The glider, called the Perlan (Norwegian for “pearl”), is modified from a Glaser-Dirks DG-505M manufactured by DG Flugzeugbau in 1995. Its original self-launching Rotax 535C engine was replaced with oxygen tanks, scientific equipment, and non-rechargeable “primary” batteries, oxygen regulators and flight instruments. Because of this, the Perlan had to be towed into the air for release, and since the cockpit was unpressurized, pilots had to wear NASA spacesuits to combat the extreme altitude which presented difficulties in permitting full control movements.
To reach 50,000 feet while keeping the crew safe, the Perlan 1 was equipped with:
High altitude radar transponder by Sandia Aerospace
Instrumentation and lighting to fly at night by Whelen Engineering
Data loggers to validate world record, LX-9000
Scientific instrumentation
Cameras to record meteorological conditions
Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries
Telemetry to communicate with mission control on the ground
On August 29, 2006, Steve Fossett and Einar Enevoldson flew the modified glider to a record-setting altitude of 50,727 feet (15,445 m) over the Patagonia region of Argentina. By capitalizing on stratospheric “mountain waves” and the Polar Vortex that forms around Antarctica each winter, Fossett and Enevoldson were able beat the previous glider altitude record by over 1,500 feet. (The record was subsequently broken by the Airbus Perlan II, which reached 52,172 feet on September 3, 2017.)
The Museum of Flight acquired the aircraft from the late Mr. Fossett’s Marathon Racing Company in 2009.
Wingspan: 59 ft
Wing Area: 179 sq ft
Aspect Ratio: 19.52
Length: 28ft
Height: 6ft
Empty Weight: 860 lb
Gross Weight: 1389 lb
Wing Loading: 7.8 lb/sq ft
Maximum Speed: 168 mph
Service Ceiling: 62 000.00ft
Crew: 2
All Aero 