Perlan Project
Encyclopedia
The Perlan Project is a current research project to fly a sailplane
to an altitude of 100,000 feet (30,480 meters).
. Riding these waves, similar in some ways to surfing on an ocean wave, has been widely used to reach great altitudes in sailplanes since they were discovered by German glider pilots, including Wolf Hirth
, in 1933 in the Riesengebirge. This method uses the powerfully rising and sinking air in mountain waves. Gliders regularly climb in these waves to high altitudes. Currently, the glider absolute world altitude record
stands at 15,460 meters (50,727 feet), which is the altitude reached by the late Steve Fossett
and Einar Enevoldson
. The previous record was 14,938 meters (49,009 feet). It was set in 1986
by Robert R. Harris, flying from California City and reaching his record height over Mount Whitney
, California. This is thought to be near the limit for standing mountain waves in temperate latitudes, although in unusual meteorological conditions much higher altitudes may be achievable.
Standing waves normally do not extend above the tropopause at temperate latitudes. A strong west wind usually decreases above the tropopause, which has been shown to cap or prevent the upward propagation of standing mountain waves. However, at the outer boundary of the polar vortex
, in winter, the stratospheric polar night jet exists. Its wind field can join with the wind field of the polar jet stream
. The result is a wind which increases with altitude through the tropopause
and upward to 100,000 feet or above. When this conjunction of winds occurs over a barrier mountain, standing mountain waves will propagate through that entire altitude range. Einar Enevoldson
, former NASA
test pilot and originator of The Perlan Project, sought to demonstrate the feasibility of riding these stratospheric standing mountain waves. The weather conditions favorable, although not in every case required to exist simultaneously for a climb into the stratospheric waves, are not exceptional:
These conditions are likely to occur in the southern region of Patagonia three to four times per year between mid-August and mid-October. They probably occur in New Zealand, but less frequently; over the Antarctic Peninsula more frequently; and at several locations in the northern hemisphere, but closer to the North Pole at latitudes above 60° north.
A sailplane is an ideal platform for several scientific and technological research endeavors:
Because the record flight of 29 August 2006 proved Enevoldson's thesis, Steve Fossett agreed to fund, progressively, the next phase of the project: to build a pressurized cabin for a special sailplane to fly to 90,000 feet. At the time of Steve's death on 3 September 2007, the structural and aerodynamic design of the fuselage had been completed, along with the aerodynamic design of the entire sailplane. Funding for the remainder of the Perlan Project was lost with Steve's death, and a search for new funding is in progress.
Einar Enevoldson reported in September 2008 that Morgan Sandercock, an experienced sailplane pilot from Australia, has provided funds to re-start the project. It is funding enough to complete the fuselage with pressure cabin and do the structural tests on it. Additional funds will be needed to get back to Patagonia in the Southern Hemisphere winter of 2011.
conceived the project in 1992, after seeing the new LIDAR images of standing mountain waves west of Kiruna, Sweden, that Dr.Wolfgang Renger of the DLR, Oberpffafenhofen, Germany posted on his office wall. Enevoldson collected evidence on the location, prevalence, and strength of stratospheric mountain waves during the period, 1992-1998. Starting in 1998 Dr. Elizabeth Austin expanded the data analysis and put the project on a firm meteorological basis, with the observation that the stratospheric polar night jet was the principal factor enabling the propagation of standing mountain waves high into the middle stratosphere. At this time a small group at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center analysed the flight dynamics and aerodynamics of sailplane flight up to 100,000 feet. In 1999 Steve Fossett
heard that Enevoldson was trying to find funding, and immediately asked to join the project. United States Air Force, on the basis of NASA request, loaned the Perlan Project full pressure suits. A DG 505M sailplane was modified to remove all engine and related equipment and the space used for storage of liquid oxygen and a large supply of LiSO2 primary batteries. Most of the instruments and electronics were replaced with equipment suitable for the extreme altitudes that the sailplane would encounter. Duncan Cummings, of San Pedro California, built special, lightweight, efficient, reliable faceplate heat controllers. Butler Parachute Company built special high altitude stabilized parachutes.
Enevoldson and Fossett flew the sailplane from California City for shakedown and preliminary high altitude flights in the Sierra Nevada of California, reaching over 42,000 feet in Spring 2002. In Summer 2002 the sailplane was shipped to Omarama
, New Zealand, where it flew during three winters without reaching the stratosphere. The timing was too early in the season.
