Perlan II glider high-altitude record bid

The Airbus-sponsored Perlan II mission is in Argentina for a second year of flight operations in a bid to set a new glider altitude record by riding waves created by powerful gusts of wind over the Andes Mountains

PERLAN II: Engineless aircraft can ride air currents up to 27.5km (90,000ft)

Pressurised cabin: Eliminates need for bulky flight suits.
Two pilots breathe pure oxygen using rebreather system

Parachutes: Help aircraft to descend safely in event of emergency
Airframe parachute
Drogue chute

Antarctica

El Calafate, Argentina
Perlan II base

Polar vortex
Cyclone of fast-moving air strongest during austral winter – feeds westerly winds moving over mountains

“Mountain waves” Winds deflected upwards by mountain ridges help glider soar into stratosphere

STRATOSPHERE
20km
Target altitude 16.7km
Current record 15.46km
Wind
0
5
10
15
TROPOSPHERE
*At 90,000 feet

Perlan II specifications
Wingspan: 25.6m
Length: 10.16m
Flight speed: 650km/h*
Gross weight: 816kg
Payload: Instruments to gather data on high-altitude flight, greenhouse gases and ozone levels

Sources: Airbus Perlan Mission II, AAAS