to worse that will be a remaining way for me to get into the air. I am going to mark that event on my calendar....do I need to register before hand, or just show up?

BTW Eric Raymond, who made the first and only coast to coast flight in a solar powered glider, really deserves more credit. Quite a feat, really showcasing his flying chops (another hang glider pilot FWIW) and the pushing the technology of the of period.

courierguy wrote:EZ,
I am going to mark that event on my calendar....do I need to register before hand, or just show up?

Either will work. Look up Experimental Soaring Association esa.org or .com or some-such-thing . You can contact Dan or Jan Armstrong who are the head honchos for info through that website. You will be able to find out about what presentations and displays are planned, and see if any/all are of interest for you.

There's camping and RV hookups on the field (Skylark North 661-822-5267). Fly in if you wish and airplane camp (call for info on that too). It's at Mountain Valley gliderport, which is one mile south of Tehachapi Municipal airport.

Perlan is continuing. Dennis Tito has become involved and Jim Payne is the new Chief Pilot. The pair have flown more than 6000 km in 5 flights (>600 miles per flight) in Sierra Nevada and San Gabriel Mountain wave that have averaged around ten hours per flight. The glider is a DG-1000m 20 meter span motorglider that is fully equipped for night flight and IFR clearances above FL180.

A new pressurized glider is being built to soar above 100,000 ft in Andean wave lift.

Amazing stuff.

Ditto my previous comments (regarding Einar) for Jim Payne. If he is involved, it is 100% legit. Another "best of the best" caliber guy that I have been very much privileged to know. If there is wave lift above FL800 or whatever, Jim will find it.

Some of my most entertaining conversations happened while driving to and from airports with Paul. I miss him.

Question: 90K ft is about 17 miles high. What altitude is considered low earth orbit?

You'll need to be 90-100 miles up to achieve low earth orbit - and be going a whole lot faster ~ 17,000 mph. Even so, at that altitude there is enough residual air drag to cause the orbit to decay in a matter of days or weeks. The space shuttle frequently operates around 200 miles up and the international space station orbits between 205 and 255 miles up.

Best,
O-2

dplunkt wrote:
Question: What altitude is considered low earth orbit?

The altitude and velocity my wife reached when I told her I was buying another airplane, while living on unemployment benefits.

See also: Post Dramatic Stress Disorder