In 2005 the sailplane was shipped to El Calafate, Argentina, a small town at 50o south latitude. Five attempts in a three-week period, none in favorable weather conditions, were unsuccessful. In 2006 the forecast offered very favorable conditions on 28 August but at 33,000 feet, in a strong climb, Steve Fossett's pressure suit inflated prematurely and excessively, and the flight was aborted. The next day, on 29 August, after one of the pressure suit regulators had been changed, the weather conditions were still favorable, the team made another attempt. After a four-hour climb Enevoldson and Fossett reached the record altitude, and with that, they learned a great many new lessons. The concept had been validated.
and Australia
. A great deal of design work has been done by Greg Cole of Windward Performance
to show that a sailplane for 90,000 feet is relatively straightforward, while 100,000 feet is possible, although more difficult and expensive. Windward Performance will build the sailplane of high performance pre-preg in production-quality tooling. The sailplane requires relatively high-end design, analysis, and construction, to be flutter-safe at very high true air speeds, and strong enough for the potentially heavy turbulence that could be encountered at 90,000 feet. It must also have well-proven, fail-safe pressurization and cabin air re-cycling systems. Design and construction are ongoing as of May 2011 in Bend
, Oregon
, with a $2 million gift by space tourist Dennis Tito
helping to keep the project funded. Flight testing is scheduled to begin in California City
, California
, in spring 2012, while the first attempts to reach 90,000 feet will be launched from El Calafate
, Argentina
, deep in the south of Patagonia
, in the Southern Hemispheric
late winter and spring later that year.
New world glider altitude record set by Fossett and Enevoldson in Argentina
50,671 feet (15,447 m) achieved by 'Perlan' - the first ever glider flight into the earth's stratosphere. Previous record shattered by 1,662 ft (507 m)". (This claim was subsequently ratified by Federation Aeronautique Internationale as 15,460 meters [50,727 feet]).
Glider (sailplane)
A glider or sailplane is a type of glider aircraft used in the sport of gliding. Some gliders, known as motor gliders are used for gliding and soaring as well, but have engines which can, in some cases, be used for take-off or for extending a flight...
to an altitude of 100,000 feet (30,480 meters).
Meteorological Basis of the Project
Standing Mountain waves are a source of rising air used in the sport of soaringGliding
Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sport in which pilots fly unpowered aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to remain airborne. The word soaring is also used for the sport.Gliding as a sport began in the 1920s...
. Riding these waves, similar in some ways to surfing on an ocean wave, has been widely used to reach great altitudes in sailplanes since they were discovered by German glider pilots, including Wolf Hirth
Wolf Hirth
Wolfram Kurt Erhard Hirth was a German gliding pioneer and sailplane designer. He was a co-founder of Schempp-Hirth, still a renowned glider manufacturer....
, in 1933 in the Riesengebirge. This method uses the powerfully rising and sinking air in mountain waves. Gliders regularly climb in these waves to high altitudes. Currently, the glider absolute world altitude record
Flight altitude record
These are the records set for going the highest in the atmosphere from the age of ballooning onward. Some records are certified by Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.-Fixed-wing aircraft:-Piston-driven propeller aeroplane:...
stands at 15,460 meters (50,727 feet), which is the altitude reached by the late Steve Fossett
Steve Fossett
James Stephen Fossett was an American commodities trader, businessman, and adventurer. Fossett is the first person to fly solo nonstop around the world in a balloon...
and Einar Enevoldson
Einar Enevoldson
Einar K. Enevoldson is the director of the Perlan Project. He was a civilian research pilot for NASA's Hugh L. Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif. from 1968 until 1986...
. The previous record was 14,938 meters (49,009 feet). It was set in 1986
1986 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1986:-January:* January 9 - the UK Defence Secretary, Michael Heseltine, resigns amidst a political furore over the future of Westland Helicopters...
by Robert R. Harris, flying from California City and reaching his record height over Mount Whitney
Mount Whitney
Mount Whitney is the highest summit in the contiguous United States with an elevation of . It is on the boundary between California's Inyo and Tulare counties, west-northwest of the lowest point in North America at Badwater in Death Valley National Park...
, California. This is thought to be near the limit for standing mountain waves in temperate latitudes, although in unusual meteorological conditions much higher altitudes may be achievable.
Standing waves normally do not extend above the tropopause at temperate latitudes. A strong west wind usually decreases above the tropopause, which has been shown to cap or prevent the upward propagation of standing mountain waves. However, at the outer boundary of the polar vortex
Polar vortex
A polar vortex is a persistent, large-scale cyclone located near one or both of a planet's geographical poles. On Earth, the polar vortices are located in the middle and upper troposphere and the stratosphere...
, in winter, the stratospheric polar night jet exists. Its wind field can join with the wind field of the polar jet stream
Jet stream
Jet streams are fast flowing, narrow air currents found in the atmospheres of some planets, including Earth. The main jet streams are located near the tropopause, the transition between the troposphere and the stratosphere . The major jet streams on Earth are westerly winds...
