Airbus, Perlan Project Team Move Engineless Aircraft to New Hangar in Nevada

Airbus‘ U.S. subsidiary and Perlan Project sponsor Dennis Tito have opened a new facility at the Minden-Tahoe Airport in Nevada to house the volunteer-run project ahead of a summer flight for the Perlan 2 glider.

Airbus Group said Dec. 9 the new hangar will accommodate Perlan 2 before it departs for Argentina, where the engineless glider will work to soar toward the stratosphere as part of Perlan Mission II.

The project team in Nevada will now begin a series of flight tests on the glider in preparation for the mission, Airbus added.

Perlan 2 will carry a two-person crew and scientific instruments to help generate insights on space exploration, high-altitude flight and climate change.

“We hope Perlan will inspire a new generation of young aerospace pioneers,” said Allan McArtor, chairman and CEO of Airbus Group.

Other Perlan Project sponsors include United Technologies Corp., BRS Aerospace and Weather Extreme.