Perlan Project: EADS Airbus Group to fly Perlan glider to the edge of space

Perlan Project is still seeking sponsors and partners and associates for the mission and its international educational programmes seeking to inspire and promote science and technology education.

Perlan Project is pleased to announce that it has partnered with EADS Airbus Group, a global leader in aerospace, to fly a glider to the edge of space (+90,000 feet - 27,432 metres).

Einar Enevoldson

Airbus Perlan Mission II was unveiled at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh fly-in convention, the largest annual gathering of aviation enthusiasts and professionals in the U.S., by Jean Botti, Chief Technical Officer at EADS Airbus Group, and Einar Enevoldson, Chairman, Founder and Pilot at Perlan.

Project Inc. Tom Enders, CEO of EADS Airbus Group, stated, "Our company is built on the shoulders of aviation pioneers who pushed boundaries in their own times, people who flew higher, farther, faster.

Hence, when we learned of the Perlan Project and its quest to soar to record heights, we knew we needed to find a way to be a part of it.


Perlan high altitude glider goes to 90,000 feet in X-Plane simulation

"Partnering with the Perlan team is consistent with our core values of furthering innovation in aerospace and of inspiring the next generation of designers, manufacturers and aviators."

"After a thorough evaluation of the engineering and scientific planning behind the Perlan Project, EADS Airbus Group is convinced that this important mission will be a success," stated Botti.

"We believe it is critically important for us to advance climate science and aerodynamics research. With the Airbus Perlan Mission II, we particularly see an opportunity to gain experience and data related to very high altitude flight; an area of interest for future aerospace applications."

Einar commented that "when Perlan Project began focusing on securing partnerships to help us complete the mission, we never dreamed we would be so fortunate as to secure a partner of the calibre of EADS Airbus Group.

"Thanks to their technological and financial support, we are well on our way to the edge of space. Now it's just a matter of completing the world's most innovative glider and catching the right wave."

"We are proud and excited to be a part of the project team, and we look forward to bringing our engineering and manufacturing expertise to the table to help ensure the success of the (EADS) Airbus Perlan Mission II," added EADS Airbus Group CEO Enders.

Perlan Project is still seeking sponsors and partners and associates for the mission and its international educational programmes seeking to inspire and promote science and technology education.