. The result is a wind which increases with altitude through the tropopause
Tropopause
The tropopause is the atmospheric boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere.-Definition:Going upward from the surface, it is the point where air ceases to cool with height, and becomes almost completely dry...
and upward to 100,000 feet or above. When this conjunction of winds occurs over a barrier mountain, standing mountain waves will propagate through that entire altitude range. Einar Enevoldson
Einar Enevoldson
Einar K. Enevoldson is the director of the Perlan Project. He was a civilian research pilot for NASA's Hugh L. Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif. from 1968 until 1986...
, former NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
test pilot and originator of The Perlan Project, sought to demonstrate the feasibility of riding these stratospheric standing mountain waves. The weather conditions favorable, although not in every case required to exist simultaneously for a climb into the stratospheric waves, are not exceptional:
- The stratospheric polar night jet overhead (occurring in near-polar latitudes during the late winter and early spring),
- Pre-frontal conditions,
- A gradual increase in wind speed with altitude,
- Wind direction within 30° of perpendicular to the mountain ridgeline,
- Strong low-altitude winds in a stable atmosphere,
- Ridge-top winds of at least 20 knots.
These conditions are likely to occur in the southern region of Patagonia three to four times per year between mid-August and mid-October. They probably occur in New Zealand, but less frequently; over the Antarctic Peninsula more frequently; and at several locations in the northern hemisphere, but closer to the North Pole at latitudes above 60° north.
Objectives
The overall objective of the project is to show that sailplane flight well into the middle stratosphere--in the vicinity of 100,000 feet--can be done safely, repeatedly and economically.A sailplane is an ideal platform for several scientific and technological research endeavors:
- A sailplane can maneuver precisely at very high altitudes to traverse or remain relatively stationary in a desired portion of the wave structure, as the structure is determined in flight.
- A sailplane can remain on station for several hours to record the evolution of the wave.
- A sailplane with modern, compact, low power instrumentation makes possible the recording of air mass motion precisely, as well as the collection of samples for later ground analysis or analysis in flight.
- A sailplane has high strength and great controllability. It is ideal for penetrating breaking waves to determine the turbulence structure and ensuing flight dynamics.
- A sailplane at 100,000 feet altitude flies in approximately the same aerodynamic regime--Mach and Reynolds numbers--to be experienced by a moderate size aircraft flying near the surface of Mars.
- A sailplane may carry aerodynamic instrumentation to measure the boundary layer behavior in this regime better than can be done in any wind tunnel.
Progress
Phase one of the project was to climb well past the tropopause, into an increasingly strong wave in the stratosphere, not to exceed 62,000 feet (18,900 meters). The record flight of 29 August 2006, which extended 17,000 feet into the stratosphere, accomplished this goal. It was not clear that that wave was increasing in strength, but it was certainly not decreasing. The climb was terminated due to several small but, cumulatively, significant practical difficulties encountered in operating the sailplane in inflated pressure suits. Modeling of the wave showed good agreement with the flight-measured atmospheric motions, and showed the wave increasing strongly at progressively higher altitudes.Because the record flight of 29 August 2006 proved Enevoldson's thesis, Steve Fossett agreed to fund, progressively, the next phase of the project: to build a pressurized cabin for a special sailplane to fly to 90,000 feet. At the time of Steve's death on 3 September 2007, the structural and aerodynamic design of the fuselage had been completed, along with the aerodynamic design of the entire sailplane. Funding for the remainder of the Perlan Project was lost with Steve's death, and a search for new funding is in progress.
Einar Enevoldson reported in September 2008 that Morgan Sandercock, an experienced sailplane pilot from Australia, has provided funds to re-start the project. It is funding enough to complete the fuselage with pressure cabin and do the structural tests on it. Additional funds will be needed to get back to Patagonia in the Southern Hemisphere winter of 2011.
History
Einar EnevoldsonEinar Enevoldson
Einar K. Enevoldson is the director of the Perlan Project. He was a civilian research pilot for NASA's Hugh L. Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif. from 1968 until 1986...
conceived the project in 1992, after seeing the new LIDAR images of standing mountain waves west of Kiruna, Sweden, that Dr.Wolfgang Renger of the DLR, Oberpffafenhofen, Germany posted on his office wall. Enevoldson collected evidence on the location, prevalence, and strength of stratospheric mountain waves during the period, 1992-1998. Starting in 1998 Dr. Elizabeth Austin expanded the data analysis and put the project on a firm meteorological basis, with the observation that the stratospheric polar night jet was the principal factor enabling the propagation of standing mountain waves high into the middle stratosphere. At this time a small group at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center analysed the flight dynamics and aerodynamics of sailplane flight up to 100,000 feet. In 1999 Steve Fossett
Steve Fossett
James Stephen Fossett was an American commodities trader, businessman, and adventurer. Fossett is the first person to fly solo nonstop around the world in a balloon...
heard that Enevoldson was trying to find funding, and immediately asked to join the project. United States Air Force, on the basis of NASA request, loaned the Perlan Project full pressure suits. A DG 505M sailplane was modified to remove all engine and related equipment and the space used for storage of liquid oxygen and a large supply of LiSO2 primary batteries. Most of the instruments and electronics were replaced with equipment suitable for the extreme altitudes that the sailplane would encounter. Duncan Cummings, of San Pedro California, built special, lightweight, efficient, reliable faceplate heat controllers. Butler Parachute Company built special high altitude stabilized parachutes.
