Perlan Project, Dinner/Presentation Opportunity

[Danny Brotto]

Mid-Atlantic Soaring Association is hosting Jim Payne, chief pilot for the Perlan Project, at its annual Banquet. The Perlan Project is exploring high altitude wave created by the Polar Vortex in Argentina (see www.perlanproject.org ). This past September they achieved a new altitude record for gliders at 74,298 ft. Due to the very interesting topic, M-ASA is opening up invitations to the banquet this year to other aviation groups (AOPA, EAA, etc.) and I thought there would be some interest from the HG/PG crowd.

The Banquet is being held at the Ceresville Mansion in Frederick on Saturday, Feb. 9. Cost is $45 per person and there will be a cash bar. The food there is plentiful and quite good and it's a nice venue. I've heard Jim's presentation and it's really well done and very interesting; the visual presentation is really compelling.

If you are interesting in attending, please PM me and I'll send you the particulars. Need to have your RSVP ASAP as seating is limited to 120 and the cutoff date is January 30.

Thanks!
Danny Brotto

[mcgowantk]

Danny

Thanks for posting this. I would love to go but have a conflict. It is incredible what these guys have been able to accomplish. I am sure it would be a fascinating presentation.

Tom McGowan

[Danny Brotto]

It will be very interesting Tom, sorry you can't make it.

An incredible amount of expertise, planning (and $$$) has gone (and is going) into this project. They live cast the flights from the cockpit and it is truly amazing (and how I hate that overused word but it is appropriate.)

"The Perlan 2 is an airplane designed to fly the most efficiently at 50,000 feet but fly acceptably at sea level and at 90,000 feet."

At the SSA Convention, I "flew" the official simulator (I logged the time and it is unbelievable how much of an unwieldy "beast" the thing is to fly low (takeoff and landing) and how twitchy and sensitive it is at altitude. Of course at altitude I lost control and spun it. It has deployable drag parachutes for spin recovery.

Would you believe they have a specialty tow vehicle for a 44,000 ft tow?

Ya'll should think about attending if you have the evening free.
Danny Brotto

[Dave Proctor]

Danny,

Thanks for the heads up. I am interested in attending.

Dave

[Danny Brotto]

To the folks contacting me about this banquet/presentation, for some reason, I think my PM's are not reaching you. To secure your seats please contact Lance Nuckolls (the Banquet Coordinator) at

lnuckolls at comcast dot net

I understand that as of last weekend there were about 20 seats still available.

Thanks,
Danny Brotto

[lbunner]

Danny, can you share what the pilots use for live casting?

[Danny Brotto]

I'll ask him tonight and get back to you.

Danny Brotto

[lbunner]

Thx