Gliding to new heights

摘要

The Airbus Perlan Mission II glider has attained its highest-ever altitude, rising to 32,500ft during test flights in southern Argentina. Now in its second season of testing near the Patagonian city of El Calafate, the Perlan 2 team is aiming to eclipse the current world gliding altitude record of 50,727ft. Perlan 2 has also been designed to collect scientific data on the Earth's atmosphere, without the distorting presence of engines. It's hoped the information it collects can provide insights on climate change, weather and high-altitude flight.