Enevoldson and Fossett flew the sailplane from California City for shakedown and preliminary high altitude flights in the Sierra Nevada of California, reaching over 42,000 feet in Spring 2002. In Summer 2002 the sailplane was shipped to Omarama
Omarama
Omarama is a small township at the junction of State Highways 8 and 83, near the southern end of the Mackenzie Basin, in the South Island of New Zealand. Omarama is in the Waitaki District, in the historic Province of Otago...
, New Zealand, where it flew during three winters without reaching the stratosphere. The timing was too early in the season.
In 2005 the sailplane was shipped to El Calafate, Argentina, a small town at 50o south latitude. Five attempts in a three-week period, none in favorable weather conditions, were unsuccessful. In 2006 the forecast offered very favorable conditions on 28 August but at 33,000 feet, in a strong climb, Steve Fossett's pressure suit inflated prematurely and excessively, and the flight was aborted. The next day, on 29 August, after one of the pressure suit regulators had been changed, the weather conditions were still favorable, the team made another attempt. After a four-hour climb Enevoldson and Fossett reached the record altitude, and with that, they learned a great many new lessons. The concept had been validated.
Phase 2
After Fossett's death in 2007, it appeared for a time that the Perlan Project was on permanent hiatus. However, a new team gradually reassembled around Enevoldson and partial funding was secured thanks to commitments from partners in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. A great deal of design work has been done by Greg Cole of Windward Performance
Windward Performance
Windward Performance is a sailplane manufacturer located in Bend, Oregon. They designed and developed the SparrowHawk ultralight sailplane.The company also designed and is building the Windward Performance Perlan II.-External links:*...
to show that a sailplane for 90,000 feet is relatively straightforward, while 100,000 feet is possible, although more difficult and expensive. Windward Performance will build the sailplane of high performance pre-preg in production-quality tooling. The sailplane requires relatively high-end design, analysis, and construction, to be flutter-safe at very high true air speeds, and strong enough for the potentially heavy turbulence that could be encountered at 90,000 feet. It must also have well-proven, fail-safe pressurization and cabin air re-cycling systems. Design and construction are ongoing as of May 2011 in Bend
Bend, Oregon
Bend is a city in and the county seat of Deschutes County, Oregon, United States, and the principal city of the Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bend is Central Oregon's largest city, and, despite its modest size, is the de facto metropolis of the region, owing to the low population...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, with a $2 million gift by space tourist Dennis Tito
Dennis Tito
Dennis Anthony Tito is an Italian American engineer and multimillionaire, most widely known as the first space tourist to fund his own trip into space. In mid-2001, he spent nearly eight days in orbit as a crew member of ISS EP-1, a visiting mission to the International Space Station...
helping to keep the project funded. Flight testing is scheduled to begin in California City
California City, California
-2000:According to the census of 2000, there were 8,385 people, 3,067 households, and 2,257 families residing in the city. As of 2006 the city's population grew 8.9% from 12,106 to 13,219. California City outpaced rivals Palmdale and Lancaster, making the city the 12th fastest growing city in...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, in spring 2012, while the first attempts to reach 90,000 feet will be launched from El Calafate
El Calafate
- Population :In the last census 6,143 permanent residents were counted . This represents a 20.1% increase compared with the 1991 census. However, due to the expansion of tourism, the population was estimated at 8,000 people in 2005.- Wildlife :...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, deep in the south of Patagonia
Patagonia
Patagonia is a region located in Argentina and Chile, integrating the southernmost section of the Andes mountains to the southwest towards the Pacific ocean and from the east of the cordillera to the valleys it follows south through Colorado River towards Carmen de Patagones in the Atlantic Ocean...
, in the Southern Hemispheric
Southern Hemisphere
The Southern Hemisphere is the part of Earth that lies south of the equator. The word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' or "half sphere"...
late winter and spring later that year.
External links
- Perlan Project's official website
- NASA Tech Brief DRC-00-08: Soaring to 100,000 ft on Stratospheric Mountain Waves
Press Release for August 29, 2006
"Into the Stratosphere – Without an EngineNew world glider altitude record set by Fossett and Enevoldson in Argentina
50,671 feet (15,447 m) achieved by 'Perlan' - the first ever glider flight into the earth's stratosphere. Previous record shattered by 1,662 ft (507 m)". (This claim was subsequently ratified by Federation Aeronautique Internationale as 15,460 meters [50,727 feet]).