Another Attempt to Set Sail Plane Altitude Record

[mcgowantk]

The NY times has an article about a project to have a glider fly up to 90,000 mdl. A fun read. I like the closing which says:

"But he added that in an era of remote-controlled drones, human pilots were something of a liability. “When you start delivering mass to 90,000 feet, or even 70,000 feet, every kilogram makes a huge difference, and it either goes into the payload or into the pilot,” he said. “Even a skinny pilot is still four or five instruments.”

But that is not the point, say Perlan’s backers, who hope to inspire a new generation of aeronautical adventurers.

After all, Mr. Warnock said, “you could run the Indy 500 or the Reno air races with drones, too.” But “it wouldn’t be the same.”

The link is here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/22/scien ... anted=1&hp

[John Dullahan]

Hi Tom,

Thanks for the sail plane altitude record attempt. Sounds fascinating but involves an element of uncertain risk.

John D.